HGUC 064 MS-05B ‘Zaku I’

This is HGUC #64, the Zaku I that was seen in Mobile Suit Gundam (0079). During the One Year War's opening days, Zaku Is were used to attack EFF Battleship fleets with nuclear and conventional warheads. This Zaku I is unique in the fact that some of its equipment dates back earlier than when the MSG Series begins.

~Head- The head unit for this kit has the option for a Commander spike, which I was happy about. Its construction is solid and it has a moveable mono-eye, though this is really just a sliding panel with a pink sticker on it. To move the mono-eye, theres a small switch that you can access if you remove the head. This little gimmick makes for some cool poses and looks for this Grunt.

~Torso- The toso can actually tilt in the middle, also adding to its wide variety of poses and moves. Its pretty well detailed and also has an optional connection for the bazooka hilt, which I will outline later. You can cover up the spot where the hilt goes with a small green piece. Additionally, the skirt armor is pretty articulate. Like most HGUCs, separating the two front skirt pieces down the middle can make those two panels independant without much work. This easy fix can give it even more articulation. Theres a fold-down hilt for the bazooka on the rear skirt armor, but it doesn't really latch onto the bazooka. The Bazooka just kinda sits on there and can fall off easily.

~Backpack- Nothing spectacular, just two boosters! laugh.gif

~Arms- The arm units are exact in construction with most of the newer HGUC units (from about the Hazel Custom to current units) and is double jointed. The seams on this arm unit aren't hidden too well though, and with the blue plastic its molded on, they can show up pretty easily.

~Legs- The legs are done pretty well. Articulation is strongest at the ankle. Seam lines are not hidden too well and the double jointed knee doesn't add much more mobility.

~Accessories- Weapons with this kit include a Machine Gun, Heat Hawk, Spike Shield, strum faust, Nuclear Bazooka (0079 variant) as well as a hilt for the bazooka to rest on. The weapons are done quite well, but its the hands that hold them that I'm most dissapointed with. This guy comes with 5 different Hand Sets, all of which look great, but they make using the actual weapons a pain. Theres two fists (open in middle) a right trigger hand, a tilted right trigger hand, and an open left palm. The tilted hand and the open hand don't really have much movement to them, but they're the best looking of the hands that are included. These two hands actually can't move side to side when used, so thats part of the problem with trying to pose with them. The Generic Zaku \”fist\” can't hold the heat hawk worth beans, as the heat hawk's handle is too thin to fit in the oversized hole for it. The heat hawk also has a sheath thinger for it to hold on the skirt armor, but like before, the connection isn't strong enough and it falls out easily. The Spike shield is even worse. Though it looks good, it has nothing really supporting it other than the hand holding it. These Generic Zaku \”fists\”, once again, aren't snug enough to really grip it. The Shield falls out almost as regularily as the heat hawk and really upset me. The Sturm faust can connect to the inside of the shield, but even that connection isn't too strong.

~Overall: This kit is good for its pose that it has on the box, the infamous \”Shoulder Thrust of Doom!\” Its only real solid option part is its commander antennae. Technically, this Zaku I can hold all of its given equipment, which I like, but they fall off too easily for it to really be appreciated. Theres too many flaws in its accessories for them to be used practically. Its an articulate kit, but it can't use its 'toys'.