| Introduced in UC 0075, the MS-05 Zaku was the Principality of Zeon's first true mass-production model mobile suit. Although designed as a front line combat unit, the Zaku was soon replaced by the improved MS-06F Zaku II and would be replaced as the mainstay of Zeon's mobile suit forces. Early during the One Year War of UC 0079, most Zaku's were relegated to menial construction and supply duties, although a few did continue to serve in combat roles. During the war's opening days, Zaku's were also used in other combat-related work roles, such gassing of colony populations, attaching booster engines to space colonies to hurtle them towards Earth, and so on. It wasn't until the last months of the war that Zeon, desparate after facing losses in Operation Odessa and Operation Star One, would move the old Zaku's back to the front lines to reinforce their faltering main forces. Several units would even see combat on Earth when the Midnight Fenrir team fought in defense of the California Base. Pilot(s): Gadem, Topp, Gabby Hazzard, Matt Austin, Lee Swagar, Manning, Gaia, Ortega, Mash Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam; Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team; Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation VS Zeon DX (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam 0079: Zeonic Front (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space (PS2) Original mechanical designers: Kunio Okawara (original version) |
| Model number: MS-05 Code name: Zaku Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit Manufacturer: Zeonic Company Operator(s): Principality of Zeon; civilians Rollout: May UC 0075 First deployment: July UC 0075 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 17.5 meters Weight: empty 50.3 metric tons; max gross 65.0 metric tons Construction: super-high tensile steel on monocoque frame Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 899 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 19500 kg, 2 x 850 kg Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.63 G; 180-degree turn time 2.9 seconds; maximum ground running speed 65 km/h Equipment and design features: sensors, range 2900 meters Fixed armaments: none Optional hand armaments: 105 mm machinegun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor racks; 120 mm machinegun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor racks; 280 mm Zaku bazooka, 4 round magazine, can be stored on rack on rear waist armor; heat hawk, battery powered, can be stored on waist armor racks; G-3 nerve gas grenade launcher |
| MS-05 Zaku |
| MSiA Features MS-05 Zaku punch shield 280mm zaku bazooka G-3 nerve gas launcher 105 mm machine gun 120mm machine gun heat hawk |
| Released: 2001 Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Avg. Price: $5.76 Version: 1.0 |
| REVIEW Though technically an older design than its successor, the MS-06F Zaku II, the MS-05 Zaku figure is actually more advanced. It features improved shoulder joints for better range of motion, a ball jointed head, and better clearance for the feet around the lower legs. And even though the Zaku has less detail overall than a Zaku II, the figure has been beautiful scuplted, from the new and more detailed backpack vernier, the small rivets on the lower legs, to the split in the center of the monoeye. The shoulder armors can be removed or even swapped with normal Zaku II armor, a nice touch allowing for different versions of the Zaku. Even the accessories are better than a standard Zaku II figure, featuring the MS-05 Zaku's 105mm machine gun, the G-3 Nerve Gas launcher (as seen in The 08th MS Team), and a punch shield with a ball joint mounted handle. Finally, there are nine different versions available, each numbered "01" through "09" on the front of the left shoulder armor, and also on the punch shield. Definitely a good figure. |
| Overview Articulation: 3 Detailing: 3 Accessories: 3 SCORE: 3 |
| 1 = POOR 2 = DECENT 3 = GOOD 4 = EXCELLENT 5 = OUTSTANDING |
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