The MSJ-06II-A Tieren Ground Type is a mobile suit that appears in both seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

A mass production mobile suit used by the Human Reform League (HRL), by A.D. 2307, the Tieren Ground Type has been in service for more than a decade. It underwent several revisions through the years, but its basic structure remains unchanged. This battery driven mobile suit made its debut in the ending stages of the Solar Power Wars, replacing the fossil fuel powered MS.

The Tieren Ground Type is considered the standard model of the Tieren series and with its excellent performance, characteristics and high versatility; it is used as the basis for developing other variants, including a space type.

The Tieren Ground Type served as the HRL’s primary mass production mobile suit in A.D. 2307. In operation for more than ten years, it was also provided to the bloc’s allies such as the Tamil Tigers. Despite their excellent qualities, the Tieren Ground Type and its variants were no match for the power of the Celestial Being’s Gundams.

The Tieren Ground Type has low mobility due to its immense weight and bulk, but in exchange, it has high defensive capability thanks to thick E-Carbon armour and can equip super heavy weaponry. Furthermore, its technology is highly reliable and the machine can be easily maintained.

Its primary weaponry is a shell-firing gun and a carbon blade. In contrast to other armed forces that are transitioning to beam weaponry, these weapons are comparatively old-fashion, but their simple design makes them easy to produce, extremely reliable, and are highly rated by soldiers in the field. Other weapons of the machine are a small calibre machine gun in its left chest, three shields, and an optional bazooka.

The cockpit of the Tieren Ground Type and its variants is relatively cramped with the pilot controlling the machine in a standing position. Since operations typically do not last more than an hour, the cockpit’s liveability is not deem to be so essential. Other armed forces occasionally nickname the machine as “the coffin for the living” as the pilot is said to resemble a dead body ready for transport.

The High Grade Gundam 00 (HG00) MSJ-06II-A Tieren Ground Type is a 1/144 scale kit released in 2007 with a suggested retail price of ¥1,200; which is similar to the 2021 released Dagger L. For comparison, the Grand-daddy HGUC RX-78-2 Gundam (Revive) is only ¥1,000. The relatively cheap Tieren is actually not bad considering it cost especially its unique military tank-like design.   

The parts separation (in my humble opinion) is not something I will rave about for HG class. I am able to paint most of the parts separately with a bit of help from masking in different colours so if I choose. Masking is relatively straight forward since most to the parts has straight edges.

I was inspired by the military tank-like look that I gave it a brownish livery to pay tribute to the USA M1 Abrams in Desert Livery. I also added a small Gatling gun below the cockpit to add to the military vide. The L-shaped shoulder shields reminded me of a Zaku, hence I kit bashed 2 shields from my Zaku to give this MS more protection.

In the anime, the Tieren is considered a cannon fodder for the Celestial Beings’ Gundams, such as Exia Repaired 2, 0 Gundam and GN Archer.

This kit is my submission for Plamo Labs Open 2021 or #PLOPEN2021; the deadline is 15^th July 2021, Wish me luck!