Kit Review

Straight build
+ panel lining + decals

1. Basic Photos

The universal benchmark — size comparison with a cigarette pack

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Front & rear shots. The panel lines are cleanly laid out in an F2 style overall, giving it a smoot

Front & rear shots. The panel lines are cleanly laid out in an F2 style overall, giving it a smooth, sleek look.
The decals feel a bit more refined too.

Solid forearms

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The thick thighs that are the Zaku's trademark came out great — faithful to the original design while

The thick thighs that are the Zaku's trademark came out great — faithful to the original design while still looking sleek.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - A man's gotta have sturdy legs, after all....! ^^; (1/3)

A man's gotta have sturdy legs, after all....! ^^;

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The spike shoulders are single-piece parts with no seam lines. Though if you look closely, you can see

The spike shoulders are single-piece parts with no seam lines.
Though if you look closely, you can see the parting lines a bit;

The head is super smooth.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Head parts with two types of commander antennae are also included. But honestly, the green Zaku just l

Head parts with two types of commander antennae are also included.
But honestly, the green Zaku just looks better bald ^^;

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Next to the power cables, there's panel detail similar to the UCHG Zaku head. I went back and forth on

Next to the power cables, there's panel detail similar to the UCHG Zaku head.
I went back and forth on whether to do panel lining there and ended up doing it... but it actually looks better without it -_-;

Side power cables and detail..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Leg power cables and detail.. Unlike the waist and head cables, the leg ones don't stay in place well

Leg power cables and detail.. Unlike the waist and head cables,
they don't stay in place well and tend to rotate on their own.
So it's really hard to line them all up so the detail faces the same direction T_T
(Which is another reason I'm thinking it's better to skip the panel lining;)

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Like the PG Zaku II, the cockpit can slide left and right, and both hatches open separately. However,

Like the PG Zaku II, the cockpit can slide left and right, and both hatches open separately.
However, the feature from the old ver.1.0 where the chest cover itself opened is gone.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Taking a quick look at the 1/100 pilot... unlike the previous version, the pilot figure's proportions

Taking a quick look at the 1/100 pilot...
Unlike the previous version, the pilot figure's proportions have been changed to a Katoki Hajime style ^^;
Gone is the well-behaved upright pose — now it's a cool slouchy stance.
As for why I used a 10,000 won bill as the base... well, it's a crisp new note so it's nice and stiff, which makes it easy to stand the figure up. :-)

2. Power Cable Assembly Process

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The most talked-about parts in this kit are definitely the new power cable parts. They're single-piece

The most talked-about parts in this kit are definitely the new power cable parts.
They're single-piece multi-material injection parts that you'd normally only see on PG or high-end MG kits.
So why did they go with this approach? Check below..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - First, the leg, waist, and head power cables are each designed to be cut away from their runner connec

First, the leg, waist, and head power cables are each designed to be cut away from their runner connections.

Let's take a look at the leg power cable assembly process first, shall we?

You clip off the gates connecting each pipe like so.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Slip a spring onto the end of the tube that the pipes are threaded through, then fit a fixing pin onto

Slip a spring onto the end of the tube that the pipes are threaded through, then fit a fixing pin onto one end.

The connected state. There are no plastic parts inside the spring.

That's why it can flex and bend like that.

Now you pull each pipe one by one up over the spring.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - At this point... the pipes are seated more tightly in the runner section than you'd expect, so it take

At this point... the pipes are seated more tightly in the runner section than you'd expect,
so it takes quite a bit of force to move them;;
You have to grip each one and push and pull with some effort.
Because of this, I'm a little worried that even if you paint them first and then slide them on, the paint might chip..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Once all the pipes have been moved over the spring, you cut off and discard the runner piece that the

Once all the pipes have been moved over the spring,
you cut off and discard the runner piece that the pipes were originally threaded onto.

The completed leg power cable.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Since there's only a spring inside, it flexes nicely like that. Fortunately, the ends of the spring co

Since there's only a spring inside, it flexes nicely like that.
Fortunately, the ends of the spring connect firmly to the fixing pins, so it doesn't come apart easily.

Now for the waist power cable.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Same process — move the pipes over one by one. It's another workout for your hands. The difference fro

Same process — move the pipes over one by one.
It's another workout for your hands.
The difference from the leg power cable is that there's no spring; the pipes just slide onto a plain plastic tube.

Once the transfer is done, cut off and discard the original fixing section as before.

The head power cable.

Same deal — transfer, cut, done.
Like the waist, there's no spring.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - This assembly method makes it easy to clean up the gate marks since they're all lined up in a row. And

This assembly method makes it easy to clean up the gate marks since they're all lined up in a row.
And since you can paint them beforehand and then slide them into place, it's a win-win.
They really put a lo~t of thought into cutting down the time spent cleaning up and painting each individual pipe. ^^

3. Inner Frame

Outer armor removed

The outer armor construction — designed so no seam lines appear — really stands out.

Inner frame shots. A complete full-body frame.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Upper body front frame — the cockpit detail is all about the moving gimmick; there's not much else goi

Upper body front frame
The cockpit detail is all about the moving gimmick; there's not much else going on detail-wise ^^;

Rear body frame. Even after removing the backpack frame, there's another frame underneath.

On top of the rear frame there's a lever that functions to move the cockpit.

Moving the lever on the back shifts the cockpit left and right like this.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Inside the waist gimmick there's a nuclear power reactor. It's completely hidden from the outside, yet

Inside the waist gimmick there's a nuclear power reactor.
It's completely hidden from the outside, yet they still have you apply decals to it ^^
A design that shows real dedication to faithfully recreating the lore... a true craftsman's spirit.

