HG Origin

MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.]

Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (1/6) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (2/6) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (3/6) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (4/6) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (5/6) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] (6/6)

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Detail shots (1/4) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Detail shots (2/4) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Detail shots (3/4) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Detail shots (4/4)

Detail shots

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Newly added weapons. They're not completely new — these are weapons that were alr

Newly added weapons.
They're not completely new — these are weapons that were already included in other Origin HG Zakus.

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - All the original weapons are included as well.

All the original weapons are included as well.

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Leftover parts

Leftover parts

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - The articulation characteristics are identical to the previous kit.

The articulation characteristics are identical to the previous kit.

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (1/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (2/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (3/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (4/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (5/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (6/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (7/8) HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Action poses (8/8)

Action poses

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Alongside the HG Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.]. Even the molded colors are identical — HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] - Alongside the HG Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.]. Even the molded colors are identical —

Alongside the HG Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.].
Even the molded colors are identical — the only way to tell them apart is the white stripe seals that were added.

To commemorate "Gundam: The Origin — Before the Red Comet," which began airing on NHK on April 29, 2019, the Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] was released as part of the Origin HG series. It's essentially the previously released Origin HG Zaku II Char's Custom with just a few weapons added. A Zaku Machine Gun and a drum-fed machine gun are included, but these aren't new sculpts — they're weapons that were already in other Origin HG Zakus. On top of that, seals representing the Falmel unit and a mono-eye seal have also been added.

Since the basic configuration is the same as before, the articulation and weapon loadout remain unchanged, and while a few seals were added, the molded colors are completely identical, so it barely feels new at all. The previous similar variation pair — the HG Char's Zaku I and the HG Zaku I [Char Aznable] — at least had different molded color combinations, but this variation feels like a stretch with barely any difference. That said, it still delivers the same clean proportions and detail, excellent articulation, and solid joint strength that make it a reliably well-made kit.

Honestly, the Char's Custom and the Red Comet Ver. are basically the same thing to begin with, so it's hard to be thrilled about a variation like this being released under the guise of a TV broadcast tie-in. It's probably best to think of it as a slightly more loaded commemorative repackage of the existing kit, and it's really only worth recommending to those who haven't already built the Origin HG Zaku II Char's Custom. :-)

HG Origin MS-06S Zaku II [Red Comet Ver.] | 2019.4 | ¥2,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.