My review of the Master Grade Zaku II F/J (MG-03).
This is a very old MG kit, way back from 1995. These are my painted builds of both the F type and my customized J type (MS-06JC).
Detail - (8/10) Even for an old kit, it's features some nice exterior detail, interior, not so much. There is some nice detail on the inside of the head, backpack and cockpit but not much else beside that. As an old MG it suffers from noticeable seam lines along the arms and legs.
Articulation - (3/10) Overall articulation is sub-par. The arms are the most flexible part of the kit with limited shoulder movement, a 90 degree elbow and the old three finger, index and thumb hands. Legs are restricted by the near immobile skirt armor and the knee bend is barely 90 degrees. The large blocky feet are good for straight standing poses only as they hardly have any side to side range or back and forth. No waist joint at all. Head has a decent range with a geared mono eye gimmick. This kit can generally strike a good stand and firing pose with it's weapons and that's about it. It can be balanced up on an action base if you want to have a sort of flying pose.
Extras - (8/10) As a Zeon grunt mainstay you expect lots of gear for different situations and this kit doesn't disappoint. It comes with two different machine guns; the typical Zaku machine gun and the nicer looking sub-machine gun. You get optional ammo magazines for both guns for sticking on the Zaku's hardpoints. Also, a typical Zaku bazooka that can be stowed on the back skirt armor. A one piece heat hawk comes in a dark blue/grey plastic so it will require paint and has a bothersome attachment peg jutting out of it. In addition to those standard armaments you get a set of leg mounted rocket launchers, a pair of cracker grenades with holster, and a pair of strum fausts with holsters. And not to forget the optional heavy user detail up parts, closed and open hand sets and pilot figures. Whew.
Kit comes with sticker and dry transfers markings. The stickers on these old MGs aren't very good and are rather big. The kit comes with the optional parts to configure the Zaku as the standard F space type or the J ground type.
Value - (5/10) This kit came out in October of 1995 for 2500 yen (~$22). With a kit this old you should expect the typical older kit hang ups such as limited articulation, less than adequate color separation and visible seams. This kit costs what the Real Grade is today and the obviously the newer MG 2.0 at 3500 yen is a far superior kit albeit with not as many extras. Still, the this kit has a fairly cheap price and with some work put into it, it can really turn out great.
Total - (24/40) This kit is a bit of a relic now, coming out as above average. It is replaced by the MG 2.0 so there is very little reason for gunpla builders of today to get this kit. This kit's strengths are it's overall appearance and the large assortment of extras that it comes with. It's weakness is posing potential. If you want a building experience with a bit of a challenge and are willing to put in some work to make this look good like I did, then this kit can be quite good. If just enjoy straight building kits, this old Zaku is a definite pass.
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