The arm frame is pretty solid too.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The head frame... it's a head cap I've never seen before; looks quite different from the UCHG -.,- Ref

The head frame... it's a head cap I've never seen before; looks quite different from the UCHG -.,-
Reference photo: UCHG Zaku head frame

The leg frame is a work of art @_@

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Both the thighs and shins use a double-frame construction. A premium feature you only get on top-tier

Both the thighs and shins use a double-frame construction.
A premium feature you only get on top-tier kits!

The ankle frame really stands out.

The ankles have articulated cylinders both front and back.

There's also one articulated cylinder inside the knee.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The forearm has something that kinda~ looks like a cylinder, but strictly speaking it's not an articul

The forearm has something that kinda~ looks like a cylinder, but strictly speaking it's not an articulated cylinder — it's just a molded detail.
That said, when you move the elbow, it creates an optical illusion that makes it look like the cylinder is actually moving. ^^;

One notable feature is that, like the MG Ball, decals are applied directly onto the frame itself.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The perfect deep squat pose! It pulls off more natural poses than just about any other kit, and rather

The perfect deep squat pose! It pulls off more natural poses than just about any other kit, and
rather than just looking at photos, you really have to hold it in your hands to feel just how smoothly and naturally it moves.

Frame action

Even a fully bent-over bowing pose looks natural.

The inside of the outer armor and the inside of the skirt are packed with molded detail too.

4. Weapons

The weapons loadout is reduced compared to ver.1.0.

The newly refined Zaku Machine Gun... looks great.

Like the PG, the magazine even has bullets molded inside.

Bazooka.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - As you can see in the assembly diagram photos, all the weapon parts are done with single-piece slide m

As you can see in the assembly diagram photos, all the weapon parts are done with single-piece slide mold construction rather than being split into two halves.
A genuinely touching bit of service... T_T

The bazooka made entirely of single-piece parts..

The scope has a movable cover attached.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The parts breakdown for the missile pod that attaches to the side of the leg has been simplified compa

The parts breakdown for the missile pod that attaches to the side of the leg has been simplified compared to the previous version.

The Heat Hawk looks a bit more streamlined too.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - All weapons are secured using a peg on the palm. The fingers have good freedom of movement but the gri

All weapons are secured using a peg on the palm.
The fingers have good freedom of movement but the grip strength is weak... fortunately that peg does help keep things in place.
Though I do wish the fit were just a tiiiny bit tighter.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - And also... above all else, the Heat Hawk can finally be secured in the palm peg! Back in the 1.0 days

And also... above all else, the Heat Hawk can finally be secured in the palm peg!
Back in the 1.0 days, it was really tough to get it to stay in the hand.

Full armament shot

Heat Hawk mounted on the side.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The missile pod attaches by first wrapping a band around the leg and then clipping the missile parts o

The missile pod attaches by first wrapping a band around the leg and then clipping the missile parts onto it...
But the fit is a bit iffy;; It feels a little loose, kind of like the HGUC.
Plugging it straight into the polycap on the side of the leg like the MG Zaku II 1.0 would hold it more securely,
but it seems they went with this method to avoid adding unnecessary attachment gimmicks that would mess up the detail.
Still, just clipping it onto that tiny little tab doesn't really hold it tight enough.. tsk tsk.

Anyway, mounted on the leg.

5. Articulation &
Gimmicks

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The Zaku's articulation has been dramatically improved!!!!! It can now pull off a full kneeling kick j

The Zaku's articulation has been dramatically improved!!!!!
It can now pull off a full kneeling kick just like the PG Strike.

To think the Zaku's legs can fold up like that... T_T

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The legs also spread out sideways quite a bit. They've even addressed the most glaring weakness of the

The legs also spread out sideways quite a bit.
They've even addressed the most glaring weakness of the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079, which was once hailed as the king of articulation.
The MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079 was great in every way, but the legs didn't spread sideways very well, which really limited the poses you could pull off..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Instead of the front-to-back swing joint that's been popular lately, the hip connection uses a design

Instead of the front-to-back swing joint that's been popular lately,
the hip connection uses a design where the connecting pin is shifted to the front of the leg — similar to what was used on the F91 and others.
Probably went with this approach because it's simpler and more effective.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The side skirt gimmick is really unique. They're all on ball joints as a base, so the range of motion

The side skirt gimmick is really unique.
They're all on ball joints as a base, so the range of motion is already wide —
but the side skirts can also be pushed further back, letting the legs swing out through the gap.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Some people have complained that this feature causes the front skirts to look spread apart a lot of th

Some people have complained that this feature causes the front skirts to look spread apart a lot of the time...
but that seems to be an unavoidable trade-off for the articulation.
In a standing pose, if you tuck them together properly they won't gap open, so it's really only an issue when you're posing it.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The shoulder articulation gimmick is pretty clever too. The forward-pull motion is similar to other ki

The shoulder articulation gimmick is pretty clever too.
The forward-pull motion is similar to other kits, but uniquely, it also folds upward about 30 degrees toward the front.
All in all, it's a simple yet quite effective action gimmick.
The one thing missing is a gimmick that raises the shoulder straight up... maybe because it's not a Federation kit??

