HGUC 071 MS-05L Zaku I Sniper

This is HGUC #71, the Zaku I Sniper Type that has been featured in recent Gundam Video Games. The kit itself is based off of the other two existing Zaku I kits with some modified parts and new weaponry. Expect the same articulation and build from the kit but with different accessories.

~Head- This variant of the Zaku I requires a long sensor radius. Because of this, the standard monoeye has been replaced for this larger eye unit. The Head of this unit is pretty close to the Zaku Recon unit seen in some Zeta Variants of the Zaku. Because of its side, the monoeye scope can only move up and down. Side to side motion is impossible due to the size of the scope. There is also an antennae on the left side of the head. The head has a good range of motion.

~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 only comes with the other two Zaku I kits. You can cover up the spot where the hilt goes with a small tan 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. However, this kit already does that for you… which is handy. Theres a fold-down hilt for a bazooka on the rear skirt armor, but since theres no Bazooka, this feature is… again… useless without the other kits.

~Backpack- The Backpack for this kit is monstrous. Still, one might expect that the larger backpack would throw off its weight distribution. Not with this guy! Theres also a cool cable part that connects to the Sniper rifle, which I will outline later. When the Sniper rifle is not in use, the cable can attach to the backpack to stay out of the way.

~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. They have been slightly remolded from the original Zaku I to make them look more like the styling we see on the Zaku I Early Type.

~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. In place of the right knee armor is a \”stand\” for the Sniper. In the original lineart, this stand folds out and then angles to meet the ground evenly to give more stability to the sniper. However, the HGUC's stand can only extend out. The stand does not angle to the ground so it sits flat. Unless your sniper is sitting on his knee straight down (which would look awkward), it won't stay flush to the ground. What I found interesting about its construction was that this stand is directly connected to the knee joint, as opposed to being externally connected to the armor like I had anticipated.

~Accessories- The weapons MAKE this kit what it is: A Sniper. The Sniper rifle is one cool piece of work, with a cable running from it to the backpack for power supply. The only setback of this rifle is its inability to fold, which it looks like from the molding, its supposed to be able to do (theres a hinge molded in there!) The rifle has a clear part for its scope, so if you want it colored, you'll have to do that on your own. It also has a second Zaku Machinegun-style scope that can move slightly on the left side. I thought this was cool and didn't notice it from the images I had seen of it previously. The kit is limited in terms of its weapons, but what other weapon do you need for a Sniper than a sniper rifle? Well… just in case your Zaku I Sniper is caught off guard and isn't feeling like resorting to his newly-installed head vulcans, he can whip out that ol' tank-killing machine gun. The same kind included in the other two Zaku I kits. Unlike those other kits… these hand sets actually work with the kit. Granted, theres no Heat hawk to help screw things up or bazooka hands that fall apart, but now they're at least solid hands! The Trigger fist, two left-hand open palm hands, and the two normal fists are just fine (except for the fact that if you want all the hand sets built, you end up with one tan cover short).

~Overall: This was an unexpected release and the anticipation of getting this kit definetly lived up to its own! The Zaku I kit was already a solid build, but its existing hand sents and accessories left it with… well… the shoulder-thrust of doom. This solid kit, combined with its new unique designing, cool weapons, and nifty coloration makes it a great kit to pick up! Also, for you Ramba-Ral fans out there… this kit makes it possible to combine it with one of the other Zaku I HGUCs to re-create Ramba Ral's Zaku I. Still… its a cool kit. If you were dissapointed with the other 2 Zaku Is, get this guy! You'll feel all happy inside!

To Re-create Ramba Ral's Zaku I:
Use this Zaku I Sniper as your base. Replace the following parts on the Sniper with parts from one of the other Zaku I HGUCs:
Head unit (use commander spike)
Left Shoulder (replace the right shoulder)
Leg (replace the right leg)
Backpack

Then just paint it the Blue Giant's colors and you're good to go!

this kit so cool ! although its a grunt unit , i still love it !

one suggestion though is to add more internal mechanisms on this kit
and make the sniper rifle gray instead of desert grey and camoflouge
the sniper rifle and add lines to its feet and legs . it lacks decals and unit insignia .