Kotobukiya Zoid HMM

Iron Kong

Kit Review

Straight build

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. It's the largest extra-large kit in the Kotobukiya Zoids lineup. Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. It's the largest extra-large kit in the Kotobukiya Zoids lineup.

Size comparison with a cigarette pack
It's the largest extra-large kit in the Kotobukiya Zoids lineup.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong (1/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (2/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (3/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (4/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (5/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (6/7) Zoid HMM Iron Kong (7/7)

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Head (1/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Head (2/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Head (3/3)

Head

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Upper body front (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Upper body front (2/2)

Upper body front

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulders and arms (1/4) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulders and arms (2/4) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulders and arms (3/4) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulders and arms (4/4)

Shoulders and arms

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Hands

Hands

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Side torso (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Side torso (2/2)

Side torso

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Back and shoulder weapons (1/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Back and shoulder weapons (2/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Back and shoulder weapons (3/3)

Back and shoulder weapons

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - With the back weapons removed (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - With the back weapons removed (2/2)

With the back weapons removed

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The back missile launcher and the surface-to-surface missile unit are connected to each other.

The back missile launcher and the surface-to-surface missile unit are connected to each other.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Hind legs (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Hind legs (2/2)

Hind legs

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Rear end

Rear end

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Outer armor removed.

Outer armor removed.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - There's an inner frame throughout the entire body! Truly worthy of being called the PG of the Zoids worl Zoid HMM Iron Kong - There's an inner frame throughout the entire body! Truly worthy of being called the PG of the Zoids worl Zoid HMM Iron Kong - There's an inner frame throughout the entire body! Truly worthy of being called the PG of the Zoids worl Zoid HMM Iron Kong - There's an inner frame throughout the entire body! Truly worthy of being called the PG of the Zoids worl

There's an inner frame throughout the entire body!
Truly worthy of being called the PG of the Zoids world.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (1/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (2/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (3/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (4/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (5/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (6/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (7/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (8/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (9/10) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Detailed shots of the frame on each section. The frame has outstanding depth and dimension. (10/10)

Detailed shots of the frame on each section.
The frame has outstanding depth and dimension.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Body frame viewed upright, up close (1/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Body frame viewed upright, up close (2/3) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Body frame viewed upright, up close (3/3)

Body frame viewed upright, up close

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The armor panels can be flipped open. (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The armor panels can be flipped open. (2/2)

The armor panels can be flipped open.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - You can pull out the Zoid Core from inside the armor frame. (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - You can pull out the Zoid Core from inside the armor frame. (2/2)

You can pull out the Zoid Core from inside the armor frame.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Zoid Core (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Zoid Core (2/2)

Zoid Core

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Open the head and you can see two pilots inside.

Open the head and you can see two pilots inside.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulder missile cover open

Shoulder missile cover open

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The mouth opens about this much.

The mouth opens about this much.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The neck can extend forward and also raise up quite a bit. It's got quite a flexible neck. (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The neck can extend forward and also raise up quite a bit. It's got quite a flexible neck. (2/2)

The neck can extend forward and also raise up quite a bit.
It's got quite a flexible neck.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - When you fully bend the arm, the forearm armor slides in sync. Being such a large kit, it's got some rea Zoid HMM Iron Kong - When you fully bend the arm, the forearm armor slides in sync. Being such a large kit, it's got some rea

When you fully bend the arm, the forearm armor slides in sync.
Being such a large kit, it's got some really premium gimmicks added in.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Like a gorilla, the wrists also bend inward quite a lot.

Like a gorilla, the wrists also bend inward quite a lot.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulder spread range (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Shoulder spread range (2/2)

Shoulder spread range

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - You can stretch the arms out to the sides, but... they're so heavy they can't hold the position on their

You can stretch the arms out to the sides, but...
They're so heavy they can't hold the position on their own.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Leg articulation range

Leg articulation range

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Every single joint on those long fingers is articulated. (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Every single joint on those long fingers is articulated. (2/2)

Every single joint on those long fingers is articulated.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Feet (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Feet (2/2)

Feet

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The big toe can be swapped out.

