Kit Review

Straight build + panel lining + decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
The Type 61 Tank is quite a compact little thing.

The kit's contents are really generous, packed with a variety of mechs and accessories.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The core mechs included are one HGUC Zaku II mass production type, two Type 61 Tanks, and two

The core mechs included are one HGUC Zaku II mass production type,
two Type 61 Tanks, and two Wappas.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - These are the extras included in this Zaku the Ground War set beyond the HGUC Zaku II. These a

These are the extras included in this Zaku the Ground War set beyond the HGUC Zaku II.
These additions account for the ¥1,200 price increase.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The extra items basically come as two sets since two identical runners are included. You get t

The extra items basically come as two sets since two identical runners are included,
so everything comes in pairs.
Type 61 Tank with explosion and missile launch effect parts, Wappas, one set of action-pose hands,
a Sturm Faust, a cracker (a type of hand mine), and three 1/144 figures.
Excluding the waterslide decals... it's roughly ¥500 worth of stuff.

This set is essentially a diorama set designed to recreate a scene from Igloo: Gravity Front.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - You can recreate the scene of a missile flying out of the Zaku bazooka and the Type 61 Tank ge

You can recreate the scene of a missile flying out of the Zaku bazooka and the Type 61 Tank getting blown up.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - I shot the Type 61 Tank explosion scene from different angles — from the Zaku's perspective an

I shot the Type 61 Tank explosion scene from different angles.
From the Zaku's perspective, and from the Type 61 Tank's perspective...

Two sets of the Type 61 Tank and Wappa — the main mechs of this kit.

I applied decals with different numbers on each of the two Type 61 Tanks.

So, let's take a look at the Type 61 Tank, which is really the highlight of this kit...

Small, but the detail is surprisingly good.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The underside is nicely detailed too. You might even get the illusion that it surpasses the 1/

The underside is nicely detailed too. You might even get the illusion that it surpasses the 1/35 UCHG in some ways...;

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The parts breakdown for the track section. The slight sagging of the tracks under gravity is e

The parts breakdown for the track section.
The slight sagging of the tracks under gravity is even modeled in there —
but it's hidden behind the cover so you can't see it... OTL

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Detail on the turret. It's tiny enough to be covered by a single thumb joint, yet it shows off

Detail on the turret.
It's tiny enough to be covered by a single thumb joint, yet it shows off some pretty solid detail.
The structure at the rear of the turret, though — they skipped the mesh plating and just filled it in with a flat plastic panel.
Well, given the scale, I guess that's to be expected.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The machine gun on top of the turret comes with an odd support structure underneath the barrel

The machine gun on top of the turret comes with an odd support structure underneath the barrel — presumably for durability.
I figure they went that route because this is HGUC-grade and they had to account for sturdiness.
If it were UCHG, they probably would've just ignored durability and molded it nice and thin...

Detail on the front and rear of the upper hull.
Looks really great for its size...

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Just like the 1/35 UCHG, removing the two front covers on the upper hull reveals the equipment

Just like the 1/35 UCHG, removing the two front covers on the upper hull reveals the equipment stored inside.
It's such a tiny scale, and they still bothered to include this — honestly kind of impressive.

The turret and gun barrel move freely.

You can remove the turret, take off one of the tracks, and attach the explosion effect parts.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - I tried recreating the turret explosion scene using the special effect parts. The track flying

I tried recreating the turret explosion scene using the special effect parts.
The track flying off looks pretty cool, but the explosion flame parts under the turret
really need to be painted — without paint, they don't do much for you...;

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Alongside the 1/35 UCHG Type 61 Tank that came out just before this. The size difference is hu

Alongside the 1/35 UCHG Type 61 Tank that came out just before this.
The size difference is hu~ge~.

Our adorable little 1/144 Type 61 Tank looks cute no matter where you put it...

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Opening the rear hatch of the 1/35 Type 61 Tank with the 1/144 Type 61 Tank "coming out" of it

Opening the rear hatch of the 1/35 Type 61 Tank with the 1/144 Type 61 Tank "coming out" of it.
In reality the opening is too small for it to actually fit inside... (not that it matters...)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - This time alongside the EX Hildolfr, which is also 1/144 scale and appears in the same Igloo s

This time alongside the EX Hildolfr, which is also 1/144 scale and appears in the same Igloo series.
Again, the size difference is pretty dramatic.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Also alongside the EX Magella Attack, likewise in 1/144 scale. These two are actually a pretty

Also alongside the EX Magella Attack, likewise in 1/144 scale.
These two are actually a pretty decent match in terms of size.
The EX does edge it out a bit in detail though.

The 1/144 Wappa.
Small, but it's got everything it needs...

Underside.

I also gave each one a different number with decals.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Detail on the cockpit area. A bit chunky, but the volume is well captured. The pilot can actua

Detail on the cockpit area. A bit chunky, but the volume is well captured.
The pilot can actually be separated and reassembled.

Alongside the 1/35 UCHG Wappa. Again, the size difference is massive~

The three included 1/144 figures.
Small, but the proportions aren't bad at all.

These are the Zaku II accessories added in this kit.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Parts for creating the effect of a missile being fired from the bazooka. Painting required her

Parts for creating the effect of a missile being fired from the bazooka.
Painting required here too.