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Looking at the shoulder gimmick in frame mode, you can see it moves like this. The cylinder-like part

Looking at the shoulder gimmick in frame mode, you can see it moves like this.
The cylinder-like part at the back of the shoulder appears to move in sync with it.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Another much-anticipated feature — the mono-eye sync gimmick. When you turn the head itself, the mono-

Another much-anticipated feature — the mono-eye sync gimmick.
When you turn the head itself, the mono-eye links with it and rotates in the same direction.
It feels surprisingly cool and fun to play with, though the mechanism behind it is actually very simple.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The neck part and the mono-eye are connected via a gear structure, so when you turn the head, the mono

The neck part and the mono-eye are connected via a gear structure,
so when you turn the head, the mono-eye turns with it.
Since the two gears have different rotation ratios (i.e., different sizes),
the mono-eye ends up rotating slightly more than the angle you turn the head.

It moves roughly like this. Click to take a closer look ^^

The single most impressive gimmick on the Zaku II ver.2.0 has to be the ankle area.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The ankle itself can slide smoothly from side to side, letting you make full use of the foot's ground

The ankle itself can slide smoothly from side to side,
letting you make full use of the foot's ground contact for maximum stability.

The cylinder movement when the ankle pivots forward and back.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - When the ankle rotates sideways, the cylinder also rotates naturally on its ball joint in sync. Moving

When the ankle rotates sideways, the cylinder also rotates naturally on its ball joint in sync.
Moving it yourself is just mind-blowing ^^
Like the PG Strike's leg armor, it's almost unsettlingly natural;

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The waist bends forward and back to some degree — the angle isn't huge, but it's still relatively bett

The waist bends forward and back to some degree — the angle isn't huge, but
it's still relatively better than other kits.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - This kit also features the option to cut apart the connected finger knuckles so each one can move indi

The option to cut apart the connected finger knuckles so each one can move individually
is included in this kit as well.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - On top of that, like the MG Dom/Sazabi, an extra finger knuckle joint is articulated, giving you very

On top of that, like the MG Dom/Sazabi, an extra finger knuckle joint is articulated,
giving you very natural-looking finger movement.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - There is a wrist bend joint, but since there's no clearance in the hand back cover, the wrist can't fo

There is a wrist bend joint, but since there's no clearance in the hand back cover,
the wrist can't fold up a full 90 degrees.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The shoulder shield connection gimmick is double-jointed, so you can swing the shield around to the ba

The shoulder shield connection gimmick is double-jointed,
so you can swing the shield around to the back as shown in the right photo.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The spike shoulder on the left arm has similar articulation, but it can't be rotated to the back. (Not

The spike shoulder on the left arm has similar articulation, but it can't be rotated to the back. (Not that there's any reason to...)

6. Action Poses

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - First up, a variety of running poses to get a feel for the articulation. Even with the same basic runn

First up, a variety of running poses to get a feel for the articulation.
Even with the same basic running pose, you can create a completely different vibe each time — it's a really dynamic kit..

The Zaku can even squat!

Hmm.. this one's just a random pose I threw together..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The poses just keep getting weirder; Title: 'Cocky Arms-Crossed' and 'Zaku Opening a Lid' — truly capa

The poses just keep getting weirder;
Title: 'Cocky Arms-Crossed' / 'Zaku Opening a Lid'
Truly capable of expressing a wide range of emotions(?).

Alright, enough goofing around — time to move on to some proper action poses.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The pose that sent Gunpla fans into a frenzy — the one and only Zaku II ver.2.0 signature pose... comm

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The pose that drove Gunpla fans absolutely wild — the one only the Zaku II J ver.2.0 can pull off... t

The pose that drove Gunpla fans absolutely wild — the one only the Zaku II J ver.2.0 can pull off... the infamous "spare some change?" pose.
Though it's actually harder to nail than you'd think.. You really have to get the side skirts positioned just right,
and the waist angle has to be perfect before the hands can reach the ground.
Either way, I can't believe this pose is actually possible.. I'm genuinely moved T_T

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The box art pose. Pretty dynamic, right? Despite the smaller feet and a somewhat unstable center of gr

The box art pose. Pretty dynamic, right?
Despite the smaller feet and a somewhat unstable center of gravity, it's surprisingly easy to pull off.

"Hey, get over here." pose

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Zaku machine gun firing pose. (1/3)

Zaku machine gun firing pose.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Bazooka action (1/3)

Bazooka action

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Fully armed action (1/3)

Fully armed action

Kneeling fully armed action

Dynamic Heat Hawk & spike shoulder attack pose

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The rear view is just pure dynamism! It's amazing how it manages to stay balanced even leaning that fa

The rear view is just pure dynamism!
It's amazing how it manages to stay balanced even leaning that far over.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Either way, this is hands-down the best kit for pulling off leg-based action poses! (1/3)

Either way, this is hands-down the best kit for pulling off leg-based action poses!

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Slide the crotch gimmick to the rear position, then plug in the included action stand adapter piece an

Slide the crotch gimmick to the rear position, then plug in the included action stand adapter piece and...

you can mount it on a universal action stand.
(A stand is not included with this kit.)

Awesome action pose~

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - I tried going for a side kick pose, but the skirts kept getting in the way and I just couldn't quite g

I tried going for a side kick pose, but the skirts kept getting in the way and I just couldn't quite get it right T_T

Instead, here's a bonus... wait, this pose is!!!

The Poke of Fury! lol
Only the Zaku 2.0 can pull off a low crouching poke like that.

