MGUniversal Century

MS-06R-2 Zaku II (Johnny Ridden Custom) Ver.2.0

The Ver.2.0 Zaku frame with a rocket pack bolted on, and it earns the extra thrusters.

MechaGrade Score

4.1/5

Zaku II · 1/100 · 2008

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2008

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the best-engineered Zakus Bandai has put out, riding the same hyper-articulated Ver.2.0 frame that made the base MG Zaku a fan favorite, then loading it up with Johnny Ridden's signature backpack and hardware.

I came away impressed with how much posability survives the added bulk. The one real tradeoff is those huge leg thrusters, which physically get in the way of deep knee bends. Everything else, from the finger articulation to the weapon selection, is exactly what an MG at this stage of the line should deliver.

Best for: MG builders who love the Zaku 2.0 frame and want a bigger, gear-heavy ace-pilot variant to go with it

The full review

What it is

This kit takes the excellent MS-06J/S Ver.2.0 Zaku frame and dresses it as Johnny Ridden's high mobility custom, the red and black machine tied to the Crimson Lightning nickname (often confused with the Red Comet) from the MSV side stories. You get the full snap-fit inner frame with individually articulated fingers and a ball-and-swivel waist, plus a hefty new backpack, a heat hawk, a Zaku machine gun, a Zaku bazooka, and an oversized bazooka that gives the whole thing real shelf presence. Building it feels like getting two kits in one, the proven Zaku core plus a meaty accessory kit stacked on top, and the part count reflects that. It never feels like padding, every added piece reads as gear a Zeon ace would actually be hauling into battle.

The catch

The big leg thrusters that define this variant also limit it. Builders consistently report the knees can barely clear 90 degrees once the thrusters are mounted, so this Zaku wants to be posed standing or striding rather than crouched or kneeling. A few of the smaller frame parts are inconsistent in fit, the shoulder PC joint can go on tight while the wrist armor tends to run loose. And like most Ver.2.0 Zakus, the molded colors look a little flat straight off the runners, this is a kit that rewards panel lining or a paint pass rather than a pure snap-together display piece.

Who it's for

If you already like the MG Zaku II Ver.2.0 line and want a version with more hardware and a specific pilot identity attached, this is the one to get, the frame quality carries it even with the thruster tradeoff. It is also a good pick if you want a Zaku that looks imposing next to a Gundam without moving up to PG. Skip it if full deep-knee dynamic poses are non-negotiable for your shelf, or if you would rather have a cleaner out-of-box color job without reaching for paint.

The build story

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

The build follows the familiar Ver.2.0 Zaku assembly, snap-fit throughout with the frame going together before armor panels close over it. Gate placement is manageable and cleanup is standard MG-level work, nothing unusually fiddly, though a few builders flag the ball-joint shoulder connection as needing patience to seat correctly without stressing the peg.

Where this kit earns its keep is the frame's articulation, a ball-jointed and forward-swiveling waist, shoulders that swing close to fully forward, double-jointed elbows, and two points of wrist movement on top of individual finger joints. The skirt armor swings out of the way on ball joints so hip movement is not blocked by the surrounding plates. Combined with the expanded Johnny Ridden accessory set, the part count and posing options feel like real value for an MG in this price band.

Lore & trivia

01Only four MS-06R-2 High Mobility Type Zakus were built in the fiction, assigned to aces Johnny Ridden, Gabby Hazard, Robert Gilliam, and test pilot Elliot Rem.
02Johnny Ridden's red and black paint scheme led to him sometimes being confused with the 'Red Comet,' Char Aznable's nickname, despite being a distinct character.
03The MS-06R-2 line was a stopgap for elite pilots before Zeon moved to the MS-09R Rick Dom for space combat roles.
04This kit reuses the MG Zaku II Ver.2.0 frame introduced with the MS-06J and MS-06S releases, the same platform praised for its hyper-articulated joints.