OLD MSV 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type

Release 1983.5

Price ¥500

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

Runners

Waterslide decals

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Parts (1/2)

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Parts (2/2)

Parts diagram

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Manual (1/4)

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Manual (2/4)

Manual

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

The spike armor and feet feature a rough, textured armor surface.

Comes with a Zaku machine gun and four hands.

There's a huge sink mark on the palm of the open hand.. ;;

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - The arms are pretty standard, but the leg articulation looks like the best among the MSV

The arms are pretty standard, but the leg articulation looks like the best among the MSV kits. I've never seen a vintage kit with this kind of foot stability before..

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Shoulder forward/backward range of motion and maximum spread angle of the limbs. The Dese

Shoulder forward/backward range of motion and maximum spread angle of the limbs. The Desert Zaku's shoulders don't raise nearly as high as other kits.

On the other hand, the knees can rotate, which is a neat little quirk.

The stock on the back of the Zaku machine gun is articulated.

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Two-handed Zaku machine gun pose (1/3)

Two-handed Zaku machine gun pose

Additional weapons are included to configure it as a Caracal unit.

The weapon that mounts on the side skirt has an openable structure.

There's also a small cover part that plugs the Vulcan holes on the head.

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - To build it as a Caracal unit, you also need to swap the head antenna to the lower-style

To build it as a Caracal unit, you also need to swap the head antenna to the lower-style one, but in my case I had glued the head antenna on too firmly and it just wouldn't come off, so I left it as-is.. (oops)

Configured as a Caracal unit with all additional weapons attached (head antenna excluded)

OLD 1/144 MS-06D Zaku Desert Type - Caracal unit Zaku machine gun firing pose (1/3)

Caracal unit Zaku machine gun firing pose

Together with the 1/144 Mass Production Zaku.

Together with the 1/144 Zaku Cannon, which shares the same molded color.

Following the desert-colored Zaku Cannon, here's the real desert version — the 1/144 Zaku Desert Type. The molded color is identical to the Zaku Cannon, but the design is simpler without the big gun and cannon.

The biggest highlight of the 1/144 Zaku Desert Type is that it has the best articulation among the MSV kits. The ankle joints in particular are so flexible that they maintain ground contact even when the legs are spread wide apart — honestly better than some modern kits. The knees also rotate horizontally, which lets you pull off a wider-stance look in terms of proportions. On top of that, the overall joint strength feels more solid than previous releases, making it relatively easy to pose and hold positions.

You can also load it up with various additional weapons to configure it as a Caracal unit. One fun touch is the tiny head Vulcan cover parts included — presumably to keep out sandstorms. These parts are so small and chunky that if you're not paying close attention, you might not even notice them on the runner.

Looks-wise it feels a bit plain for an MSV kit, but thanks to the variety of weapons for the Caracal configuration plus its relatively excellent articulation and joint structure, it's actually a pretty satisfying kit to handle. I'm not sure why only the Zaku Desert Type's leg joints got such an upgrade, but either way it's an MSV kit with its own standout strengths. :-)
[ Updated at 2016.7.24 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.