7. Comparison with Zaku II v1.0

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Front and rear comparison. The 2.0 came out a little shorter. Not just the height — the overall build

Front and rear comparison. The 2.0 came out a little shorter.
Not just the height — the overall build is a bit slimmer too... though the thighs alone seem to have bulked up :-)

Viewed from the side, you can clearly see the height difference at head level.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The 2.0's head is noticeably smaller too. I guess a smaller head is just the trend these days..;; And

The 2.0's head is noticeably smaller too. I guess a smaller head is just the trend these days..;;
And the 2.0 has gone completely bald — not a single panel line on the dome.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Upper body front and rear comparison. The backpack has been simplified quite a bit. It feels like all

Upper body front and rear comparison. The backpack has been simplified quite a bit.
It feels like all the unnecessary panel lines across the whole body have been stripped away.

Arm comparison. The 2.0 side has gone a bit more plain.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The shoulder shield is shorter and wider. Putting them side by side like this really makes the differe

The shoulder shield is shorter and wider.
Putting them side by side like this really makes the differences stand out.
And as you'd expect from a 10-year gap, the decal style on the 2.0 feels noticeably fresher too.

Leg comparison. Smaller feet, slightly slimmer calves, but beefier thighs...

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The difference in foot size is pretty dramatic;; I do wonder if the 2.0's feet came out a bit too smal

The difference in foot size is pretty dramatic;;
I do wonder if the 2.0's feet came out a bit too small...
but the ankle joints on the 2.0 are so flexible that it actually has better ground contact than the 1.0.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Zaku machine gun comparison. The style has changed completely from the 1.0. It feels like a much more

Zaku machine gun comparison. The style has changed completely from the 1.0.
It feels like a much more refined redesign..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The magazine position has changed drastically too. You'd almost have to treat it as an entirely differ

The magazine position has changed drastically too. You'd almost have to treat it as an entirely different weapon..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The bazooka has changed a lot too. The barrel in particular is noticeably longer. To be more precise,

The bazooka has changed a lot too. The barrel in particular is noticeably longer.
To be more precise, the 2.0's bazooka looks like a refined version of the F2's. (See the F2 comparison photos below.)

The missile launcher is pretty similar between the two.

The Heat Hawk has gotten bigger too. The detailing is a bit more refined as well.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The articulation comparison is almost... embarrassing ^^; The Zaku 1.0 just can't get out of the "nice

The articulation comparison is almost... embarrassing ^^;
The Zaku 1.0 just can't get out of the "nice shot, boss~" pose.

Ten years of progress... the Zaku has evolved to the point where comparison is almost unfair.

8. Comparison shots with MG Zaku II F2

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - This is a comparison with the F2, which was considered the best quality Zaku around before the 2.0 cam

This is a comparison with the F2, which was considered the best quality Zaku around before the 2.0 came along.
The F2 is basically a bit larger and chunkier overall.
The molded colors are in a similar range, though the F2's is a bit brighter.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Body comparison. They are different kits with different designs to begin with, but... the F2 is defini

Body comparison. They are different kits with different designs to begin with, but...
the F2 is definitely the chunkier one ^^

Both the F2 and the 2.0 have pretty small heads.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The 2.0 wins on shoulders, the F2 wins on forearms. The shoulder shield length is similar, but the 2.0

The 2.0 wins on shoulders, the F2 wins on forearms.
The shoulder shield length is similar, but the 2.0 is wider.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The F2 dominates when it comes to the legs and feet. More precisely, it's the 2.0 that has slimmer fee

The F2 dominates when it comes to the legs and feet.
More precisely, it's the 2.0 that has slimmer feet and calves.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Articulation comparison. I always thought the F2 had pretty good articulation, but the 2.0 just blows

Articulation comparison. I always thought the F2 had pretty good articulation, but
the 2.0 just blows it out of the water.. ^^

The F2 doesn't come with a machine gun, so the comparison gets a bit awkward~

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Bazooka comparison. Looking closely at this photo, you can tell that the 2.0's bazooka was designed ba

Bazooka comparison. Looking closely at this photo, you can tell that the 2.0's bazooka was designed based on the F2's rather than the 1.0's
The style is very similar.
That said, you can clearly see that the 2.0's bazooka came out quite a bit longer..

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - The 2.0's bazooka scope looks almost identical to the F2's, but the difference is that the 2.0's scope

The 2.0's bazooka scope looks almost identical to the F2's,
but the difference is that the 2.0's scope cover is movable.
The F2 has a cover too, but it's just fixed to the side — it doesn't move.

Proof that the 2.0's missile launcher was also based on the F2 rather than the 1.0.

As for what this photo means... I'll leave that to your imagination.. lol

9. Group shots

All green MG Zakus, gather up!

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - Looking at them now, the 1.0's OYW version molded color was actually pretty nice. Still, the 2.0's mol

Looking at them now, the 1.0's OYW version molded color was actually pretty nice.
Still, the 2.0's molded color feels a bit more premium.

The evolution of the Zaku, you might say.. ^^

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - This time, all MG mass production Zakus assembled. The limited edition All Clear version and the clear

This time, all MG mass production Zakus assembled.
The limited edition All Clear version and the clear/plated parts versions joined in too.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - All officially released MG Zaku II kits assembled. Three high mobility types and Char's personal unit

All officially released MG Zaku II kits assembled.
Three high mobility types and Char's personal unit have been added.

The complete official One Year War MG Zaku series lineup,
including the Zaku I.

All MG Zakus assembled, including limited and special editions.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 - With two MG Zaku II F2s joining in, here's the full group shot of every official and limited edition M

With two MG Zaku II F2s joining in,
the full group shot of every official and limited edition MG Zaku released so far
18 of them in total;; There sure are a lot of Zakus out there..

