My comments to MG PMX-003 The O

Piloted by chief antagonist, Paptimus Scirocco of the Zeta Gundam series, this mobile suit is known for being the signature "heavy mecha" of the Federation army. And having taken on Zeta Gundam, Hyaku Shiki, and Qubeley in the final battle of the series, "The O" was able to establish itself as one of the Zeta Gundam series' lead mobile suits. Although plans for its MG release have unfortunately been tentative for a long time, in 2010 Bandai finally made a MG "The O"! Packaged as a PG kit, "The O" will make both modelers and Gundam fans feel a sense of excitement like none other when they take it home.

Being a "heavy mecha", the shape of The O's armor was designed to be simple in order to emphasize the bulk of the model. However, this in no way detracts from the strong and aggressive air of the mobile suit. Also, its bulk is exaggerated through each of its body parts, further adding to its intimidating look. Take the butt area for example; it's at least as big as a RG model, which quite obviously shows just how big the O is. As far as the inner frame, it does a good job with faithfully representing the same bulkiness shown throughout the model. Although the legs have a simple inner construction, they don’t affect the model's ability to support its own weight; it's completely solid. Bandai has obviously put a lot of work into the engineering of this model kit to make everything work considering its size and weight.

Although the O is a really big model, it has a fairly standard amount of parts. This allows its assembly process to be rather smooth. Also, areas on the kit in which modification is needed are few; about 1 or 2 days of work will be sufficient to complete the model. However, something worth mentioning is that it has about 50 maneuvering thrusters that should be painted. This is a crucial area when adding final touches to the O. In order to show delicacy amidst the O's coarse bulk, it's necessary that modelers put enough heart into the assembly and refining of the model.

Personally, I painted the O with the color scheme of a real desert tank, which matches the thick heavy feeling of the mobile suit, and makes it seem more like a realistic machine of war. And after applying the provided marking seals and etch decals, the model looked a lot more striking and pleasing to the eye. It's really hard to come across a model that, even if you casually put it on a table, exudes such an incredibly mechanical appearance.

I feel that while the O is bulky looking, and the design of the outer armor is simple, it still looks completely aggressive and strong. Being a fan of the Zeta Gundam model kit line, I say this is a model that you've got to have. Don't miss out on it!