Kit Review

Straight build
+ Panel lining + Decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body close-up. The body is quite different from the standard Zaku.

Backpack section.

The head antenna can be assembled in one of two ways — normal type (left) or rabbit type (right).

MG Zaku Cannon - Arm section. The spike armor design on the left shoulder is different from the standard Zaku. It sits a bit

Arm section. The spike armor design on the left shoulder is different from the standard Zaku.
It sits a bit higher up and is slightly smaller in size.

MG Zaku Cannon - The Zaku Cannon's shield. That red stripe section is cleanly reproduced through separate parts, as you can s

The Zaku Cannon's shield. That red stripe section is cleanly reproduced through separate parts, as you can see.

Leg section.

MG Zaku Cannon - Since the pipes are white, the panel lining really stands out. ^^; On this Zaku Cannon, instead of the autom

Since the pipes are white, the panel lining really stands out. ^^;
On this Zaku Cannon, instead of the automatic bead-threading method from the Zaku II,
it's back to the old way of threading each bead onto the spring one by one.
To make up for that, they've included a painting rod part like the one on the right,
so you can paint multiple beads while they're all strung together.

A completely different sole design. The feet themselves are also larger than the previous 2.0.

The cockpit opening mechanism is unique too.
You lower the bottom cover, then slide the top cover upward.

The weapons included are just the standard Zaku basic armament set.

MG Zaku Cannon - The highlight of the Zaku Cannon is of course the cannon pack. It comes equipped with big guns on both sides

The highlight of the Zaku Cannon is of course the cannon pack.
It comes equipped with big guns on both sides, a 180mm cannon, smoke dischargers, and more.

The big guns on both sides have a wide range of motion, so you can lock them into a position like that.

The grip rotates 45 degrees forward and backward.

The cannon pack has shells reproduced inside. Of course, once it's assembled you can't see them at all.

Outer armor removed

Internal frame

Upper body frame. The torso frame has been changed in several places compared to the standard Zaku.

Back frame.

Head frame.

Arm and leg frames.

The thighs and shins have an added pearlescent dark iron-colored frame, giving them a unique look.

The modified shin frame on the Zaku Cannon.

MG Zaku Cannon - The shin frame uses the same multi-stage frame structure as before.. but now I realize the reason the Zaku 2

The shin frame uses the same multi-stage frame structure as before..
but now I realize the reason the Zaku 2.0's shin uses a double-frame setup is
a clever trick to allow the frame to be swapped out for different variations.

You can also remove just the rear shin cover to expose the frame.

The foot's internal frame is pretty much fully visible here.

The newly redesigned armor panels also have molded detail on the inside.

Some parts from the original Zaku 2.0 are left over as leftover parts.

Articulation. It's good, as you'd expect from a Zaku 2.0..

But the structure at the back of the shin limits how far the leg can bend.

MG Zaku Cannon - Also, the front skirt movement is a bit stiff and the range of motion is slightly reduced, which makes it a

Also, the front skirt movement is a bit stiff and the range of motion is slightly reduced,
which makes it a little tricky to raise the thigh.

Still bends about that much, which is decent enough.

Shoulder shield / spike armor deployment.

Action po~se

MG Zaku Cannon - Zaku machine gun action (1/3)

Zaku machine gun action

Bazooka action

Fully armed

Heat Hawk action. The Zaku Cannon and the Heat Hawk feel a little mismatched..

"Let's go!" pose

MG Zaku Cannon - Finally, the Zaku Cannon's main pose. (1/6)

MG Zaku Cannon - Finally, the Zaku Cannon's main pose. (2/6)

MG Zaku Cannon - Finally, the Zaku Cannon's main pose. (3/6)

MG Zaku Cannon - Finally, the Zaku Cannon's main pose. (4/6)

Finally, the Zaku Cannon's main pose.

The big guns have a great range of motion, so you can pull off a sideways firing pose like this.

MG Zaku Cannon - Can fire almost 90 degrees to the side.. (1/4)

MG Zaku Cannon - Can fire almost 90 degrees to the side.. (2/4)

Can fire almost 90 degrees to the side..

MG Zaku Cannon - It's a ground-pounder type unit, so a stand doesn't really suit it.. but it still looks pretty cool up on th

It's a ground-pounder type unit, so a stand doesn't really suit it..
but it still looks pretty cool up on the Action Base~

Together with the MG Zaku Minelayer from the same MSV lineup.

Together with the fellow ground-pounder, the Zaku II 2.0 Type J.

MG Zaku Cannon - This time, a comparison with the Type F. Viewed from the side, you can see that almost all of the exterior —

This time, a comparison with the Type F. Viewed from the side,
you can see that almost all of the exterior — shoulders, forearms, legs, thighs, feet, and more — has been changed.

Together with the Black Tri-Stars' high-mobility type.

The Zaku II 2.0 lineup has already grown to six variants..

Straight build

Finally! The Zaku Cannon has been released as an MG kit — a signal flare heralding the arrival of a true Zaku 2.0 MSV lineup. The Zaku Minelayer was previously released as an MSV kit based on the 2.0, but since it was essentially just the standard Zaku Type F with a reinforced backpack, it was very much a reuse kit in the classic "variation" sense. The Zaku Cannon, however, has almost all of its exterior armor and special weapons swapped out, with over 60% of the kit filled with new molds — it's practically a brand-new product. In other words, it signals that the line is now ready to build out a nearly standalone MSV lineup, not just simple variations.