And finally, the straight build photos..

Here's a wallpaper-style large photo. Give it a click ^^

A beautiful fusion of the developer's craftsmanship and top-tier engineering.

With main suit ver.2.0 upgrades rolling out one by one, the Zaku II has finally made its debut as a 2.0 as well. Bandai had been keeping us in suspense for so long, and they've finally pulled the trigger. If you remember the excitement of the day the Zaku ver.2.0 was announced, you're a true-blue Gunpla fan! ^^

Anyway, I had a feeling this kit was going to be something special, but once I opened the box, the result was beyond anything I'd imagined. This is the biggest culture shock in nearly 30 years of Gunpla history — the Zaku II ver.2.0. This first version of the 2.0 line (since it's obvious there'll be endless variations down the road) is the J-type ground use variant. Unlike the 1.0, which was released as a combo for both the space-use F-type and the J-type, the 2.0 launched as the J-type only. Seems like they're planning to release the F-type as a separate variation.

The perfect-score Ball was amazing, and the Acguy that topped it was incredible too... but both of those kits were pretty minor suits that nobody had high expectations for, so the fact that they turned out so well made the impact even bigger. In other words, just getting a kit of them at all was something to be grateful for — so having them come out THIS good was genuinely moving.

But Zaku? Zaku is a different story. As one of the two defining icons of Gunpla alongside the Gundam itself, it's always been caught in a frustrating dilemma — being released very early on, when the technology just wasn't there yet. As recent Bandai kits have kept pushing quality higher and higher, Gunpla fans have honestly gotten a bit numb to these improvements. It's more like, "Oh, nice work guys, keep it up!" kind of feeling. In that sense, I imagine the Bandai developers must have agonized over how to handle a version upgrade for Zaku, one of the biggest stars of the franchise. A half-hearted upgrade just wasn't going to cut it.

Recent releases like Freedom 3.0 and Hi-Nu were all top-tier kits, and as Master Kawaguchi has said, new technologies have been continuously developed and applied. The Mk-II version upgrade felt more like a leap in engineering than a developer's passion, and the Zeta version upgrade gave me the feeling of "okay, here's what we expected."

So when I heard Zaku was getting a version upgrade... my reaction was basically just: finally, a "proper" Zaku with modern technology! That was about the extent of my excitement.

And then Bandai hit that "reasonable" expectation with a counter punch. ^^;
As if every new technical attempt and quality improvement up to this point had all been leading up to this one kit — the Zaku 2.0.

▶ Proportions
The reason I'm talking about proportions first when reviewing this kit is because it's where the developer's hard work hit me the hardest. Things like articulation and frame design can be achieved by combining thoroughness, time investment, and technical skill — but proportions aren't that simple.

They must have wrestled with how to satisfy picky Gunpla fans, torn between demands for faithfulness to the original and demands for a sleek, modern look. The result is a surprisingly harmonious blend of that classic feel and contemporary refinement.

Compared to the 1.0, the head is smaller, the body is a bit leaner and more compact, and unnecessary panel lines have been removed in favor of a cleaner, simpler look — all clearly in line with current trends. And yet, the lines flowing from head to torso to arms to legs still carry that wild, rugged feel of the original. Especially noteworthy are the thick, sturdy thighs that are so iconic to the Zaku — they're done just right here. Honestly, chunky thighs can easily look tacky, so I wasn't sure they'd go there unless they were fully committing to that old-school look. But the result is, well, the word "exquisite" fits perfectly.

Of course, proportions are highly subjective, but you can see the admirable effort to satisfy as many people as possible — both old-school fans and newcomers alike. And even old-school fans probably didn't want something that looked completely dated, so this mysterious balance of old and new in the proportions is something I'd call a success.

In short — it just looks great. (That was a lot of words to say something so simple!)

▶ Feel in Hand
You might wonder why "feel in hand" deserves its own section heading — but the Zaku II 2.0 earns it.
Out of every kit I've ever built, this one has the best feel in hand, hands down. That's just how it feels.
I use the term "feel in hand" pretty often, but it's admittedly a bit hard to define. It's not just about the kit being high quality — it's the actual sensation you get while building it. Parts that click together just right, gimmicks that lock in place without being too stiff or too loose... that satisfying snap when everything fits together.

As a reviewer, I do a lot of attaching and detaching parts. Too loose is annoying, but parts that are too tight to pull apart are also a problem. The Zaku 2.0 is... hard to put into words. Parts snap together easily and smoothly, yet they hold together firmly, and somehow they also come apart cleanly when you need them to. It's really hard to describe in writing...

For a while now, the ABS plastic has been improved to feel subtly soft rather than just hard — almost like a thin rubber layer on the surface — to the point where it can replace polycaps. The Zaku 2.0 is once again at the peak of that feeling. It's a stark contrast to the recent RRR series Layzner. The Layzner... I don't know about everything else, but the stiff, rigid frame parts were exhausting and honestly a little frustrating. The Zaku 2.0 feels like it's on the complete opposite side of the planet from the Layzner. ^^;

In a word: soft yet strong — and you can feel it in your fingertips.
Photos in a review can't convey this at all, but once you build it yourself, you'll know. :-)

▶ Articulation

Articulation has been improving endlessly — these days, if a new kit doesn't fold up its limbs all the way, it gets criticized. Dynamic articulation has basically become the baseline expectation for MG kits. But the Zaku 2.0 has risen above all that pressure and claimed the throne of articulation king once again. Gotta give credit where it's due.

