OLD 08th MS Team 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II

Release 1996.4

Price ¥1,500

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Runners (1/6)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Runners (2/6)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Runners (3/6)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Runners (4/6)

Runners

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (1/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (2/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (3/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (4/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (5/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (6/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (7/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (8/11)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Parts Diagram (9/11)

Parts diagram

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (1/8)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (2/8)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (3/8)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (4/8)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (5/8)

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Manual (6/8)

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

This kit is a combo set of the 1/144 Gundam Ground Type and Zaku II.

Ground Type Gundam

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - The attachments on the sides of the head can be swapped out individually — a long-range comm p

The attachments on the sides of the head can be swapped out individually — a long-range comm pack (left) or an additional vulcan pod (right).

Generous weapon loadout

The machine gun's shoulder stock is articulated.

Five hands are included in total, but four of them are right hands.

The backpack can be fitted with a container via parts swapping.

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - The container opens up. In practice, though, the weapons can't be folded down, so you can't ac

The container opens up. In practice, though, the weapons can't be folded down, so you can't actually store them inside.

Limb articulation is pretty average.

Beam rifle firing pose

The kneeling cannon firing pose — pretty much the signature pose for this kit

Beam saber action

Machine gun action

Alongside the 1/144 First Gundam.

Alongside the 1/144 Gundam NT-1 and GP01 from the same OVA series.

Alongside the HGUC Ground Type Gundam released in 2007

Zaku II

Weapons include the Zaku machine gun and Zaku bazooka.

Four hands are included in total, but three of them are right hands.

You can choose between a standard head or one equipped with an antenna.

Remove the chest armor and you can see the cockpit and mechanical detail molded underneath.

OLD 1/144 Gundam Vs. Zaku II - Limb articulation. The look is noticeably more refined, but the articulation doesn't really ke

Limb articulation. The look is noticeably more refined, but the articulation doesn't really keep up..

Bazooka action

Zaku machine gun action

Alongside the 1/144 Zaku II.

Alongside the 1/144 Zaku FZ from 0080.

Alongside the HGUC Zaku II released in 2003

The first kit in the model lineup for Gundam: The 08th MS Team — the OVA that kicked off in 1996 — is this 1/144 Ground Type Gundam & Zaku II set. True to its name, it's a combo kit with two models in one box. The Zaku II included here is the J-type, while the F-type was released separately as its own kit.

Starting with the Ground Type Gundam — the color separation is decent enough and the overall color combo works fine. Articulation is about average, but the joint strength and parts fitment are generally on the loose side throughout. The skirt armor in particular barely opens at all and is practically fixed in place, which makes moving the hip joints a real pain — so pulling off that signature kneeling cannon firing pose isn't exactly easy.

On the other hand, the weapons loadout is generous and faithful to the source material, and one nice touch is that multiple hands are included so you can actually grip each weapon properly. The container has an opening gimmick built in, but since the weapons can't be detached, you can't actually store anything inside. The way the container attaches to the body is also a bit iffy, so it doesn't hold on all that securely.

As for the Zaku II, it's definitely a step up design-wise compared to earlier Zaku kits — it looks a lot more refined. But the articulation is frustratingly limited, which really restricts the poses you can pull off. The skirt armor barely budges, so the leg range of motion is narrow — you can't even get a proper wide stance, and trying to hold weapons and strike a pose just doesn't come together well. Even a basic standing pose ends up looking a bit off somehow. In short, it looks great on the outside, but the joint layout feels very much old-kit in every way.

Bottom line — both kits have solid designs, good colors, and nice overall shaping, but the joint construction leaves a lot to be desired. The quality gap compared to the later HGUC releases is pretty significant, so it's hard to recommend this old kit. If you're looking for a reason to pick it up anyway, I guess the argument would be that for the price of one HGUC Ground Type Gundam (¥1500), you get this old kit with a Zaku thrown in as well. :-)
[ Updated at 2018.3.14 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.