Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

RG Zephyranthes - Close-up detail shots. The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG. (1/7)

RG Zephyranthes - Close-up detail shots. The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG. (2/7)

RG Zephyranthes - Close-up detail shots. The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG. (3/7)

RG Zephyranthes - Close-up detail shots. The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG. (4/7)

RG Zephyranthes - Close-up detail shots. The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG. (5/7)

Close-up detail shots.
The detail is as precise as you'd expect from an RG.

Outer armor removed

RG Zephyranthes - Inner frame shots. The basic skeleton is the same as the RG Marasai. (1/2)

RG Zephyranthes - Inner frame shots. The basic skeleton is the same as the RG Marasai. (2/2)

Internal frame
The basic skeleton is the same as the RG Marasai.

RG Zephyranthes - Frame close-up detail shots (1/5)

RG Zephyranthes - Frame close-up detail shots (2/5)

RG Zephyranthes - Frame close-up detail shots (3/5)

Frame close-up detail shots

Frame articulation.

RG Zephyranthes - Even with the core block sitting in the middle of the torso, they still managed to cram a horizontal should

Even with the core block sitting in the middle of the torso,
they still managed to cram a horizontal shoulder rotation gimmick into that thin upper section..

RG Zephyranthes - Frame kneeling pose (1/3)

Frame kneeling pose

Standard weapon loadout.

The beam parts unique to the GP01 beam rifle are also included.

RG Zephyranthes - In addition to the fist hands and articulated hands, a dedicated hand for holding the shield is also includ

In addition to the fist hands and articulated hands, a dedicated hand for holding the shield is also included separately.
The shield handle and the hand itself are molded as a single part, giving you a rock-solid grip..

RG Zephyranthes - The shield's standard handle can be detached and reinserted in a different orientation. But the catch is, s

The shield's standard handle can be detached and reinserted in a different orientation.
But the catch is, since there's already a dedicated hand with the handle built in, you'll probably never actually use that feature.. lol

The magazine mounted inside the shield is removable.

The shield's extension/retraction gimmick is also properly reproduced with a sliding mechanism.

RG Zephyranthes - There's also a bit of inner frame detail inside the beam rifle. (I accidentally inserted the scope backward

There's also a bit of inner frame detail inside the beam rifle.
(I accidentally inserted the scope backwards in this photo ^^;)

The weapons hold pretty well, so no major issues there.

Sole detail.

RG Zephyranthes - The sole even has a movable grip claw gimmick for gripping the ground. They really did manage to cram every

The sole even has a movable grip claw gimmick for gripping the ground.
They really did manage to cram every possible gimmick into such a tiny space..

Cockpit hatch open.
Small, but incredibly well crafted.

RG Zephyranthes - The gimmick of lifting the entire chest cover is also reproduced — and interestingly, the white parts above

The gimmick of lifting the entire chest cover is also reproduced —
and interestingly, the white parts above the chest ducts rise up along with it.

RG Zephyranthes - To separate the core block, you first need to open the backpack cover and split it into three sections as s

To separate the core block, you first need to open the backpack cover and split it into three sections as shown.

The core block with just the upper body detached

Core block connection point between upper/lower body

The separated core block

After unfolding the core block into its designated configuration..

Unfold the neatly tucked-away wings.

Pull out the hidden small vertical stabilizer, then..

you'll need to disassemble the chest duct area.

RG Zephyranthes - The yellow duct parts have different front and back faces — in core block mode it's a single horizontal lin

The yellow duct parts have different front and back faces —
in core block mode it's a single horizontal line, and in core fighter mode it's three vertical lines, so you rotate it 180 degrees and reinsert it.

So by flipping the yellow parts around, both duct shapes are cleverly reproduced as shown..

Attach the landing gear to the now-clean underside and the transformation is complete.

Wow.. a fully functional transformation gimmick in this tiny size!!

The canopy opens too.

A finely detailed 1/144 scale Kou Uraki figure

RG Zephyranthes - Two leftover parts remain — because of the core block, the torso section of the one-piece articulated frame

Two leftover parts remain —
because of the core block, the torso section of the one-piece articulated frame goes unused.

Articulation is great as expected.