I mean, when you first think of Zaku... with that chunky, stocky build, you'd think the outer armor would have to be made of rubber to get any kind of dynamic poses out of it. (-_-;) Like, how else is it supposed to fold up properly?

But it seems like Bandai's developers at the top of their game can do just about anything these days. Those chunky legs fold up completely, the waist rotates freely (as you may know, the 1.0 was one solid block;;), the shoulders slide upward, and the ankle joints are incredibly flexible — the end result is: "Wait, is this really a Zaku??" It genuinely catches you off guard.

Through clever inner frame and armor structure design, the limbs fold up completely — and on top of that, the latest hip joint design is actively used, along with a revolutionary ankle design that pushes past every limitation.

The hip joint here is worth thinking about. After the PG Strike Gundam, Bandai had some success with a gimmick that slides the hip connection point forward and backward — but they clearly knew that while effective, it had issues with either not holding position well or being too stiff to move. So with the F91, they moved the pin connecting the leg to the hip joint forward, allowing the leg to swing straight up without any sliding gimmick at all.

Honestly, from a developer's perspective, the sliding hip joint gimmick must have been far harder to design (and recently they even went as far as making each side move independently) — so it must have felt a bit deflating to find that simply repositioning a fixed pin could achieve equally good, or even better and more convenient articulation. Fortunately, this approach was mainly applied to more niche kits like the F91 variations, and I was curious whether it would ever make it into the mainstream. After all, the split/sliding hip joint looks like the more advanced technology, given the effort that went into it and the fact that it just seems more impressive as a gimmick.

But in the Zaku 2.0 — arguably the most mainstream kit you can get — Bandai boldly went with the simpler F91-style hip joint approach. Practicality over flash, you might say. And the result is easy to use and very satisfying.

Personally, even though it's a different field, I used to work as a communications hardware developer, so I've had a similar experience to this hip joint situation. To improve something, I put in a ton of brainpower and went through a lot of trial and error to introduce a new mechanism. It was a bit tricky to work with, but customers responded positively — it added a function that hadn't existed before and improved efficiency. Then one day, a clueless new hire casually said: "Hey... couldn't you just do it this way? It's way simpler..."

My senior colleagues and I tried it out, and instinctively felt: "Oh no... there was such an easy way to do this all along T_T" — but we were really hung up on all the effort we'd put in, plus the production equipment we'd already set up for the old method. So it wasn't adopted right away, but the fact that such a simple solution existed kept nagging at us. In the end, in the practical world of engineering, the simple improvement suggested by the rookie — which also cut production costs — was chosen. I felt a hollow sense of futility as all the time and effort put into the previous approach was essentially reset, but that's how it went.

It took us so long and so many twists and turns to get there... and Bandai just switched it up like it was nothing. ;;;
In that sense, I really do want to give Bandai's development team huge credit for their commitment to improving their products. It might not have been as easy as it looks — and I feel a certain kinship with them over that.

Well, I went way off on a tangent there and stayed a while. ^^;

Anyway, the hip joint was adopted using what's been evaluated as the best approach, and the results are good. (I already said that up above!)
It can even pick up coins off the floor — this thing has crowned itself the new king of articulation, showing off the best poseability we've ever seen.

▶ New Gimmicks

There are a few articulation features I intentionally left out earlier... they were so fresh and novel that I wanted to give them their own separate section ^^; These are also some of the most noteworthy highlights of the Zaku II ver.2.0.

First up, let's take a quick look at the shoulder gimmick... this is yet another gimmick I've never seen before @_@
Shoulders that swing forward and raise upward have become so commonplace they're even used on No Grade kits these days, but the Zaku II ver.2.0 uses a quirky combination of both. As you can see in the photos, the arm bends diagonally upward and swings forward at the same time. It's a clever blend of the best aspects of both up-down and front-back movement;;

And when you look at the shoulder gimmick in action on the frame, it doesn't just slide straight forward — it moves like a linked cylinder mechanism. Now THAT'S what I call a bonus feature~ There's something almost cute about watching it move... -.-;;

Second, the completely unexpected mono-eye linked gimmick. On older Zaku kits, the neck and eye moved independently, and moving the eye was a bit awkward with not-so-great retention. (Back when it first came out ten years ago we were thrilled by it, but ^^;) The designers decided to completely reinvent this, and what they came up with is really fun — when you turn the neck, the eye follows and rotates slightly faster than the neck itself.

And when you look closely at this clever little gimmick, it's actually built on a really simple idea: there's a gear cut into the center of the neck, and a gear on the mono-eye that meshes with it, but the two gears have slightly different rotation ratios. So when you turn the neck, the mono-eye subtly rotates a bit further in the same direction. Such a simple mechanism, yet it produces such a fun gimmick! ^^

Third, the most jaw-dropping gimmick in the Zaku II ver.2.0... the insanely flexible ankle joint. For starters, having articulated cylinders on both the front and back is already a treat, but look closely at the ankle joint structure and you'll notice it's quite unique. The moving axes are all ball joints, connected in multiple stages... which means the ankle can move forward, backward, and side to side, and on top of that, it rotates horizontally with no trouble at all.

So if you place the foot flat on the ground, grab the lower leg, and twist the ankle around, it bends and rotates with a creepily natural range of motion. It gives me the same feeling as when I first saw the calf tendon gimmick on the PG Strike — a tingle that runs right through your fingertips!!

