OLD Z Gundam 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II Box

Release 1985.11

Price ¥700

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

Runners

Spring parts

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Parts (1/2)

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Parts (2/2)

Parts diagram

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Manual (1/4)

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Manual (2/4)

Manual

Straight build + waterslide decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II (1/2)

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II (2/2)

Underside

Missile bay open.

The wings move slightly upward.

Cockpit unit separation

After separation, you need to attach the rear vertical fin separately.

Separated cockpit unit in flight mode

The long rifle's power cable is represented with a metal spring.

G-Flyer configuration with the 1/144 Gundam Mk-II mounted underneath

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - To set it up in Super Gundam mode, you slide the top panel forward. Being an old kit,

To set it up in Super Gundam mode, you slide the top panel forward. Being an old kit, the sliding section feels pretty flimsy and tends to pop off easily..

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - The various gimmicks for combining with the Gundam Mk-II are reproduced pretty faithf

The various gimmicks for combining with the Gundam Mk-II are reproduced pretty faithfully.

Reposition the G-Defenser and rest it on top of the backpack.

Then open the top and bottom covers of the long rifle.

Super Gundam configuration with the 1/144 Gundam Mk-II

OLD 1/144 G-Defenser for Gundam Mk-II - Alongside the G-Defenser from the HGUC Super Gundam released in 2002. The HGUC is cle

Alongside the G-Defenser from the HGUC Super Gundam released in 2002. The HGUC is clearly much smaller — the old 1/144 seems like it came out way too big.

Together with the HGUC Super Gundam.

This is the old-style Zeta Gundam 1/144 G-Defenser — a flight unit that can combine with the Gundam Mk-II to form the Super Gundam. Right off the bat, it's noticeably larger than the HGUC version, to the point where you'd wonder if it's really the same 1/144 scale. It does give off a bold, imposing presence for its scale, but it's hard to shake the feeling that the old kit came out oversized..

Functionally, despite being an old kit, most of the gimmicks are well reproduced — the sliding top panel, plus all the moving parts needed to combine with the 1/144 Mk-II are carefully implemented. The front missile bay open gimmick and cockpit separation feature are both there, and the long rifle's power cable section is even represented with a spring (!!!) of all things. Sure, the spring looks a bit out of place, but I do appreciate the bold attempt.

But old kit is old kit — all these surprisingly generous moving parts have wildly inconsistent holding strength. The sections that use polycaps in the center are stiff and awkward to move, while the long rifle covers and the sliding top panel tend to pop off constantly during posing. They managed to reproduce all the intended articulation from the design, but it seems the technology of the time just wasn't quite there yet to balance everything out properly.

To set it up as the Super Gundam, you need to reposition the side binders and then rest the unit on top of the old 1/144 Mk-II's backpack. The connection itself is pretty loose, but when you just leave it standing still, gravity keeps it in place well enough. You can also set it up in G-Flyer mode with the Mk-II carried underneath.

Anyway, it's a big, chunky kit and the sculpt itself isn't bad at all — slap a proper paint job on it and it'd probably have even more visual impact and presence than the HGUC. It's the kind of kit that's better built alongside the old Mk-II rather than on its own. :-)
[ Updated at 2017.3.24 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.