With the upcoming release of the updated Zaku I, let's take a look down memory lane on the 1st Zaku 1 in the HGUC line. This will be the shortest, most irrelevant review ever since it's essentially a 10 year old kit.
A bit of personal history: My 1st Gunpla was given by a relative from HK. And it was the 1/100 Gundam Airmaster, which my Dad assembled for me. That same relative a few years later gifted me my first Master Grade, and the 1st Gunpla I assembled myself. It was of course, the Zaku 1. I remember assembling it with the purple backpack armor instead of the traditional one. And I played with it so hard that I broke it, and then glued it back together (and broke it again). From then on, I saved whatever money I have to buy a gunpla around once every few years. Anyway.... onto the kit.
It's pretty bulky looking, but the shoulder connection makes it look scrawny around the unarmored shoulder area. The left side looks ok since it has the nice shoulder armor.
It's overall very smooth looking, with minimal panel lines present. Colors and punchy and bright. Sticker wise, you don't need save for the mono-eye.
Don't expect too much as the kit was engineered during my 1st year in college (2006).
If you look closely, there are tons of seam lines. This was when Bandai never really bothered with hiding the seams. The way the bicep is constructed, it sandwiches between a mushroom peg in the shoulder, so removing the seam becomes a tad bit more difficult. Same goes with the forearms as you'll need to heavily modify it to hide the seams (or carefully mask during painting).
The legs are the same. 2 halves sandwiched between the joint. That said, I like how they added some detail to the back of the knee joint just to keep it from being too basic.
Overall it's simple and basic. You'll need to add more effort to actually make it look good. But on the other hand it's cheap. It's 450 php in Toytown. Add a hundred more and you'll get the more modern HGUC Zaku II Kai.
The missing trait amongst older Zaku kits is the waist articulation. This one, not only do you have a waist rotation, you can pull the torso up and give it a nice deep ab crunch. The shoulders also swivel out.
Lower body tends to be a bit more limited: 1 in part due to the design, and 2, it uses ball joints for the hip connection. Everything is present except the thigh swivel, which means posing it spread legged while looking decent is a challenge.
The knee has a nice bend, while the ankle can be puled down to allow it to stand flat.
Also, a modern feature is that the monoeye moves. It swivels by adjusting the peg at the bottom of the head.
It's decent for its time. Most UC kits look better just standing up anyway.
It still has the basic joints, just don't expect it to pull off standing high kicks. So it's not really as ancient as I describe it to be.
What's nice is that you can mount everything onto the kit. The rear waist armor has a panel you can flip to mount the bazooka.
There is also an option to remove the hinge on the right shoulder to turn it into a more traditional Zaku 1. I didn't bother though.
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| the fake airbrush thruster effects are cringe worthy |
A bit of personal history: My 1st Gunpla was given by a relative from HK. And it was the 1/100 Gundam Airmaster, which my Dad assembled for me. That same relative a few years later gifted me my first Master Grade, and the 1st Gunpla I assembled myself. It was of course, the Zaku 1. I remember assembling it with the purple backpack armor instead of the traditional one. And I played with it so hard that I broke it, and then glued it back together (and broke it again). From then on, I saved whatever money I have to buy a gunpla around once every few years. Anyway.... onto the kit.
Aesthetics
It's basic and rounded, very utilitarian. I love the head design, with the bar right in front of the visor. It somehow reminds me of WW1 armor. |
| He insists on shooting with 100 ISO and 1 lamp. |
It's pretty bulky looking, but the shoulder connection makes it look scrawny around the unarmored shoulder area. The left side looks ok since it has the nice shoulder armor.
 |
| As round as his belly |
It's overall very smooth looking, with minimal panel lines present. Colors and punchy and bright. Sticker wise, you don't need save for the mono-eye.
 |
| As smooth as his hands... IYKWIM |
Don't expect too much as the kit was engineered during my 1st year in college (2006).
 |
| Don't expect him to be a decent human being as well |
If you look closely, there are tons of seam lines. This was when Bandai never really bothered with hiding the seams. The way the bicep is constructed, it sandwiches between a mushroom peg in the shoulder, so removing the seam becomes a tad bit more difficult. Same goes with the forearms as you'll need to heavily modify it to hide the seams (or carefully mask during painting).
 |
| Splitting at the semas. Just like his life |
The legs are the same. 2 halves sandwiched between the joint. That said, I like how they added some detail to the back of the knee joint just to keep it from being too basic.
 |
| A little detail on a sparse area? Just like his life |
Overall it's simple and basic. You'll need to add more effort to actually make it look good. But on the other hand it's cheap. It's 450 php in Toytown. Add a hundred more and you'll get the more modern HGUC Zaku II Kai.
Articulation
It's a basic suit, but has some of the features of the more modern High Grades.
The missing trait amongst older Zaku kits is the waist articulation. This one, not only do you have a waist rotation, you can pull the torso up and give it a nice deep ab crunch. The shoulders also swivel out.
Lower body tends to be a bit more limited: 1 in part due to the design, and 2, it uses ball joints for the hip connection. Everything is present except the thigh swivel, which means posing it spread legged while looking decent is a challenge.
 |
| It's more than what his body is capable of |
The knee has a nice bend, while the ankle can be puled down to allow it to stand flat.
Also, a modern feature is that the monoeye moves. It swivels by adjusting the peg at the bottom of the head.
It's decent for its time. Most UC kits look better just standing up anyway.
It still has the basic joints, just don't expect it to pull off standing high kicks. So it's not really as ancient as I describe it to be.
Weapons and Extras
It's a Zaku, so it gets most of the old school Zaku Accessories. A Zaku1 machine gun, A LAW looking Bazooka, a Shield with spikes to punch people, an Axe, 2 trigger finger right hand to hold the rifle and bazooka, and a left open palm for the signature charging attack. And a Panzerfaust, that can be attached to the shield.
What's nice is that you can mount everything onto the kit. The rear waist armor has a panel you can flip to mount the bazooka.
There is also an option to remove the hinge on the right shoulder to turn it into a more traditional Zaku 1. I didn't bother though.
 |
| it's just 1 piece... and he's too lazy to show it -_- |
Size Comparison
It's from the old UC, so it's pretty standard in terms of height.
Compared to the Grimgerde though, it's pretty apparent how large the IBO suits are..
Summary
It's an overall basic kit. It lacks the refinement the newer kits have, but also makes you appreciate how far the engineering has gone. The new Zaku 1 though will probably cost more than twice this kit's price, so if you want an army builder which is still decently articulate it's a decent kit. Also, it'll probably act more as the Borjarnon from Turn A more than the actual UC version Zaku 1 for me. Just need to actually paint it.
Good:
- cheap (450 php)
- has nice list of accessories that can all be mounted
- simple and easy to build. Minimal stickers
- decently poseable
Bad:
- Hands have no pegs to hold the weapons, so it's a little loose.
- seam lines everywhere
- ugly right shoulder joint
- new one is coming
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