What really matters is that these groundbreaking ideas are used so effectively! No matter how great gimmicks are, it's pretty common for them to not fully deliver once the armor is on and you start posing, but the Zaku II ver.2.0 delivers 200% on every one of these gimmicks.

So even though the feet ended up quite small due to the proportional changes, this kit has better ground contact than any other kit out there. The ankles move side to side, rotate horizontally, bend forward and back with ease, and on top of that the sole is split in two and moves independently... it honestly handles every single pose you throw at it. And here's the kicker — with gimmicks this flexible, you'd normally worry about joint strength, but amazingly the joint strength is excellent too... In a word, it's the perfect ankle that Gunpla fans have always dreamed of. The SEED MGs with their great articulation but floppy ankles that keep toppling over must be looking on with envy ^^;

Fourth, moving from the joints to the armor... the skirt area, which has always been a major limitation on Zaku and Gouf-type kits, has also received a new treatment. The side armor is secured with a ball joint, and a gimmick has been added that allows the entire ball joint mount to shift significantly rearward. This opens up a lot of room for the legs to move, and ultimately allows every single articulation gimmick on the Zaku II ver.2.0 to work to its full potential. Once again, an impressively thoughtful design...

On top of that, smaller details like the waist rotation — which wasn't possible on the 1.0 — have been added, and the forward-backward range of the waist is also larger compared to other kits.

With these innovative ideas all working in sync with the frame-and-armor structure that already delivers top-tier articulation — and all of them complementing rather than interfering with each other — the Zaku II ver.2.0 truly pushes its overall quality to the absolute limit. :-)

▶ Even More New Stuff

Actually, one of the things everyone was most curious about when the Zaku II ver.2.0 was first announced was how the power cables would be handled. There were just so many points to cover that it kept getting pushed back. Tsk~

Anyone who's built a Zaku or Gouf knows the pain of threading all those dozens of beads... Sure, the detail and realism it gives is great, but from a builder's perspective it's definitely a hassle. Even for a straight build you have to clip and clean all those beads, and if you want to paint them you have to secure each one individually and struggle through the whole process.

Whether they made up their minds to fix this with the ver.2.0 upgrade or not, the power cable assembly on the Zaku II ver.2.0 uses a completely unexpected new approach. Roughly speaking, multi-material injection molding is used to attach the beads to a separate part so they can be molded together, making it easy to clean up the gate marks, and then the beads are transferred over to the pipe they're meant to sit on and locked in place. It's a bit hard to explain in words, but take a look at the photos above and it'll make sense right away.

Among these, the power cables on the head and waist are fixed in place, so the inner core is made of a rubber-like material, but the leg cables use only a spring inside the pipe with no plastic core, to allow for movement. This improves the detail and also lets the cables flex smoothly without getting in the way when the knee is bent. Using just a spring for the inner core might seem a bit worrying, but fortunately the ends of the spring lock firmly onto the fixing pins on both sides, so they won't come loose under normal circumstances ^^

Anyway, this unusual approach is reasonably effective — gate marks are cut in half, cleanup is easier, and painting has definitely become more convenient. Also, one side of each bead features the same molded detail that was seen on the UCHG Zaku head. All in all, the power cables feel like a clear upgrade in every way~

That said, when you're cleaning up the gate marks and transferring the beads to the pipes... they're quite stiff, so be prepared for some hand strain. That's the biggest weak point of the new power cable system. Especially when moving the leg cables — if you apply force the wrong way, the spring can catch and go sproing~ stretching out in a truly heartbreaking moment, so be careful!

Also, compared to the 1.0, the way the cockpit opens has been changed — a gimmick has been added where the seat slides left and right, just like on the PG Zaku. A lot of people seem to think this was first introduced on the Zaku II ver.2.0, but the cockpit sliding gimmick was already on the PG Zaku. (Looks like someone hasn't been keeping up with their review homework!) So instead of the entire chest cover opening as one piece, the panels on each side of the chest now slide open and closed individually. The seat movement is done simply by removing the backpack and using a lever on the back — it's an effective and convenient solution.

▶ Complaints

Of course, the Zaku II ver.2.0 has a few minor complaints too. No kit is completely without its little shortcomings.

First, the grip. The increased finger joint articulation inevitably weakens the grip strength, but instead the palm has pegs to help secure weapons. Thankfully it's nowhere near as cursed as the grip on the recent MG Full Cross, so it can hold weapons and stand reasonably well. However, the peg fit isn't super tight, so weapons do occasionally fall out when posing. It's a bit of a contrast compared to some other kits with more secure weapon holds.

It's not loose by any means, but it's definitely not the kind of hold that gives you total peace of mind either — so it's a little nerve-wracking, though at least things don't just fall out on their own before you even touch it, which is a relief. The grip situation can also come down to mold tolerance and build luck, so it might just be something that's hard to get perfectly right. I'm nitpicking here, but it's honestly not a serious issue ^^;

Also, the missile launcher that attaches to the side of the leg has a noticeably weak hold. On the MG Zaku 1.0 it plugged directly into a polycap built into the side of the leg, so the fit was solid — though it did leave an unnecessary panel line when not in use. And on the HGUC it was basically just draped on with almost (practically zero) retention, which got a lot of criticism... and the MG Zaku II ver.2.0 uses essentially the same attachment method as the HGUC.

