----------- General notes on the Z-MSV series ------------
This kit is one of the products known as Z-MSV — a re-release of One Year War MSV mobile suits that appeared in Z Gundam, reissued under the Z Gundam lineup. The runner configuration is 100% identical to the original MSV kits; the only change is the molded color, which has been swapped out for a Z Gundam version — making it essentially a color variant kit. Some of them also got updated wet decals as well.
There are seven Z-MSV kits in total. Perhaps because of the noticeable quality gap compared to other Z Gundam 1/144 kits, they were only released during the original anime broadcast run. They were later reissued as復刻 (revival) editions to commemorate the 2006 Z Gundam theatrical films. Since these kits were originally developed back in the First Gundam era, their overall quality inevitably falls short of the Z Gundam 1/144 kits that came standard with polycaps.
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This particular kit is the GM Cannon from that lineup. Since it's simply a color-changed version of the original MSV release, please refer to the MSV GM Cannon reviewfor a detailed kit breakdown. The molded color has been completely changed from the light gray of the original to a deep, dark red — and honestly, it's not the most appealing color. It's just... really, really red..;;
On the plus side, much like the companion Zaku Forced Reconnaissance Type, the wet decals now include a Titans insignia that wasn't in the original MSV release. The manual instructs you to place it on the left shoulder, and as a longtime Gundam fan, there's something about that insignia that subtly makes the First Gundam and Z Gundam eras feel distinct from each other.
Anyway, the aggressively red molded color is a bit of an eyesore, but if you're planning to paint it anyway it probably won't matter much. Still, the addition of the Titans decal gives this Z-MSV kit its own little claim to fame. :-)
[ Updated at 2017.3.6 ]
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
