Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Detail shots (1/4)

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Outer armor removed

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Inner frame shots (1/2)

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Inner frame shots (2/2)

Internal frame

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Frame detail shots. The high-mobility frame has been added on top of the existing RG Zaku f

Frame detail shots.
The high-mobility frame has been added on top of the existing RG Zaku frame.

Frame articulation.
The added leg frame does cut down the knee range of motion a bit.

There's also separate frame detail inside the high-mobility backpack.

Cockpit hatch open

It's the standard RG Zaku weapons set with a Giant Bazooka added to the mix.

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Just like on the HGUC, you can mount weapons on the shoulder shield using the weapon-mounti

Just like on the HGUC, you can mount weapons on the shoulder shield using the weapon-mounting parts.

1/144 Johnny Ridden figure.

Leftover parts

As expected, leg articulation is a bit more limited compared to the standard Zaku.

Machine gun firing pose

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Giant Bazooka action (1/4)

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Giant Bazooka action (2/4)

Giant Bazooka action

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II - Bazooka action (1/3)

Bazooka action

Heat Hawk action

Alongside the HGUC Johnny Ridden's Zaku released in 2013.

Alongside the RG Char's Zaku.

Alongside the MG Johnny Ridden's Zaku.

Straight build

The 26th RG kit is Johnny Ridden's Zaku. It's a typical variation kit based on the existing RG Zaku, but since this is the first RG take on the high-mobility Zaku, more than half the runners are brand-new.

The base frame is the RG Zaku frame with a high-mobility leg frame added on, giving it a chunkier, more solid feel. The thicker legs do limit leg articulation somewhat, which puts it in the same boat as other kits in the lineup.

On the weapons side, only the Giant Bazooka is newly added to the standard RG Zaku armaments, though the shoulder shield weapon-mounting gimmick from the HGUC has been carried over as well. That does allow for a bit more variety in weapon loadout compared to the standard RG Zaku.

Being a variation of the RG Zaku — which is a top-tier kit in its own right — it carries over all the same strengths: excellent frame, great articulation, and solid joint strength. The poor ground contact making it tricky to hold poses on flat surfaces is still an issue though.

All in all, it's a high-quality kit that's very much worthy of the RG name, and easy to recommend to anyone. With Johnny Ridden's unit leading the way, here's hoping we'll see the Black Tri-Stars and Shin Matsunaga's units get the RG treatment next. :-)

RG Johnny Ridden's Zaku II | 2017. 11 | ¥3,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.