Bandai Hobby ZETA GUNDAM 2.0, Bandai Master Grade Action Figure

If you're just looking for a quick judgement here it is: If you liked the Zeta Gundam series, buy this kit immediately. If you never watched it but like Gundam in general... still buy this kit. You won't be disappointed.This 2.0 version of the Master Grade Zeta Gundam is a much-needed update of the original... which was a floppy mess of a kit. This one has a much better transformation, and unlike many lesser transformable suits no parts at all need to be swapped.This build is far more intricate than even the standard Master Grade, and Zeta will probably take you a good day of straight construction to complete. The construction manual is clear throughout, though I did mess up on a foot joint I sealed in backwards and had to pry apart, so watch out for the small details.The suit mode is simply fantastic. The plastic colors are spot on, giving you that classic design straight out of the 80s, and the kit only requires a small scattering of stickers to be completely anime-accurate. All the major joints are articulated; though the waist doesn't move much, that's excusable for reasons coming up in a moment. The hands are the standard MG fare, with a small tab to hold Zeta's impressive arsenal. While I was initially disappointed at the lack of an articulated kneecap (a standard MG feature for several years now, the legs are complex enough in other ways that it's not a particularly glaring omission.The Zeta is most famous for its Transformers-like ability to convert into a futuristic ship, and this MG release seeks to deliver on this point. Does it succeed? I have to say yes, but with caveats. The transformation is truly a glorious process, with some incredible plastic engineering bringing to life a sequence that often seemed to defy physics in the show. Everything - and I do mean every thing - moves, compressing or sliding or flipping around in a complex dance from one mode to the other. The legs are particularly great, with engineering that smoothly morphs the very complex legs into place. The caveats? It will take several minutes to transform each time, there are a few small parts, particularly around the hips, that may worry you about breaking if you twist something the wrong way, and while each end of the transformation is crisp and secure, in between can be floppy and a little difficult to handle. It really is a necessity of the material, but just be careful during those middle steps.After that endeavor, you get the Waverider mode. As is the suit, the Waverider is perfectly accurate to the show, and everything snaps together for a very secure fit. Shake tests produce no sound here, folks. The cockpit also opens, showing off a tiny Kamille Bidan at the helm. While the ship doesn't move much, it's very "wooshable" and looks great on the base.Oh yes, the base. The Zeta 2.0 comes with a custom base that recreates the launch tube seen so often during the anime. It includes the launchpad, which you can pretty easily get the Zeta's feet onto for sliding down the track as it takes off into space. The base can also flip out a very secure rod for aerial poses, which can accommodate either mode with ease.Finally, the weapons. Zeta was overkill central and the includes armaments do not disappoint. The beam rifle is a neat recreation full of moving parts, with a telescoping barrel, flip-up scope, movable grip, and a flip-out mount for Waverider mode. Since that's clearly not enough, you also get the positively massive Hyper Mega Launcher, which is taller than the Zeta itself, and indeed most Gundams period. To round it all out, there are two beam sabers kept in the Zeta's side skirts, and two grenade packs that can be attached to the forearms to pop out grenades for launching.All in all, this is a great MG kit of a great suit, and you're getting a lot of plastic for your money here. I highly recommend it.

I've built the original Zeta a few years back and this one improves on the previous by a lot.This model kit has a lot of things going for it. First, it includes all the weapons of the Zeta: Beam Rifle, Beam Sabers, Grenade Launchers (with extra ammo), Head Vulcans, and even the ridiculously huge Hyper Mega Launcher that other model kits usually don't come with. The detail of the model is up there; even without paint, it already looks good by itself. It also has the ability to transform into the Waverider mode just like in the anime. The kit comes with its own action base so you don't have to buy one, the base is attachable with the one that comes with the Gundam Mk-II Master Grade. They would definitely look good together. I also found it very poseable in the action base, it is very secure and has little chance of falling off.There are a few negatives with this model, but I will write on two major issues that most people will find with it. The first is that it is back heavy thanks to the combination of the wings and the way it plants itself into the ground with its feet. It is hard for it to stand on its own, but thanks to the base that comes with it, that shouldn't really be a problem unless you're set on having it stand. The other is the complex procedure of the transformation system into its Waverider mode. It will take time and some parts will definitely come off even with practice. After transforming it once, I think the best solution would be to get another kit to show it in its WR mode. I like to display it in its mobile suit form anyway so this really isn't a problem for me.Overall, I would recommend this kit to anyone who likes the Gundam franchise or Gunpla in general, but especially to those that favor the Universal Century series. It also simple to assemble and not as hard as you might think, considering the complex transformation. The Zeta Gundam is my favorite mobile suit and this kit definitely gives it justice.

The Master Grade Zeta version 2.0 despite being released in 2005, is formidably engineered and produced so that it even rivals today's master grade kits in terms of gimicks, transformation and ability for posing. In terms of most Gundam Kits, mainly Master Grades and higher up, this one is especially not fit for playing with, rather posing and turning desk space into a little gem of the Universal Century. You will have no issues posing the Zeta Gundam until you feel ambitious to do more advanced poses, in that case, parts may fall of at the drop of a hat. It does get frustrating at times when the shoulder joint pops out at the moment when you are just happy with the pose, same with the hyper mega launcher popping out of the manipulators every once in a while. However, when you achieve an amazing pose, you can't help but marvel at the amazing kit. I highly recommend getting a grey Gundam fine point marker for the white parts besides the head, and a black fine point for the head (it makes it's unique head pop even more) and all other parts; this "one point step" really makes the kit shine aside from topcoating the kit (which a busy Architecture student like myself rarely has time for). All things set aside the kit is overall, very fantastic despite it's age with fantastic posing, great colors. Despite various situations where parts may fall off, the kit will make a great addition to anyone's collection.