Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - Completed -

The completed MS-06FS Zaku II custom for Garma Zabi, the FS type might have been the commander Zaku before the S type. Every things the same as the F type except for the more powerful backpack which eventually was used on the S type and 4 kickass Vulcans cannons on the head for close combat. All painted in Garma Zabi personal colours just like his Dopp.

Got myself a 1/144 scale Garma Zabi in his flight suit, Heat-Hawk came from the HGUC kit along which the holster, spike on the shoulder guards extended and sharpened.

Really like the orange paint i used, was worried it would look too bright but the Vallejo Air Orange straight from the bottle was perfect, used the same dark green as i would on the F Zaku body so when displayed together the look like companions in arms.



Love a Zaku II shield, all my RG Zaku shield will follow the same pattern:
Zeon symbol at the top this one is actually the Earth Ocupatiuon Force Zeon logo, then a personal logo or nose art below this one being the Zabi Seal (from the MSV Zaku II  Minelayer, to be modelled soon), then the personal number, 401 same as Garma's Dopp, followed below by the rank insignia (both Char and Garma are lieutenants but Garma being also a commander i added the 2 dashes pointing upwards to add superior rank to Aznable. Always have the warning markings at the top and bottom to "frame" the shield.

Green added to the centre of the shield even thought it not on the original MSV art so that the red on the Zabi Seal would be visible and not washed out, was not sure when i originally painted it but now quite like it.



From behind you can see easily see what the FS is, an ungraded F type but not quite a S type. Has the more powerful backpack from the S type but still the vernier on the legs from the F type.

Kickass custom Heat-Hawk, like all dictators and their family member, got to have some weaponry cast in Gold or chrome. Egomaniacs.



Added very little weathering, thinking that in the TV series Garma never used a Mobile Suit and preferred his Dopp and being the Earth Occupation Forces commanders personal Zaku would be kept clean and ready for what i reckon would be formal occasion's, also get the felling that Garma was never really a good MS pilot.



My first MSV, and first Zaku outside of the original series but not the last.
Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - On Parade

As is now my custom, first completed shot of Real Grade kit is an "On Parade" and this time with a little pilot Garma to accompany his Mobile Suit with all it assorted weaponry, including custom Heat-Hawk.

Another RG Zaku im really happy with to add to the collection, thats 4 so far with alot more to come.

Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP 6 - Decaled

The almost completed Garma's Zaku, all recently decaled over the last week. You can just see the Zabi famliy logo on the shield which i got form the minelayer kit and ive numbered up the suit using the numbers that appear on Garma's Dopp 401 and you can just about see the gold heat hawk on the side.

Last to be seen of the HGUC kit i got the heat hawk from, really prefer my painted dark orange which is alot more like the art on the box front and the MSV art.

That HGUC look a little weighty.
Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP 5 - Assembled

Taken after applying one decal (radioactive one on the chest) just to show the painted parts put together before decaling, which is now almost done.

The green applied to the shield is my own idea to break up the colour there and so that the Zabi logo shows up more cleary, its half red and would be swamped by the orange.

Really very happy with the way the orange has turned out, form the start getting a darker orange correct worried me but alas, vallejo air work out great for me.

Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP 4 - Painted

Painted in what is a record time for me, mostly due to total rain here meaning i have nothing better to do during the weekend except watch the 6 nations Rugby.

Really happy with the orange, looks about perfect for Garmas zaku. No need to mix any up, this is straight Valleyo Air Orange from the bottle, which when received i was surprised to see was so dark and not your orange fruit bright.

Next is to decal, still waiting for the Zabi symbol to decal for the shield logo.
Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP -

All the parts modelled for Garma's Zaku, Head with the 4 vulcan cannons, ceremonial heathawk with the holder fitted onto the skirt guard, Megallan-Attack cannon is the more detailed version from the Model Ex kit and the sharper spikes on the shoulder guard which is the old Char custom with the paint stripped off.

Now got to mix a dark orange which i hope i can get right.
Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP - Vulcan cannons

This the only major mod for Garma's Zaku II, the 4 Vulcan cannons. Took quite a bit of patience and more than enough time to drill each one in these correct position, had to walk away from it a few times knowing that if i rushed this i'd end up with a failure.

This is the original Char Zaku head with the paint striped off with the extra antenna which comes with the MS-06F. Really nifty looking antenna, for such a small piece its got alot of detail and something only ever seen on MSV.



Originally only going to drill out the holes and leave it at that but then found this holo tubing in the bit stash. Cut to about 2mm long, cut ALOT of pieces because i lost alot trying to fit them in each hole.

Patience is a virtue.
Ian

Next Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" -

Bought this HGUC kit purely for the custom giant heat hawk to model my next RG, Garma Zabi's personal MS-06FS Zaku II. A cross between the MS-06F + MS-06S for commanders.

Plan to model this using the green RG MS-06F as the main body with the backpack from Chars MS-06S. The head needs to have 4 vulcan cannons added which i know will be the trickiest part to achieve and i need to acquire a decal of the Zabi family emblem to display on the shield which i think ive tracked down on a old 1/144 Zaku Minelayer. (which i will then also model as a RG)

This what i hope to be the first of many MSV zakus to be modelled, looking forward to the new HGUC MS-06R High Maneuver Zaku II coming out soon which should be alot easier to adapt to the RG than the old versions from the 80's

Ian