Introduction by Metal Slime

The Gouf Custom is based on the ground version of Zaku (MS-06J). The Zeonic Corp boosted up this beast with close range fighting concept and tons of weapons loaded for guerrilla warfare.

The name "Gouf Custom" was not earned only on its mobility, but especially for the custom configurations of its weapon . The standard heat-rod on the right hand of Gouf was replaced with an anchor wire that enabling a "shock pulse" damage on its enemy (mainly the pilot). Comparing the high cost and high maintenance (not to mention usage difficulty) of heat rod, this point-and-shoot anchor head has proven to be a better solution. On the left hand, the quintuple 75 mm. cannon is replaced with manipulator finger, while a 35mm triple chambered gatling cannon is also offered as an optional equipment.

Somehow, after UNT beam sabre idea was established as the best melee weapon (of RX/RGM Series); the idea of heat sabre seem to head toward obsolescence. One countermeasure proposal was the gatling shield that attach to the current Gouf shield, slapped with 6 revolving barrels to dissipate bullets before those beam sabres could reach their effective range.

The model

I consider this kit to be one of Bandai's best effort on 1/144. Thank mostly to Katoki's redesign whcih translate very well onto model (unlike the previous Okawara's Zaku which I basically loath). The proportion needs almost no alteration at all. The whole thing also works very well as a "canvas" for modifications. If there's a few little gripe I have, that'd be the fact skirt armor does not open and the body size is a little small compared to the-many other Zaku models. That, includes the 0083's Zaku II garage kit which apparently, shared many similar features. I was looking forward to putting them side by side but now it'd look like one of them is a little off scale. I'll probably upped its volume a bit when I get around to build the flying type though.

Construction/Modifications

From the start to finish, it took me just 10 days including all the modifications! That's relatively quick for my usual project. Though I'm not a slow builder either.

As good as the Gouf Custom as a kit, being a sick person that I am, I can't help but feel the urge to go wild on this model. So almost no part was left unaltered. Here are the low-downs on what I did.

Head
For the head, I threw away the kit's visor part and replaced it with an 8mm clear plastic pipe. I stuffed a 3mm poly-cap inside and used a plastic rod as a core, so it's rotatable. A black enamel is painted from the inside to enhance a characteristic of clear part. For mono-eye, I use a red light crystal.

On the 'head lid', I added a couple of vulcans beside the antenna. This involves drilling a 'channel' for the vulcans and attached the smallest vernier (drill a hole on it to make it into a vulcan) can find.

I replaced stock cable with a 1mm coil spring and covered with brass pipes. The neck is also given its own hydrolic piston from a 1mm plastic rod.

Body
I start off the body by separating the upper and lower body into a separate removable parts simply by cut out the spur that lock them together. Next, the side skirt plates are sawed off the main body. The torso's gonna need some extension vertically to act as a place to attach the skirts. I used polyester putty and plastic sheet for that and then use spring to joined it with the skirts (which have been covered up the saw mark with a thin plastic sheet).

To match the Zaku F2 feature by feature, I put a tiny rivet on the skirt as well. If you look really, really hard, you'll notice it. ;-) I also put a (white) vernier on its crotch! I don't know what went through my mine at the time... but apparently I keep on doing the same thing for the desert Zaku and Char Zaku. Heh heh heh, go figure. And oh, the square shaped plate on there is a photo-etch part.

For upper body, the breast plate is heavily textured with putty and accented with rivets on 4 corners. On the left side (of MS), I placed a 'signature' motif on (that nipple thing).

As with the head, cable is replaced with spring (2mm here) and brass pipes.

Arms
See the diagram next page.

Legs
Only cosmetic aspect has been changed for the legs. Just the over all scratch marks. I puttied the inside of the knee pad and cover it with plastic sheet plus photo-etch. The front side of knee pad is a minus-mold part, photo-etch (can be a thin plastic sheet) and textured with putty.

Weapons
A light crystal is again being used in place of the sensor (see pic). The sturm faust is taken from a garage kit left over as well as the MMP-80's magazine on its side. I actually had MMP-80 on its butt, but it'd fell of before the photo shoot.

The Kondo-style Interpreting

As with the Gera Doga, I was in Kondo mood while doing this. A lot of typical Kondo motifs are used throughout. From texture to shoulder armor's look. I think it's quite clear here that I had my fun with dry-brushing (it's also obvious that I almost over do it).

For diagram of modified parts, see next page.