Kotobukiya Zoid HMM

Buster Tortoise

Kit Review

Straight build

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (1/6) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (2/6) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (3/6) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (4/6) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (5/6) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise (6/6)

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Head

Head

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - The side flanks. The two sides are shaped a little differently. (1/2) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - The side flanks. The two sides are shaped a little differently. (2/2)

The side flanks.
The two sides are shaped a little differently.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Support stand added to the rear end (1/2) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Support stand added to the rear end (2/2)

Support stand added to the rear end

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Front legs and rear legs (1/2) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Front legs and rear legs (2/2)

Front legs and rear legs

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - The newly added 720mm Long-Range Buster Cannon

The newly added 720mm Long-Range Buster Cannon

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Details of each part of the Buster Cannon (1/5) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Details of each part of the Buster Cannon (2/5) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Details of each part of the Buster Cannon (3/5) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Details of each part of the Buster Cannon (4/5) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Details of each part of the Buster Cannon (5/5)

Details of each part of the Buster Cannon

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Underside

Underside

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - The Zoid Core is, of course, located at the belly button (;;).

The Zoid Core is, of course, located at the belly button (;;).

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Cockpit hatch open

Cockpit hatch open

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Articulation range of the Buster Cannon. (1/2) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Articulation range of the Buster Cannon. (2/2)

Articulation range of the Buster Cannon.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - There's a soft plastic pipe attached underneath the Buster Cannon.

There's a soft plastic pipe attached underneath the Buster Cannon.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Movement of the upper structure of the Buster Cannon

Movement of the upper structure of the Buster Cannon

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - A few leftover parts remain.

A few leftover parts remain.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Buster Cannon in action. The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an impo

Buster Cannon in action.
The weapon is even bigger than the body itself, so it's got quite an imposing presence.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Lying flat in storage mode (1/4) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Lying flat in storage mode (2/4) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Lying flat in storage mode (3/4) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Lying flat in storage mode (4/4)

Lying flat in storage mode

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Just like the Cannon Tortoise, the side platform opens up.

Just like the Cannon Tortoise, the side platform opens up.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Platform open (1/3) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Platform open (2/3) Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Platform open (3/3)

Platform open

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Together with the Cannon Tortoise. Essentially a kit with a molded color variation + the Buster Ca Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - Together with the Cannon Tortoise. Essentially a kit with a molded color variation + the Buster Ca

Together with the Cannon Tortoise.
Essentially a kit with a molded color variation + the Buster Cannon added.

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise - The rear section has a support stand added in place of a tail.

The rear section has a support stand added in place of a tail.

As a variation of the Cannon Tortoise, the Buster Tortoise has been released with a massive Buster Cannon equipped. The body's color scheme has changed from a combination of green and olive drab to a combination of light blue and blue — and honestly, just looking at the molded colors alone, the Cannon Tortoise feels a bit richer and prettier.

The added 720mm Buster Cannon is so grand and imposing that it practically overshadows the main body, making the whole kit feel much larger compared to the relatively compact Cannon Tortoise. The Buster Cannon's moving parts work faithfully through their basic range of motion, and perhaps because of its sheer size, even a moderately angled action pose carries a serious sense of presence. On top of that, a support stand takes the place of the tail that was on the Cannon Tortoise, which lets you set up a firing pose that looks a lot more convincing.

Since the body itself is naturally the same as the Cannon Tortoise, the short legs do limit articulation somewhat — but the massive weapon more than makes up for it. That said, while the armament has gotten bigger, it does feel a little less intricate and compact compared to the Cannon Tortoise.

As a Kotobukiya Zoids kit with a reasonably manageable parts count, this is a fun build that anyone interested in tortoise-type Zoids can dive into without much worry. If you can, pairing it with the Cannon Tortoise as a set would make for an even cooler display. :-)

Zoid HMM Buster Tortoise | 2009. 11 | ¥3,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.