Synopsis: If you have visited my site at MSiA Stats then you know I like collecting a lot of the figures and displaying them in a Mecha Domain sort of format and while I prefer using MSiAs for visuals I could not help but include Banpresto's rendering of the ZakuIIF2. In regards to mobile suit designs, 0083 Stardust Memories has some of the best new designs and redesigns of the UC universe. In fact I wish the MSiA line would pay some more attention to units in this line like the Zaku II F2, Gelgoog Marine, and Gabera Tetra.

While I have had some gripes with Banpresto in regards to some of its figures I felt the look of this figure might have more redeemable qualities then past figures I either own or have seen. To see whether or not this true please read on.

The Figure: Part of Banpresto's Display Model line, this figure is not meant as an action figure. While more articulate then Banpresto figures from my Operation V set this figure neither bends at the knee or the twist at the waist. The paint scheme is carried out well and while I own the dark green Zaku, two other color schemes (the fore mentioned Dark green, Tan, and an aqua-green sort of color) are available to resemble the different Zaku II F2s featured in 0083.

Two heads are included to switch between the mass produced and command type units. These heads are well detailed and can rotate but not tilt despite the ball joint they sit on.

The torso is well detailed however like I mentioned earlier the waist cannot rotate. While the articulation is not up to par with a MSiA or HG Model kit this figure receives a great sculpt job. Slots in the rear waist armor are used for the spare 120mm drum however there is no way to mount the heat hawk. I found the absence of a connecting point for the heat hawk to be real puzzling since most Zaku figures and models I have seen makes some sort of allowance for this. The thruster backpack is a decent sculpt although it can sometimes get a little loose. The pack is completely removable with the power cables able to disconnect easily. The individual thrusters are not movable and the backpack has two slots for the additional rocket boosters.

The arms seemed to have received the most attention in regards to articulation. This makes sense because as a display model posing the arms to hold the various accessories the figures come with. The shoulders rotate well and the elbows bend about 90 degrees. One shortcoming that is not noticeable at first is that the joints can not stay as firm as a MSiA so you need to pick a pose and stick with it. In fact the hands suffer a similar problem due to the flimsy plastic of the hand. My figure can hold the MMP-79 120mm well and is now having trouble holding the MMP-80 90mm because the gun hand is a little warped. Hands included with this figure include 2 closed fists, 1 right gun hand, and 1left clutching hands. The hands are well detailed but they are just to flimsy.

The legs are well detailed however if you want articulation you will be depressed. The legs and knees do not bend at all. In fact the hip connects to the thigh with a peg and a rectangular peg connects the knee so movement in the entire leg is impossible! Even the ankles can not move at all. The detailing was well done however in that when I purchased this figure I thought the legs were movable.

MMP-79 120mm Machinegun: not as bulky as the version 2 Zaku II version and it is small enough to be held by the version 1 Zakus. The drum is removable and is interchangeable with the spare drum included.

MMP-80 90mm Machine Gun: like the MMP-79 this weapon is less bulky then Char's Zaku II version 2 MSiA's accessory however this weapon is still longer then the MSiA weapon.

Heat Hawk: The heat hawk is the most disappointing accessory of the figure. The handle is too thin to be held well by the figure. The plastic is so thin that my heat hawk handle is already warped. The colors of the heat hawk are similar to the ones shared in the MSiA Zaku.

260mm Bazooka: The figure can hold the bazooka surprisingly well. The proportions of the bazooka seems a little off from the on screen counterpart however I think this was done to accommodate the figure well.

Strum Faust: This weapon can be held as well most MSiA strum fausts. The plastic used to make this weapon is flimsy however nowhere near the problem shown in the heat hawk.

Rocket Booster: used in the assault against the Albion, the boosters fit well on the backpack and was a nice touch included with this figure. I nearly forgot that battle so I was scratching my head for a second before I remembered some of those scenes. The box did not include instructions so I guess the product was targeting fans familiar with 0083 in particular. The thrusters are made up of the same plastic as the strum faust so the chance for warping is high.

Rocket Pods: these were nicely done fitting snuggly to the legs and differs from the MSiA variants in that there is no hole in the leg for the pods to connect directly to the leg.

Play Value: This figure is a little larger then your typical MSiAs and with the limitations in articulation I feel this figure does not have much play value. Especially when the joints wear out faster then MSiA figures.

Display Value: Well this figure is not from the Display Model line for nothing. I have always looked at the F2 as being one of the most formidable looking Zaku IIs so this figure should stand out dwarfing MSiAs and standing in scale with 1/144 scale Gundam models. Posing for display may provide a problem since the legs are stiff however the figure still looks great.

Dollar Value: I got this figure from ebay for roughly $10. It was not a bad buy however if you are after a articulate F2 wait for Bandai to make the MSiA or buy the model.

Conclusion: A good display piece, not a great action figure however keeping in mind that it was made from Banpresto it could have been a lot worse. Had this been marketed as an action figure I would be more critical of the figure.

Above: Zaku II F2 closeup of the extra boosters placed on the backpack with the spare drum attached