Looking at the kit itself, the inner frame naturally reuses over 90% of the Zaku 2.0's. However, the exterior armor — with only a very small number of exceptions — has been completely redesigned from scratch, so just going by the looks alone, it's essentially a brand-new kit. The head, chest, skirts, shoulder weapons, forearms, thighs, shins, and feet — virtually every exterior surface has been changed.

Compared to the standard Zaku 2.0, not only has the design been updated, but interestingly the feet have gotten bigger too. The Zaku 2.0's feet were quite small, but the Zaku Cannon's feet are large and wide, giving it a solid, stable feel. That'll be welcome news for anyone who wasn't a fan of the tiny feet.

A standard Zaku II on its own doesn't really have many color separation points to speak of. High-mobility types have more need for it due to the added thrusters and such, but a plain Zaku, as you know, tends to go for a monochrome look. The Zaku Cannon, being an MSV kit, has a somewhat busier color combination overall. Fittingly, there are several new color separation points that weren't present on the standard Zaku 2.0-based kits. The red stripe on the right shoulder shield in particular — reproduced entirely through separate parts (much like Kotobukiya's approach) — shows real dedication and pride on the part of the designer. The verniers on the legs are also cleanly color-separated, so overall, even a straight build gives you plenty of that colorful, multi-toned look from the source material.

The cannon pack — the Zaku Cannon's signature weapon — is also very well executed, with various gimmicks and moving parts that allow it to be stored or posed in a number of different configurations. They even went so far as to detail the internal shells that you can't even see once it's assembled, showing just how much care went into this kit.

The proportions can also be called a success — it's a design that strikes a nice balance between the slightly rough, utilitarian feel you'd expect from an MSV unit and the refined, polished look of a modern kit. Since MSV was originally conceived for the more hardcore fan crowd, capturing that "minor" feel rather than going too mainstream or generic was an important part of getting it right. And by that measure, the result looks like a win.

That said, all the added accessories do sacrifice some of the Zaku 2.0's signature articulation.. (picking up coins off the floor is going to be tough;) But since this kit has its own completely distinct identity, it doesn't really feel like a major drawback. If anything, the larger feet make ground-based action poses easier to pull off, and the joint strength seems to have improved slightly, so it holds poses well.

The MG Zaku Cannon is not only top-notch in quality, but I think the very fact that it was released is hugely significant in itself. The full-scale MG treatment of MSV kits for Gunpla enthusiasts is something that's especially meaningful for old-school fans — it gives you hope that all those unique and characterful mechs from back in the day, like the Zaku Tank and the Underwater-type Zaku, will get a chance to shine again in modern MG-level quality. It's well known that MSV played a huge role in creating a whole generation of hardcore Gunpla fans, and it's doing a great job of hitting that nostalgia button hard for a lot of older fans. Sure, the MG-ification of MSV probably has something to do with running low on new source material, but either way, for Gunpla fans looking forward to a fresh new lineup, it feels like a welcome breath of fresh air.

On the flip side, for newer fans who never got to experience the magic of MSV, it might look a little... off — like some old-fashioned design from a bygone era. But if you're into that classic MSV aesthetic, the quality is top-of-the-line Bandai, so I'd recommend it without hesitation.

Anyway, Bandai is definitely "taking care of" the Zaku 2.0 lineup. Unlike the First Gundam 2.0, it can churn out endless variations, so maybe that's only natural — but thanks to the superb build quality and assembly experience that never gets old no matter how many times you put one together, it's always a joy to build. ^^ In particular, the MG Zaku Cannon has a slightly different feel to the build compared to the regular Zaku 2.0. Not necessarily better or worse, just... different, you know? I guess that's what makes it MSV. ^^

Looking forward to the upcoming MG MSV lineup — and here's hoping we get an MG Zaku Tank in particular! ^^
(Though I suppose the Guntank should come out first, right? Seriously, how long are they going to keep sitting on that one and what are they even waiting for...)

MG MS-06K Zaku Cannon
Category	Rating	Analysis
Seam Lines	★★★★★★	A landmark achievement — seam lines eliminated on virtually every single part.
Molding Color / Color Separation	★★★★★★	Vibrant color separation that perfectly suits the colorful Zaku 2.0 lineup.
Proportions	★★★★★☆	A perfect blend of modern refinement and the quirky charm unique to MSV.
Articulation	★★★★☆	Articulation takes a slight hit due to all the extra accessories.
Joint Strength	★★★★★	Solid. The ankle joints feel a bit more reinforced compared to the early Zaku 2.0.
Internal Frame	★★★★★	A full-body frame that makes good use of the dual-frame construction.
Detail	★★★★★	Not too much, not too little — just right.
Weapons / Accessories	★★★★★	Does a faithful job of capturing the Zaku Cannon's distinctive weaponry.
Parts Count / Price	★★★★★	376 parts total. Parts per ¥1,000: 83.6. It's gotten pricey..;
Uniqueness	★★★★★★★	Over 60% new molds — a true herald of the MSV lineup to come!
Dalong's Point : 108 pts.

MG Zaku Cannon | 2008. 8 | ¥4,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.