My comments to RG Char's Zaku II

All right, now onto the Real Grade MS-06s Zaku II —
Being the second model of the RG line, the new Char's Zaku II has truly raised the bar in terms of level of detail and difficulty of build.

In creating the second representative model kit for the RG line of Gundam 30th Anniversary, Bandai was able to use its prior experience in making the first RG Gundam to further improve its engineering and design techniques.

As you might know, a Real Grade model is lot like a mini-sized Perfect Grade—from the inner frame to the outer armor, the structure of the real grade is meant to resemble that of a real, 1:1 scale mobile suit.

The Zaku's inner frame, like in the first Real Grade kit, is exceptionally articulated; it's also quite solid, allowing the model to be posed in virtually any position while still strengthening and supporting it. And although the inner frame shares slight similarities with the RX-78-2's inner frame, it is for the most part a completely new design.

If you've built the first RG Gundam, you know that incorporating Master Grade and Perfect Grade features into a 1:144 scale kit makes it especially crucial to maintain concentration and patience during assembly. In the RG Zaku, some outer armor pieces are quite small, which may be a problem for certain modelers. However, aesthetically, this has allowed the mobile suit to be much more dynamic. Furthermore, the Zaku has significantly fewer small parts than the RX-78, which is good news for those who initially may have been dissuaded from buying a RG model kit for that reason.

Personally, I feel that a spray of flat coat is enough in terms of embellishing the model. Including an outer armor with impressively precise nuances in color, the Zaku already has many outstanding features that require little or no modification. Also note the new marking seals that are provided—not overly conspicuous, they add a liveliness to the model that make it "pop" even more. However, many would agree that water-slide and etch decals will always be better than marking seals. If Bandai were willing to provide decals in its RG model kits, Gunpla modelers would hold the RG line in much higher esteem.

As I said last time when I finished building the RG RX-78-2 Gundam, whether it’s the build process or the quality of the kit, the Real Grade line is the highest standard in Bandai plastic kits. Whether you're a modeler or just a Gundam enthusiast, this is a kit you have got to have.