The MS-06R-1A Zaku 2 High Mobility Type is one of many variants of the Zaku 2 in the Gundam Mobile Suit series. I have previous blogged about my Black Tri-Star UC version, and this is the Origin version.

The Origin High Grade MS-06R-1A Zaku 2 is a Bandai 1/144 scale kit released in mid-June 2015 amd retail at ¥1,800 while the UC version is retail at ¥1,760. Although it is considered slightly more expensive is comes with more surface details and accessories such as:  MS for machine gun, bazooka type A2 for MS, MS for anti-ship rifle ASR-78, Heat Hawk, heat Hawk (stored state), Gaia machine reproduction for shoulder shield, spare machine gun for machine gun, for bazooka spare magazine × 4.

I purposely bought the Origin version to see if there are any improvements to the design in comparison to the UC version. To be honest, yes the Origin version has more surface details especially to the tights, and chest area, but sadly not to the leg thrusters. The leg details are sadly still moulded as part of the leg section without parts separation, thus hand painting is required to help bring out the details.

Comparing side by side with other Origin MS such as Char’s Zaku 1 and RX-78-2 (G3 Custom) and the older UC High Mobility Zaku 2. Which you can see there are not much difference in terms of the legs thrusters, but the Origin kit has more details, weapons and parts options hence I would recommend getting the Origin version.

And is a side by side comparison with my other Origin MS such as Zaku 1 (Ramba Custom) and Zaku 2 Type C.

So since I painted my first Zaku 2 High Mobility with Black Tri-Star colour I was wondering what I should do with the version. Since Christmas was round the corner and Thunderbolt Gundam came to mind and hence my Origin Zaku 2 High Mobility is inspired by the Psycho Zaku 2 from Thunderbolt.

And I have also customised an Orign Zaku 1 into Thunderbolt colour as well.

To be honest, I actually prefer this Origin High Mobility Zaku 2 over the normal UC version. This kit has improves parts separation and joints that will allow more dynamic poses compared to the UC version.

I tend to do pre-shading to give the parts more depth, the surface details on the Origin is so nice especially around the backpack hence I have to do hand painting, I also tried to give this kit a bit more love and used metal etching for the joints.