OLD Gundam ZZ ZZ Gundam

Release 1986.6

Price ¥600

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

Box side view

Runners

Parts diagram

Manual

Snap-fit build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Comes with one beam saber and a dedicated hand.

Separate parts are used to fill in the hollow areas on the beam saber and double beam rifle.

Old-kit-level limb articulation.

Double beam rifle firing pose

Giant beam saber action

Together with the 1/144 Z Gundam. The color separation and molded colors are nearly identical.

The original 1/144 Gundam quartet assembled

Together with the HGUC ZZ Gundam released in 2010.

The fourth entry in the old-kit ZZ series is the main protagonist's own 1/144 ZZ Gundam. Just like the 1/144 Z Gundam, it's made up of only two molded colors — teal and blue — so the snap-fit build looks a bit bare. That said, it does a decent job of capturing ZZ's characteristically complex silhouette in three dimensions.

Articulation is exactly what you'd expect from an old kit — there aren't many poses worth striking — but thanks to the polycaps, joint strength itself isn't a major issue. That said, there's a fair amount of looseness between parts throughout the build, so everything wobbles just a little. It definitely doesn't have that tight, snug feel all over.

The stiff proportions typical of old kits can feel a bit suffocating, but in a way, that's part of their charm. Either way, being the main protagonist's mobile suit and all, this seems like a fun old kit to build — whether it's for a nostalgic snap-fit build or just some painting practice. :-)