MGUniversal Century

MS-06FS Zaku II (Garma Zabi Custom)

The Ver 2.0 Zaku frame dressed up in Garma's four-vulcan helmet and a decal sheet fit for Zeon royalty.

MechaGrade Score

4.0/5

Zaku II · 1/100 · 2014

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2014

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the excellent MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 engineering wearing a commander's coat, and that base is still doing all the heavy lifting years later.

I had a genuinely great time posing it thanks to that double-jointed frame, and the FS helmet with its four vulcan ports gives it a silhouette that stands apart from every other Zaku on my shelf. The catch is that this was a P-Bandai online exclusive, so the parts that make it special (decals, Garma's own Heat Hawk) matter more than usual, and if anything goes sideways in your build there is no running to a store for a spare sprue.

Best for: Zeon builders who already love the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 and want the commander-grade version with lore behind it

The full review

What it is

At its core this is the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0, one of the more celebrated MG frames Bandai has put out, retooled with FS-specific parts. That means the four vulcan cannon helmet, Garma Zabi's personal decal set, and his specially molded Heat Hawk on top of the usual Zaku loadout of 175mm rifle, bazooka, machine gun, and Sturm Faust. Building it felt familiar in the best way if you have touched a 2.0 Zaku before, snug part fit, satisfying joints locking into place, and a real sense that Bandai sweated the small stuff on a suit that is, on paper, just a green mono-eye grunt.

The catch

The frame's shoulder joints ride on ball-jointed polycaps that give you a huge range of motion up front but can loosen with repeated posing over time, a known long-term complaint on the Ver 2.0 platform this kit shares. There is also an easy-to-see nub mark on the helmet that shows up in close-up shots, so plan your cleanup there. As a Premium Bandai release this shipped in limited runs, so pricing on the secondary market runs well above a standard MG, and a couple of builders online have reported one rough patch late in assembly that soured an otherwise strong build.

Who it's for

Grab this if you already respect the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 line and want the definitive display version tied to actual One Year War history rather than a generic grunt repaint. It rewards builders who like panel lining and topcoating their stickers, since Bandai calls that out directly for this release. Skip it if you are hunting for a budget Zaku or don't want to chase down a Premium Bandai exclusive at inflated aftermarket prices, a standard MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 or an HGUC FS will scratch a similar itch for less.

The build story

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

The runners feel like a mature Ver 2.0 Zaku build: parts seat snugly, gates are placed sensibly, and nothing about assembly fights you except a couple of tight fits typical of the line. Bandai's own instructions flag that the FS-specific stickers and decals benefit from panel lining and a topcoat if you want them to hold up, which tells you this kit expects a little extra care rather than being a pure snap-together display piece.

The engineering is where this earns its reputation. Shoulders swing forward on a joint that lets the arms clear the torso, elbows and knees are both double-jointed, and the hand's 3+1+1 finger articulation plus swiveling wrist gives real grip options for the rifle and Heat Hawk. Mono-eye movement via head rotation and Action Base 1/4 compatibility round out a kit that clearly treats posing as a feature, not an afterthought, and the weapon loadout is generous enough that you are not scrounging for accessories after the build.

Lore & trivia

01The FS designation stands for an upgrade package meant for squad commander units, distinguished by four vulcan gun ports built into the head instead of the standard single mono-eye housing.
02This specific unit was Garma Zabi's personal custom Zaku, later piloted by Tara I. Cicero during the closing days of the One Year War to stir up remaining Zeon resistance in North America.
03The kit is built on the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 platform with newly molded FS-specific exterior parts, including a helmet unique to this release.
04It was released as a Bandai Hobby Online Shop (Premium Bandai) exclusive in December 2014, complete with Garma Zabi dedicated decal seals.