The big toe can be swapped out.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - With the spread toe attached (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - With the spread toe attached (2/2)

With the spread toe attached

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The thumb keeps popping off, which is a bit annoying.

The thumb keeps popping off, which is a bit annoying.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - You can extend the shoulder support to prop up the missile launcher. (1/2) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - You can extend the shoulder support to prop up the missile launcher. (2/2)

You can extend the shoulder support to prop up the missile launcher.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - The surface-to-surface missiles on the back can rotate.

The surface-to-surface missiles on the back can rotate.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Leftover parts.

Leftover parts.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (1/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (2/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (3/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (4/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (5/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (6/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (7/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (8/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (9/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (10/11) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - ROOAAR~~ Action poses (11/11)

ROOAAR~~ Action pose

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (1/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (2/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (3/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (4/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (5/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Standing with arms hanging down pose (6/6)

Standing with arms hanging down pose

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (1/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (2/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (3/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (4/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (5/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (6/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (7/8) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Pointing pose (8/8)

Pointing pose

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (1/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (2/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (3/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (4/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (5/6) Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Attack pose (6/6)

Attack pose

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Comparing it with the Shield Liger really shows just how massive the Iron Kong is.

Comparing it with the Shield Liger really shows just how massive the Iron Kong is.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Compared to the smaller Zoids, the sheer bulk is just insane...

Compared to the smaller Zoids, the sheer bulk is just insane...

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Even next to the Zeno Breaker, which used to be the biggest Zoid, the Iron Kong is noticeably larger.

Even next to the Zeno Breaker, which used to be the biggest Zoid, the Iron Kong is noticeably larger.

Zoid HMM Iron Kong - Bonus shot alongside MG/HGUC kits. It really does deserve to be called the PG of the Zoids world.

Bonus shot alongside MG/HGUC kits.
It really does deserve to be called the PG of the Zoids world.

The most anticipated kit in the Kotobukiya Zoids series, the Iron Kong, has finally been released. At a price close to 10,000 yen, the box size and packaging are on a completely different level from other Zoids — it's the PG of the Zoids world, plain and simple. Personally, I have strong memories of the Iron Kong from the Tomy Zoids days — I can still vividly remember the motorized Iron Kong kit that would walk along rotating its back missiles and turning its head, then let out a "ROOAAR~" with flashing lights and sound. It was such an awesome motorized Zoid that I actually built it twice.

First off, the massive box and all those parts just put you in a great mood. The parts are bigger than those in other Zoids kits, which makes assembly fairly straightforward. Sure, there are a lot of parts overall, but the design from the inner frame to the outer armor is really well thought out — you can tell a lot of care went into engineering this kit. Unlike other Zoids kits that chop things up into tiny little pieces, the parts breakdown here is large and efficient, and honestly, just looking at the runners, it's almost indistinguishable from a Bandai kit.

True to its PG-class status, the inner frame is well realized throughout the entire body, and the frame detail and depth are genuinely impressive. In short, the joy and satisfaction of building it just keeps coming. The armor panel opening gimmick, various weapon openings, the linked slide armor on the forearms — these are all features that clearly mark this as a PG-class kit.

The articulation on the neck, arms, shoulders, and hands is very satisfying, but the critical issue is that the kit is just so big and heavy that there are a lot of worrying spots in terms of joint durability. Each individual joint isn't really a problem on its own, but once you've got the whole thing assembled, the weight makes it hard to hold poses. The arms in particular are extremely heavy, and the waist and shoulders tend to struggle a bit under the load. You can get it to hold together if you balance it carefully, but it definitely doesn't feel like a tight, solid kit.

With its beautifully detailed full-body frame, massive size, and incredibly satisfying build experience, this is truly one of the greatest Zoids kits ever made. The durability concerns due to its size and weight are a bit of a letdown, but if you're a fan of buildable Zoids kits, this is one I'd absolutely recommend. :-)

Zoid HMM Iron Kong | 2009. 12 | ¥9,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.