Introduction by Metal Slime

MS-06F2 ZAKU II

The history of Zeon combat MS started with the MS-05 Zaku which was later improved into this Zaku II series. The upgraded features include cooling system, better power generator, imoroved responses, and production economy of scale. The development started with the C-variant, and then F (mainly for space-use), plus a lot more variations on the main unit and itsweapon system. It is estimated that, since its first rolled out in 0078, the total unit numbers of all variations combined summed up to 8,000.

This F2 was a minor upgraded variant of the standard 06F. with changes mainly on the cockpit hatch and armor plates. The production was done at Zeon Dukedom's Granada base. After the war was over, UNT Spacy has captured all the production units for study and training purpose. This beige painting scheme is intended to be a test unit, matching the basic specifications for UNT developed MSs during 0081-0083 at Torrington base, Australia.

With the UNT Emblems on its spike armor and shield, it is an unacceptable humiliation and eyesore for remnants of Zeon, the factions that didn't comply to
the Zeon traitors (as Delaz claimed) that surrendered to the UNT. The group instead fled to the secret base, Kimbarite Mine in Africa. With their limited resource and supplies, they have made some cannibalize modifications with this same Zaku variation. The adaptation was to reinforce "Applica-Armor" and booster option "Raketen Galgen" which was installed on the guerilla leader, Noien Bitta's unit.

Source:
1) Newtype 100% OPERATION PROGRAM Code Name "Stardust", 1993 Kadokawashoten
2) Gundam 0083 RyakudatsuHen (The Plundering: Film Story Ch. 1- 5), 1991 Keibunsha Encyclopedia

The kit

The base kit here is the first, fixed-pose version of B-Club Zaku II from 0083. It was first issued in 1992, with the original price of 6,900 yen (which can only get you a meager 1/220 kit these days). This version has since been discontinued many years ago. The current offering from B-Club is a whole new full action kit (not recycling any parts from this one), but the style somehow, leave a lot to be desired compare to this, IMO. Not only is the details amazing (as per most kits from that 'golden age' of Gundam GK), but there's also those little extras like the texture on the shoulder armor, or crystal mono-eye something you hardly seen with kit these days.

Oh geez, I've drifted into that good ol' day mode again. Boy, I'm getting really old....

The work

What you see here is actually a total renovation of an old work I completed long ago. This Zaku II is actually one of the first resin kit I have done. For some reason it has a tendency to fall (from wherever I put it) and break into pieces so many times, over the years. I must have fixed it back countless of times, until I've had enough of that. So what is an egocentric modeler to do? You full-actionized it, off course! :D

Now, almost 8 years after I first put it together, I can see how I didn't do a good job on so many places. The sanding marks are still visible in some spots (um, actually I still posses this 'trait' to this day). Even some resin 'gates' are not cleaned out entirely. I also hadn't pin a single piece in it, which could explains its weak structure, though it's not exactly neccesary here as all the parts do interlocked nicely to each other.

It was an extra hard work cleaning out all (well most) of the old painting, plus the new modifications. Fortunately though, the kit lends itself very well to the installing of Kotobukiya's ball joints and double joints. The process went rather smoothly, except maybe for the knee guard. The final result is a bit on the loose side, but at least I'm able to make it into various poses now.

The details

I took the opportunity (while it got tear apart) to introduce some new detailings. I meant them to be just subtle little things like, verniers replacment, MAX's signature brass pipes, and some rivets/molds here and there. Ahh, what great technologies 8 years bring. :D

The weapons included are pretty generous. There's the usual MMP-79 machine gun (and a good one at that!), MMP-80, magazine pack, sturm faust, missile pod, and rocket boosters (okay, these are not weapon). Here I compared the MMP-78 from different kits. From top to bottm: one from HGUC Gouf, one from this kit, and another MS-06F2 kit.

The painting

I pretty much like my old mix of colors, but as usual I hardly ever keep track of what went on into those recipe, so for the most part the idea behind mixing color here is to replicate what I did years ago.

The flesh part is, as I remember, was tan with lots of white. The dark bluish is Gunze's blue #5, which I forgot, is gloss. Had to correct it wih a clear coat. Something I don't usually do (and rather not do).

The weathering

In this incarnation, a bit more weatherd effect is applied than before (the redo). Yet I still want to keep it relatively clean, as this is merely a training purpose unit. One gripe I've been having with the over-the-top weathering seen on some Gunpla worksis that it is, for the most part, grossly out of scale.

I do the wash of the whole thing with a raw umber oil paint, and black enamel on panel lines. Brown enamel is used for the oil streaks (or whatever that yucky thing supposed to represent). Finally, I applied pastels on various spots.

Cute, eh?