Mobile Suit Variations on cmwolfe.net

Gunpla Build - High Grade Zaku High Mobility Type (Final)

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:29:22 -0500

So.

This is a cool looking Zaku. The extra thrusters and fuel tanks are a fun variation on a classic design, and the color scheme is so unique.

But! It also has some of the worst articulation I’ve seen on a High Grade in a long, long time.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Zaku High Mobility Type (Build)

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:49:18 -0500

I jumped into this build so quickly that I forgot to take photos of the runners and the boxart. Of course it was easy enough to go back and fix the latter, but not so much the former, so you’ll have to settle with the layout as seen in the instructions:

My takeaway here is that the special parts for the legs and the backpack are scattered across the different runners, which makes me wonder whether or not this based on an existing HG Zaku, or if this is a brand new mold.

The Gunpla Wiki doesn’t say anything about this being a parts variant of an existing kit, and they’re usually pretty good about documenting that kind of stuff, so it probably is a new mold. And I think that might actually make financial sense. Between this, the Shin Matsunaga version, and the Johnny Ridden version, they made three retail kits out of this single design, which is probably enough to justify the cost of new molds.

But I’m rambling now. The much more interesting thing about this model is its coloring. We’ve got a lot to talk about there.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Zaku High Mobility Type

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:56:29 -0500

A certain someone requested I build this because they liked the color scheme, and I couldn’t say no:

It’s the Zaku II High Mobility Type, in the custom colors of the Black Tri Stars.