MGUniversal Century

MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 (Kimberlite Base Type)

The familiar F2 frame dressed in a dusty two-tone paint job that finally earns its own shelf spot.

MechaGrade Score

3.8/5

Zaku II · 1/100 · 2018

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the same excellent MG Zaku II F2 engineering Bandai has been refining for years, just wearing a desert-toned livery tied to the Zeon remnant base at Kimberlite from 0083.

If you already own a standard F2 or F/J, the question isn't whether the frame holds up (it does), it's whether the color scheme is worth a second copy. I think it is. The molded light brown and olive combination reads as genuinely different on the shelf, not a reskin.

Best for: MG Zaku collectors who want the Kimberlite desert scheme without painting a whole second kit

The full review

What it is

This is a P-Bandai exclusive recolor of the MG MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2, done up in the light brown and olive scheme associated with the Zeon remnant forces holed up at the Kimberlite base in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. Bandai molded the two-tone body in actual plastic color rather than leaving it to stickers, which is the whole reason to care about this release. Building it feels exactly like building any modern MG Zaku F2, which is a compliment. The shoulders pull outward for real overhead reach, the elbows bend a full 90 degrees, and the ball-jointed thighs let it settle into a proper stance instead of the stiff, planted pose older Zaku kits are known for.

The catch

This is a P-Bandai online exclusive, so pricing runs above a standard retail MG and it can disappear from stock or show up marked up on the secondary market. The rear skirt is a single molded piece, which limits how far the legs swing backward compared to kits with split skirt armor. Some panel lines and stripe details still rely on the included water slide decals rather than color separation, so patience during application matters if you want a clean finish. And if you already have a normal-colored MG Zaku II F2 on the shelf, the two kits share the exact same frame and articulation, so you're really paying for the paint job.

Who it's for

Buy this if you collect Zeon variants and want the Kimberlite scheme specifically, or if you like the idea of a desert-toned Zaku next to your Char's Zaku without breaking out an airbrush. Skip it if you're new to Gunpla and just want one good Zaku II, since a standard-issue MG Zaku F2 or the 2.0 Ground Type will get you the same build experience for less money and easier availability. This is a kit for people who already know they like the F2 frame and are shopping for a specific color story to round out a display.

The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

Gate placement follows Bandai's usual MG standard, mostly on flat or hidden panel faces, so cleanup is straightforward with a basic side cutter and a bit of sanding on the visible outer armor edges. Parts fit is tight and confident throughout, snapping together without the looseness that plagued the original 1995-era Zaku II mold. The two-tone runners mean you are handling more sprues than a single-color kit, but nothing about the assembly order is unusual if you have built any modern MG before.

The standout here is the inner frame. The mono-eye shifts left and right, the head has a small amount of independent tilt and rotation, and the ball-jointed hips and knees let the kit hold a genuine mid-stride or crouched pose without prop support. Weapon loadout is generous for the price band, giving you two distinct machine gun options plus a mountable rocket booster and missile pod, so the finished figure looks properly equipped for a diorama rather than posed empty-handed.

Lore & trivia

01The MS-06F2 was Zeon's late-war upgrade to the standard F-type Zaku II, fitted with a Minovsky fusion reactor rated roughly 4 percent more powerful and a lighter overall frame for improved fuel efficiency and flight time.
02Kimberlite is the Zeon remnant base depicted in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, and this kit's light brown and olive scheme is tied directly to the forces stationed there.
03This release is a Bandai Premium (P-Bandai) online-exclusive recolor built on the same tooling as the standard retail MG MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2, meaning the frame and articulation are identical to the regular-issue kit.