Yeah, I had that particular HG Zeta once, the one with multi-colored plastic on the same parts in the runner, the mint-green white plastic, and the manual with the awesome illustrations by Hajime Katoki.
Was a very floppy kit, but it was capable of full transformation and not the partsforming that the latter HG's do.
Yeah, it was a runner technique that was used in some of the old F91 and F90 kits. They used it for the 90's 1/144 HG Gundam, HG ZZ, and as you mentioned the 90's HG Zeta (wave shooter.)
I believe that the old HG Zeta was based off of the Sentinel 1/144 Zeta plus, which had a near identical transformation in order to keep the kit "transformable." Kinda funny how that was lost in the HGUC version... along with the C1's beam smart gun.
I love the history behind some of these kits, and I'm definitely gonna keep my eyes on this one to see how they handle it!
I'm having a hard time finding completed images of this old HG Zeta. I'm certainly familiar with the box art but for whatever reason I've never once seen a detailed review in all my years of collecting Gunpla. Anybody got anything to share?
Because the standard release Zeta Plus is the one from Gundam Unicorn anime, which didn't carry the C1's beam smart gun. Later Bandai released HGUC Zeta Plus C1 (comes with the beam smart gun), but under P-Bandai :P
Sadly this one will be partsforming too... Dunno why bandai didn't want to make a fully transformable hg zeta kits anymore, maybe due to some added complexity to the production line...
Well, a partsforming kit at 1/144 scale is a lot more sturdy than a fully transforming kit. The old HG 1/144 was a full transformer sure, but like I mentioned here previously that kit was way very floppy, and its transformation mechanism did no favors to its ability to pose.
If you're going to be using the Zeta Gundam as a static display anyway, then its ability to transform wouldn't even matter at all, unless you want kits posed in mid-transformation.
There are many transforming kits at 1/144 scale- unlike the Zeta Gundam they're probably designed from the start to be made into a transforming model. The AGE-2 (and its variants) are some of the best ones, but there's also the Clanche and Clanche Custom from AGE, the Arios, Harute (the Kyrios, sadly, needs slight partsforming), Union Flag (and variants/rivals) from 00, some SEED kits like the Raider and Savior (I think the Aegis is partsforming,) and lastly some HGUC kits are capable too, like the Gaplant, Asshimar, Methuss, Gaza C, Hambrabi, Wing Gundam, and Airmaster.
Some are easier than others naturally Wing Gundam- SUPER easy. Asshimar/Methuss... not so easy.
Well THIS is a surprise! I think most people have forgotten that the "first" HG Zeta was this version.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had that particular HG Zeta once, the one with multi-colored plastic on the same parts in the runner, the mint-green white plastic, and the manual with the awesome illustrations by Hajime Katoki.
DeleteWas a very floppy kit, but it was capable of full transformation and not the partsforming that the latter HG's do.
Yeah, it was a runner technique that was used in some of the old F91 and F90 kits. They used it for the 90's 1/144 HG Gundam, HG ZZ, and as you mentioned the 90's HG Zeta (wave shooter.)
DeleteI believe that the old HG Zeta was based off of the Sentinel 1/144 Zeta plus, which had a near identical transformation in order to keep the kit "transformable." Kinda funny how that was lost in the HGUC version... along with the C1's beam smart gun.
I love the history behind some of these kits, and I'm definitely gonna keep my eyes on this one to see how they handle it!
I'm having a hard time finding completed images of this old HG Zeta. I'm certainly familiar with the box art but for whatever reason I've never once seen a detailed review in all my years of collecting Gunpla. Anybody got anything to share?
DeleteI heard that one of the zeta mangas made the mobile suit design canon in the story. This a good choice for a P-Bandai release.
DeleteBecause the standard release Zeta Plus is the one from Gundam Unicorn anime, which didn't carry the C1's beam smart gun. Later Bandai released HGUC Zeta Plus C1 (comes with the beam smart gun), but under P-Bandai :P
DeleteGundam Zeta Define made this variation canon CMIIW
DeleteSadly this one will be partsforming too... Dunno why bandai didn't want to make a fully transformable hg zeta kits anymore, maybe due to some added complexity to the production line...
Delete@Tim A
DeleteWell, a partsforming kit at 1/144 scale is a lot more sturdy than a fully transforming kit. The old HG 1/144 was a full transformer sure, but like I mentioned here previously that kit was way very floppy, and its transformation mechanism did no favors to its ability to pose.
If you're going to be using the Zeta Gundam as a static display anyway, then its ability to transform wouldn't even matter at all, unless you want kits posed in mid-transformation.
Looks good. if you don't want a partsforming at HG 1/144 scale, you can technically do a full transformation with AGE-2 variants.
DeleteThere are many transforming kits at 1/144 scale- unlike the Zeta Gundam they're probably designed from the start to be made into a transforming model. The AGE-2 (and its variants) are some of the best ones, but there's also the Clanche and Clanche Custom from AGE, the Arios, Harute (the Kyrios, sadly, needs slight partsforming), Union Flag (and variants/rivals) from 00, some SEED kits like the Raider and Savior (I think the Aegis is partsforming,) and lastly some HGUC kits are capable too, like the Gaplant, Asshimar, Methuss, Gaza C, Hambrabi, Wing Gundam, and Airmaster.
DeleteSome are easier than others naturally Wing Gundam- SUPER easy. Asshimar/Methuss... not so easy.
@darkstar0083
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to find much myself, but the youtuber Kakarot197 did a review of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1gwccBNeto