A Sturm Faust and cracker — both missing from the original Zaku II kit — have been added here.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Two sets of hands are included, one left and one right per set. Since there are two runners, y

Two sets of hands are included, one left and one right per set.
Since there are two runners, you get two sets of hands — but realistically you only need one set, and the other just becomes leftover parts.
They've got a nice resin-like sense of volume to them.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The Zaku II mass production type kit included in this set is 100% identical in structure to th

The Zaku II mass production type kit included in this set is 100% identical in structure to the existing standard HGUC release,
but the molded colors have been changed to look more convincing. (See comparison photos)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Front and rear of the upper body. Take a good look at the new waterslide decals. (1/2)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Front and rear of the upper body. Take a good look at the new waterslide decals. (2/2)

Upper body front and back.
Take a good look at the new waterslide decals.

Legs

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (1/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (2/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (3/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (4/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (5/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (6/7)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Waterslide decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them go on. (7/7)

Wet decals added all over the body. Quite a lot of them to apply.

Heat Hawk action pose using the accessories

Machine gun action

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Fully armed action poses. The abundance of accessories really gives it a rich feel. (1/5)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Fully armed action poses. The abundance of accessories really gives it a rich feel. (2/5)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Fully armed action poses. The abundance of accessories really gives it a rich feel. (3/5)

Fully armed action poses.
The abundance of accessories really gives it a rich feel.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Alongside the normal HGUC Zaku II Mass Production Type. As you can see, the original normal ve

Alongside the normal HGUC Zaku II Mass Production Type.
As you can see, the original normal version's colors were a bit... they felt too bright to really match the Zaku image.

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - The kit on the left in the photo above is the Zaku II Mass Production Type released as the Igl

The kit on the left in the photo above is the Zaku II Mass Production Type released as the Igloo version limited edition.
As you can see, it has a slightly darker molded color than the one in the Zaku the Ground War set.

The Zaku from this Zaku the Ground War set is a little brighter..

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - So, to sum it up~ from left to right: the normal version, the Zaku the Ground War version, and

So, to sum it up~
From left to right: the normal version, the Zaku the Ground War version, and the Igloo limited edition.
Comparing by molded color, they get progressively darker in that order.
Just looking at the color alone, the Zaku from the Zaku the Ground War set that just came out has this somehow familiar look to it...

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - As you can see, it's probably because it comes closest to the molded color of the latest MG Za

As you can see, it's probably because it comes closest to the molded color of the latest MG Zaku 2.0, which is why it looks so familiar.
In other words, it's got the most refined, up-to-date color scheme..

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set - Diorama shots with different arrangements and angles.. Well, it's quite a unique kit in its ow

Diorama shots with different arrangements and angles..
Well, it's quite a unique kit in its own way.

A somewhat out-of-nowhere addition has been made to the HGUC lineup, which was starting to look like it was running out of ideas. The official name is HGUC HG — that is, High Grade Universal Century - Hard Graph — a lineup that combines HGUC with the Hard Graph concept. In terms of content, it essentially takes the existing 1/35 UCHG-style setup and recreates it in 1/144 scale, with an HGUC mech thrown in on top. Because of that, it looks like an HGUC lineup at first glance, but it doesn't carry the numbering unique to the HGUC lineup. As a reviewer, it's a bit confusing figuring out which category to put it in... but for now, classifying it as a type of HGUC variation seems about right.

The main highlight of this kit is the 1/144 scale Type 61 Tank — and this thing is seriously impressive! It's a tiny little tank, not even the length of one finger, but it's put together with surprising precision and detail... and even though it's a military-style kit, the snap-fit assembly is just incredibly satisfying. There aren't that many parts, but building it is a ton of fun. The detail level isn't quite up to UCHG or EX standards, but it's on par with MG-level fine detail. What's certain is that it clearly surpasses the typical HGUC level of detail.

Personally, I think if they had released just the Type 61 Tank as a small accessory kit for around 300–400 yen, a lot of hobbyists would have bought them in bulk. It'd be great for diorama setups, fun to build just for the heck of it, and once you actually build one, one or two just doesn't feel like enough — it's the kind of 1/144 Type 61 Tank where you'd want to build about ten of them to really have a good time.

The 1/144 Wappa included in the set also manages to pull off a decent look with relatively few parts, though it doesn't quite match the excitement of the Type 61 Tank. Beyond that, there are also effect parts for a barrel explosion on the diorama, and a flame-shaped part for a missile being fired from the Zaku Bazooka. There are also accessories for the Zaku II Mass Production Type, including a Sturm Faust, a cracker, and three 1/144 figures.

The Zaku II Mass Production Type included in this kit uses the same runners as the existing HGUC kit, but the molded color has been changed to closely match the MG Zaku II 2.0. The original standard HGUC Zaku II Mass Production Type had a nice molded color, but it came out too bright, and the Igloo limited edition Zaku II Mass Production Type went too far the other way and came out too dark, which felt a bit off. In the end, the molded color of the Zaku II Mass Production Type included in the Zaku the Ground War set seems to be the most well-balanced... (see the comparison photos above)

And perhaps due to the UCHG influence, quite a lot of wet decals are included, so you can apply them to your liking. Overall, the kit's contents don't blow me away or anything, but the Type 61 Tank is just so good that I'd say the kit leaves a pretty positive impression overall.

Whether this kind of ambiguous lineup will keep coming out going forward, I'm not sure — it'll probably depend on how the MS Igloo: Gravity of the Battlefront story develops. Either way, as a modeler, it's always nice to see kits with a variety of different concepts coming out :-)

HGUC Zaku the Ground War set | 2009.2 | ¥2,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.