Knee/elbow linked gimmick and thigh slide gimmick

RG Zephyranthes - Shoulders and waist are flexible too. I figured the waist would be fixed in place because of the core block

Shoulders and waist are flexible too.
I figured the waist would be fixed in place because of the core block, but the engineering here is really clever.

RG Zephyranthes - Kneeling firing pose (1/4)

RG Zephyranthes - Kneeling firing pose (2/4)

Kneeling firing pose

RG Zephyranthes - Cool firing pose (1/4)

RG Zephyranthes - Cool firing pose (2/4)

Cool firing pose

RG Zephyranthes - Two-handed pose using beam parts (1/3)

Two-handed pose using beam parts

RG Zephyranthes - Beam saber action pose (1/4)

RG Zephyranthes - Beam saber action pose (2/4)

Beam saber action pose

A dedicated joint part for Action Base 2 is also included.

RG Zephyranthes - Aerial firing pose (1/6)

RG Zephyranthes - Aerial firing pose (2/6)

RG Zephyranthes - Aerial firing pose (3/6)

RG Zephyranthes - Aerial firing pose (4/6)

Aerial firing pose

RG Zephyranthes - Alongside the HGUC Zephyranthes. The HGUC kit is decent in its own right, but the quality is just in a comp

Alongside the HGUC Zephyranthes.
The HGUC kit is decent in its own right, but the quality is just in a completely different league in every way..

Alongside the MG Zephyranthes, released a whopping 16 years ago.

Alongside the RG RX-78-2.

Straight build

The GP01 Zephyranthes from 0083 has made its way into the RG lineup. As the main unit from 0083 Stardust Memory — a classic Universal Century OVA that still enjoys a huge fanbase — instead of coming as a swap kit with the Full Burnern, it's been released as separate kits simultaneously, just like the HGUC and MG releases.

First off, the overall build feel and quality absolutely delivers that "This is RG!!!" feeling — it's the very essence of a high-quality kit. The clever combination of tiny parts achieves perfect color separation, and the various gimmicks, articulation, and frame are all on par with or even beyond MG level. The inner frame uses the same runners as the RG Mk-II, so it's not exactly groundbreaking in that regard, but that also means it's a well-proven articulated frame.

Comparing it to the early RG RX-78-2, you really get the sense that the RG lineup has matured quite a bit. The smaller parts fit together more securely, with nothing feeling loose or wobbly. And the combination of excellent articulation and just-right joint strength makes the whole build and posing experience really satisfying. ^^

The biggest defining feature of the GP01 series is the core fighter docking gimmick in the center of the torso, and despite the small 1/144 scale, it's been reproduced perfectly in true RG fashion. All the various design-spec gimmicks for the core fighter's transformation into the core block are meticulously recreated, and both the core fighter's proportions and the seamless integration after docking are handled without any issues. The connection between the upper and lower body when the core block is stored is ever so slightly iffy, but since it's a lightweight small-scale kit, it doesn't pop apart easily as long as you're a little careful — so that's a relief.

In terms of overall accuracy, it already surpasses the MG Zephyranthes — which came out 16 years ago — by several steps. Not only does it have a full inner frame, but even the V-shaped chest piece that was handled with a sticker even on MG kits is now achieved through color separation. On top of that, the design specs call for different chest duct shapes depending on whether it's in core block mode or core fighter mode, and this is handled by pulling out the duct piece and reinserting it the other way around — reproducing both shapes. Hats off to the craftsmanship that managed to pull this off in such a clever way on a kit this small. ^^

One thing that's changed with the RG GP01 compared to previous releases is that the number of seals has been drastically reduced. RG kits can be a bit of a grind to build, but the seal work was also a real chore that put a lot of people off. (Myself included, a little..) It honestly feels like the seal count has been cut by more than half — maybe down to about a third — which made the whole process much more manageable. My guess is that since Zephyranthes and Full Burnern were releasing at the same time, they didn't want to overwhelm builders by plastering both kits with seals.

To wrap it all up — this is a really well-done RG kit that delivers a clean, satisfying build experience. It feels a bit more polished and stable than the early RG releases, showing off an almost flawless level of quality with barely anything to nitpick. (And the seal work is lighter too..) If you're an 0083 fan, this is obviously a must-have, and if you're into high-quality kits in general, this is the kind of kit you just go ahead and order without hesitation. :-)

RG Zephyranthes | 2013. 7 | ¥2,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.