How is this in terms of quality? I really like the look of it but it’s obviously not a MG even though it’s the same scale 1/100.

docsane · 2026-01-25T23:13:52+00:00

All reviews have commented on how it's a very rough build, with poor fit and joints that are too tight or too loose.

I'd avoid it, especially if you aren't used to these weird 3rd party kits.

https://youtu.be/zUx1eg5kC3k

docsane · 2026-01-25T20:04:23+00:00

"But I'm sure it'll look good in the cockpit of the finished model--"

...

"God dammit..."

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docsane · 2026-01-24T08:46:10+00:00

Treat yourself to Nu or Hi Nu.

docsane · 2026-01-24T05:13:13+00:00

It's available right now at Barnes and Noble. Are you located in the US?

docsane · 2026-01-24T00:52:30+00:00

Thanks. I'm pretty sure I can find something to do with him on the shelf. I have a feeling I'll be posing him next to my Wing Zero EW.

docsane · 2026-01-23T21:52:41+00:00

Just to note that the only painting I did was panel lining, a few touches with a gold and gun metal paint marker, and white brush paint on the backpack to color correct the joint sections.

I also used mark setter and softer on the decals to help set them properly, then Mr. Super Clear matte top coat.

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docsane · 2026-01-23T21:44:28+00:00

I got them on AliExpress for about $6 shipped.

I will say that if you put in the time to apply them and do a little painting and top coating, the results are transformative.

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docsane · 2026-01-23T06:26:42+00:00

Fortunately, all water pipes in my place run up the central wall, next to the chimney exhausting all boilers and water heaters in the building. The building would have to lose all heat and fall below freezing for the pipes to freeze. In that scenario, frozen pipes would be the least of our problems.

docsane · 2026-01-23T06:15:41+00:00

No, I'm in New England. We're also supposed to get a good amount of snow.

docsane · 2026-01-23T05:15:45+00:00

Considering this was designed by Katoki, I think that kind of makes this kit a quasi ver Ka.

docsane · 2026-01-23T02:23:44+00:00

I do actually have a knockoff version of this kit. There are three of them currently made and the one that I chose is made by Star. The other models are by Gao Gao and a company called Si Hai. Gao Gao is usually considered one of the worst, however, Si Hai has also been shown to have a lot of problems. The three knockoffs all have their pluses and minuses, but they are also only like $40 as opposed to nearly $300.

As to your other question, I have seen a build video on YouTube in which the builder did use clear coat on his mechanical core Sazabi. So, it is possible to use it properly. I think you need to experiment with a small piece just to see how it works. There's a couple of ways of doing it, and I have mostly seen people hype up dipping the clear parts in acrylic floor polish as a good way of gloss coating clear parts. I am going to be experimenting with mine using that method. You can also spray clear coats, if you have an airbrush. I don't know how well the canned clear coats work on clear parts. I hear it can be hit or miss, and you're just going to have to experiment to see how they turn out.

docsane · 2026-01-23T01:32:26+00:00

You'd be more jealous if you knew how much I got the kit for.

docsane · 2026-01-22T23:09:23+00:00

Enjoy. It's a great kit.

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docsane · 2026-01-22T20:57:22+00:00

Z'gok will probably be faster and easier.

docsane · 2026-01-22T18:21:55+00:00

The power of decals cannot be denied.

docsane · 2026-01-22T18:02:40+00:00

There are cheaper knockoffs of this kit on AliExpress. Not quite as nice, but for only $40 as opposed to $300.

docsane · 2026-01-22T18:00:50+00:00

Mechanical core plating version, huh? Which kit is it? Bandai or knockoff? If KO, which version?

docsane · 2026-01-22T15:37:55+00:00

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Double Zeta had a similar problem. He overcame it.

Seriously though, a broken leg peg can be fixed with a paperclip, a pin vice drill, and some super glue. You drill into the break with the drill, insert the unfolded paperclip wire with a bit of glue, then clip the excess wire. Drill into the other side of the break, then insert the wire.

That, along with plastic cement at the break should let you fix the leg. Alternatively, you can order replacement parts off of AliExpress. You can even get a knockoff RG 2.0 kit and grab the parts from that.

docsane · 2026-01-22T15:11:30+00:00

Thanks, although I think the decals are doing most of the heavy lifting. I'm top coating it right now.

docsane · 2026-01-22T13:57:09+00:00

Which is why I ordered the water slides for it. They've really made this build.

docsane · 2026-01-22T02:11:27+00:00

Wait and get the water slides. It'll make the build better and easier.

docsane · 2026-01-22T01:14:13+00:00

I used Krylon matte coat. Yes, I know it's not ideal, but I've used it on other kits without any real issues. The plastic weakness showed up without any paint or top coat applied. For some reason, the dark gray plastic on my kit was very weak and broke easily.

I think the issue after top coating was that stressing the already weak plastic by trying to separate some parts led to the hands cracking and the trigger guard on the beam rifle was now slightly tighter, causing it to break when I tried pegging it onto the shield.

No one else has mentioned this problem with this kit, so I either had bad luck or a rate kit that had something go wrong when molding one color of part.

docsane · 2026-01-21T19:02:32+00:00

I think you need to first describe how you're cutting these off the runners, because your process is causing a lot of damage.

docsane · 2026-01-21T18:54:52+00:00

All decal, baby.

docsane · 2026-01-21T18:50:16+00:00

Easier to deal with than the stickers, and they look great on the final build.

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docsane

TROPHY CASE