MGUniversal Century

MS-06R-1A Zaku II (Black Tri-Stars) Ver.2.0

The Zeon grunt suit that grew a proper skeleton and never looked back.

MechaGrade Score

4.2/5

Zaku II · 1/100 · 2008

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2008

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the MG Zaku done right, and I mean that as someone who has built a few of the lesser Zeon kits.

The Ver.2.0 inner frame turns a suit that used to feel like a green (or in this case, black) brick into something that actually moves like a soldier. You get triple the pilot lineup too, since this boxing includes Gaia, Ortega, and Mash as a set, which is a nice touch for a squad that's basically Zeon royalty. It is not flawless, but it earns its shelf space.

Best for: MG builders who want a genuinely poseable Zeon suit and don't mind a little extra seam work to get there

The full review

What it is

This kit is Bandai's 2008 re-engineering of the classic MG Zaku, dressed in the Black Tri-Stars' signature dark navy that reads almost black under most lighting, which is exactly the point. What struck me building it is how different this feels from the old-school Zaku kits. The inner frame is fully realized under the armor, the shoulders and elbows are double jointed, and the whole thing holds a dynamic pose without you fighting the plastic. It comes with the Zaku Machine Gun, a bazooka, a heat hawk, and small figures for all three Black Tri-Stars pilots, so you are getting a genuine multi-character boxing, not just one guy with extra parts.

The catch

The waist rotation is limited to roughly 45 degrees because the movement pipes at the back eat up the available space, so don't expect a full twisting torso pose. Some builders have reported tolerances that run either too loose or too tight depending on the runner, and the inner frame plastic on certain copies feels a bit rougher than Bandai's later work, with more flash to clean up than you would expect from an MG. Markings lean on stickers and dry transfer decals rather than full molded color for the finer insignia, so if you want the crisp look in photos you will want to panel line and apply the decals carefully rather than skip that step.

Who it's for

If you have built a couple of HG kits and want your first real step into MG territory with a suit that actually has personality, this is a strong pick. The part count sits in the 370s which is enough to feel substantial without being an overwhelming multi-night slog. Diorama builders and OYW (One Year War) fans get extra value here since three named pilots come in one box. Skip it if you specifically want the newest tooling with zero flash or if a fully rotating waist is a dealbreaker for your poses. For that, look at Bandai's more recent Zaku releases instead.

The build story

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

The build itself moves at a good clip for an MG. Runners are split cleanly across the frame, armor, and weapon sprues, and most parts click into place with a satisfying snap once you've cleaned the nubs. The inner frame goes together first, and that's where you feel the jump from HG-era Zaku kits, this one has actual limb structure under the shell rather than a hollow shell pretending to be a leg. A few gates sit in visible spots on the shoulder armor and helmet, so a sharp side cutter and a bit of patience pays off there.

Where this kit earns its score is articulation and presence. The shoulders, elbows, and knees all have real range, and the frame is stiff enough to hold a mid-lunge pose with the machine gun raised, which is not something I'd say about the original Zaku tooling. Weapon loadout is generous for the price band: machine gun, bazooka, and heat hawk cover most display options, and having three distinct pilot figures means you can build a whole Jet Stream Attack diorama from a single box rather than buying three separate kits.

Lore & trivia

01The Black Tri-Stars, Gaia, Ortega, and Mash, first made their reputation at the Battle of Loum on January 16, U.C. 0079, where they used their signature Jet Stream Attack to sink five Federation battleships including the flagship Ananke.
02Their unit numbers were 03 (Gaia), 02 (Mash), and 06 (Ortega), and all three were killed in action against Amuro Ray in November U.C. 0079, ending the team.
03This Ver.2.0 tooling introduced a completely redesigned inner frame over the original MG Zaku release, bringing MG-era Zaku kits closer to the articulation standard set by Perfect Grade suits.