MS-06K Zaku Cannon

 

After the experience of "updating" an old 80s MSV kit with the Zaku Flipper, I wanted to try it again with the added change of actually modernizing the posing as well. The Zaku Cannon is one of the most iconic of the MSV designs having actually received updated kits in form of MG based on the 2.0 Zaku II and an HG based on the Origin Zaku II. While both those kits look great, they added the typical modern level of mechanical details, whereas the old kit has the charming quality of the old line art.

The major difference once again was changing the shape of the shoulders to allow for a more natural splay to the arms and for it to grip the underslung guns in a more dynamic pose rather than just straight forward. The skirt armor was extensively remodeled with styrene sheet and polyester putty in order to allow for the thighs and waist to be reposed to give the appearance of bracing to absorb the recoil of the large 180mm backpack cannon.

The hands were replaced with modern HG Zeon hands as once again, the hands are without a doubt one of the absolute worst parts of these old kits and appear more like snow mittens than robotic at all. Due to some structural changes caused by the reposing, as these kits don't have any kind of poly cap or frame other than just straight sockets and pegs, much of the kit was fix posed and cemented.

After having built this kit a long time ago, and then learning a great deal with the Zaku Flipper remodel project, I was fairly please with the way this one came out. Some more small changes could have happened to get it even closer to the original 80s artwork, but I think it manages to capture the spirit of vintage Gundam without looking as goofy as the kit out of box would be. I am not sure if they are still reissuing these at the vintage prices of a few hundred yen anymore but I encourage everyone to give a piece of Gundam modeling history a try.