So on the 2.0 it's still basically just draped on like the HGUC, but there is a small locating notch to keep it in position. The problem is that the hold is so weak that the slightest bump sends it falling off... It's a relatively minor accessory so it might not matter much, but compared to how polished everything else is, it does stand out a little ^_^;;

The front skirt spreading open too easily was a frequently pointed-out issue even before release... but this really does seem unavoidable. If the skirt wasn't split into individually articulated sections the way it is on the 2.0, there's no way it could achieve this level of articulation. Like two sides of a coin — you gain something, you lose something, and you can't catch two rabbits running in opposite directions at the same time. That said, if you just tidy up the skirt when displaying it standing still, the gap won't be visible. :-)

More than that, the side skirts have a wider range of motion but the attachment is a bit loose, so they tend to pop off easily during dynamic action poses. You just need to be a little careful, but after going through all those action poses like the ones above, it was mildly frustrating, I have to say.

Some people point out that the inner frame detail is a bit plain, and honestly, compared to the incredibly intricate frame detail on recent MG F91-series kits, it does look a little sparse. But in a way, you could also say the frame matches perfectly with the simplicity of the Zaku II 2.0's outer armor, which has minimal panel lines. It's definitely not a bad frame by any means!

Also, slide molds were used extensively on the shoulder armor and weapons, which eliminated seam lines — but there are still more parting lines visible than you'd expect. Though honestly, that feels like nitpicking. ^^; We should just be grateful they made them as single-piece parts.. lol

There are these minor gripes, but overall they get completely overshadowed by the kit's standout quality, so they don't really feel like a big deal. ^^; It's the kind of kit where you almost feel bad for trying to find faults.

▶ A New Chapter in Gunpla History

Over the past few years, I had started to think it would be impossible to recapture that peak excitement I felt with the MG Ball and Acguy. Sure, kit quality would keep improving, but I figured there wouldn't be a subject worthy of that kind of excitement — and I vaguely assumed the developers inside Bandai wouldn't easily get another opportunity to pour that much effort into something. But the Zaku II 2.0 delivers something that surpasses all those past thrills.

Everything written in this review is honestly colored by the emotions of a 26-year Gunpla veteran, so younger fans who are actually younger than the Zaku itself (^^;) might feel a bit differently. The kit's quality is objectively top-tier, no question — but there's an extra something on top of that which was enough to make me change the very scale I use to score kits. ^^

The Zaku II 2.0 is hard to capture with just a perfect score of 100, and taking into account how overall kit quality has risen across the board recently, I've adjusted my scoring criteria a bit. I still deduct from 100 based on shortcomings, but for areas where this kit clearly sets itself apart from everything that came before, I've decided to award bonus stars beyond the maximum. Check the chart at the very bottom for the detailed breakdown. Either way, at this point in time, I can confidently call it the best Gunpla in existence.

The best articulation around, an incredibly satisfying build experience, solid joint strength, a variety of effective new ideas, proportions that strike a perfect balance between old and new — it's easy to list the Zaku II 2.0's strengths on a functional level. But a Zaku is a Zaku. In the Gundam universe, the Zaku holds a position that could be argued to carry even more charisma than the Gundam itself. The fact that such an iconic suit has now been released at this level of quality says a lot.

Unlike previous kits that gradually introduced new ideas and craftsmanship one step at a time, the Zaku II 2.0 feels like every bit of know-how and every idea the development team had was thrown in all at once — a true distillation of Bandai's 30-year Gunpla history into a single kit. In that sense, the Zaku II 2.0 is opening a new chapter in Gunpla history, and it really does feel like Gunpla history will be divided into before and after this kit. It's as if Bandai put everything on the line to make it happen.

What's a little unfortunate is that no matter how high-quality the First Gundam version-up turns out to be — and it's obviously coming sooner or later — it simply can't show the same massive leap that the Zaku's version-up did. With so many minor version-ups already done on it, there's no way it can match the Zaku in terms of sheer excitement. (Though of course, we'll have to wait and see — Bandai has a long history of pleasantly blindsiding us.) If they just release the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079 with the armor molding stripped off and call it a 2.0, that'd be a disaster waiting to happen... ^^;

Either way, Gunpla keeps evolving without pause, and this kit serves as a reminder that you can never safely predict where that evolution will end. A true masterpiece.
This was a kit with sky-high expectations — and the skill and confidence to deliver quality that clears those expectations with ease...
I really want to say to the Bandai development team: great work! :-)

MG MS-06J Zaku II J ver.2.0
Category	Rating	Analysis
Seam Lines	★★★★★★	The most ambitious use of slide-molded single-piece parts ever. Especially the weapons..!
Molding Color / Color Separation	★★★★★	Molded colors and color separation that are far more refined compared to the 1.0.
Proportions	★★★★★	A harmony of classic and modern. You can clearly see the thought the development team put into it.
Articulation	★★★★★★	The greatest range of articulation ever, with joints that are actually effective in practice.
Joint Strength	★★★★★	Never loose, never overly stiff. Absolutely optimal.
Internal Frame	★★★★★	A "perfect" full-body frame. And a double frame on top of that.
Detail	★★★★★	Simplified in some areas, but the beauty of restraint really shines through.
Weapons / Accessories	★★★★★	Fewer weapons, but more than effective enough. Weapon detail has jumped up significantly.
Parts Count / Price	★★★★★	287 parts total. 82 parts per ¥1,000. Great value for the quality!
Uniqueness	★★★★★★★	Gunpla history is divided into before and after the Zaku II 2.0.
Dalong's Point : 108 pts.

MG Zaku II J ver.2.0 | 2007. 4 | ¥3,900

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.