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Post by bleen on Jun 9, 2005 18:35:43 GMT -5
Okay, I just came back from work, after a day sitting beside my PG Zeta box (I went from the post office to work). I just opened this thing... and... It's a MONSTER ![:o](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/shocked.png) My previous kits were the PG Strike, the MG RX-79(G), the MG EX-S and a HG ZZ.... This thing has more (and larger) pieces than any of them... even more than the Strike. After flipping through the manuals' pages, its construction also seems to be more tricky than the Strike or the EX-S. I'm thrilled, can't wait to start working on this thing! :-) I'm also amazed at the long lightsaber led, I thought it would be a small lead and a long plastic piece ;D I'll write more about this when I begin putting it together ![:D](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/grin.png)
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Post by jwm on Jun 9, 2005 18:57:58 GMT -5
Fasten your seatbelt, Bleen. The Zeta was the first PG that I built. It will make the Strike seem like a walk in the park. The knee mechanism alone is awe-insipring. (Or intimidating as hell, depending on how you look at it) Be very careful selecting the LED's, and with hooking up the wiring in the wings. The wing tip lights on mine worked perfectly when the model was first finished but after about a year, they crapped out, and I never have been able to get them to work again. Nonetheless this is an awesome project. You're going to love this one! JWM
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Post by bleen on Jun 10, 2005 23:51:51 GMT -5
Indeed I am! :-) I've decided to take a different modeling approach on this one. Instead of going step-by step like the manual says, I'm re-ordering the limb's construction and the armor panel attachments. I'm beginning with the internals, without panels. When I finish all the internals only THEN I'll attach the outer panels. I do know that some panels are NOT removable, but I'm looking at the images at dalong.net to check which are fixed and which aren't. Then I'm re-ordering construction order. I began with the feet, ankles, knee and the upper leg. Next will be lower leg, waist+chest, head, arms, wings, and finally rifle and sabers. I've found that I like more building the mecha up from the ground (sorta like the Strike's method). Adding the armor last is because 1) It requires panel lines and I like to leave that for last. 2) Because I'd like to see the Zeta's internals all together and I don't know if later I'd take off the armor bits. As I've said, I finished with the feet, ankles, knee and upper leg... My thoughts so far comparing it to the Strike is that it has a LOT more gimmicks.. I mean.. .SUSPENSION on each ankle.. !!! and springs everywhere! The Strike didn't have a single one of those, and pistons were also scarse... The Zeta has pistons everywhere (as of now). :-) But, so far, I like the Strike's mold better... I'll post more as I continue
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Post by bleen on Jun 11, 2005 22:45:19 GMT -5
Well, after a whole day of cutting and snapping, I've got the whole body, minus half an arm done (without most of the armor parts, wings and weapons). Now, here goes a questions for those of you who have this kit... what colour is your PG Zeta's head light? Mine is red. The picture on HLJ shows yellow. And I've seen a green one posted around. Is the head light's colur random? ![???](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/huh.png) Well, after having most of the basic frame done, I can say I like this one a lot... but I think I like the Strike more. Not only I like the Strike's look a lot more (well, the Zeta's design has what, like 20 years?), but I find the kit itself better. Even if it only has 1 light. Even if it almost doesn't have pistons (which the Zeta has plentifully), or doesnt' have springs (which, again, the Zeta has). I think this is mainly because Zeta's transformation. When I built the chest, I was building it along a plane so to say. That plane was the base of the wave rider the Zeta transforms into. Then the manual says to fold it and make the mecha's chest... Sure, it has nice gimmicks, but I somehow can't get over the fact that the inside of the Zeta's chest is HOLLOW ![:(](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/sad.png) Something similar happens with the legs. They're full of intrincate mechanisms, but they have big, ugly gaps (which serve to make weay for the leg to fold for the transformation). Maybe when I attach the armor I won't notice it as much, but I'll know it's there ![:-/](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/undecided.png) Anyways, I still have a lot to build (and I'm terrified of the wings and their wiring, I'll probably leave that for the end), but so far I'm enjoying this one a LOT. My next PG will be the WZC which has just arrived at my local custom's ;D Seems I'll finish the tallest PG to start working on the shortest PG ![:P](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/tongue.png) I'll post more as I build...
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Post by jwm on Jun 11, 2005 23:40:23 GMT -5
The head light should be green. The lights in the head and in the shield, and for one wing tip are green. The lights for the stabilizer fin, and the other wing tip are red. When the Zeta transforms, the cockpit swings forward and sits in the shield, the shield light will illuminate the clear instrument nacelle in the cockpit. The arms will fit in the center of the plane, covered by the base of the wings. I remember it was very tricky sorting out the LED's for this kit. I had to do a diagram and work it out by process of elimination like problem in a logic class. JWM
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Post by bleen on Jun 12, 2005 11:38:16 GMT -5
ahhhhhhh I see.... I thought both wing tips were green and I grabbed the red one :-( Now I'll have to dissassemble the head and put a green one ![:-/](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/undecided.png)
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Post by bleen on Jun 12, 2005 21:08:20 GMT -5
Ok, I just finished everything except the wings and weapons. Now the Zeta looks like Zeta, not a black mechanical skeleton.... I must say it's impressive. It is a lot taller than the strike... but somehow it isn't as good looking... I was wondering why... maybe because it has a lot less panel lines (due to the fast that the armour bits are larger and with less detail). Maybe because I prefer the Strike's design better... I don't know... But I think I've become spoiled. When I was putting the armor over the Zeta's arm, I was sad because the armor doesn't move as the strike's one does when the arm bends... ^_^; In that way, the Zeta shows its 3rd PG status. But, I still like it (hell, it's a PG!), and I've still got the wings and weapong to assemble... wish me luck with the wiring! :-P
Argh, I just realized tomorrow's Monday :-(((((( no assembling until night! :-(
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Post by bleen on Jun 14, 2005 22:22:42 GMT -5
Well, in case anyone is interested, I'll continue writing about the PG Zeta. I've only built the lightsabers (not the electrical one), the gun, and the tail. I'm still missing the shield and wings. I really liked the way they included strickers for the INSIDE of the tail, so the light rays would travel according to the design. You can really tell the difference between unapplied and applied stickers on the inside of the tail :-) So if you have a PG Zeta and haven't glued the tail, open it up and add the stickers :-) The lightsabers were simple yet impressive, the "cutting" part was made of a soft pinkish plastic.. I'm not a pink fan at all but the length of the "blades" is eye-catching. Posing the Zeta with both lightsabers is nice. It's a different feel from the Strike's Grand Slam. What blew me up was the gun... I mean... you just unfold the gun's handle and automatically the gun expands and deploys its scope!!! XD that is just awesome. These are the kind of gimmicks I love in a PG :-) I'm looking forward to building the shield and wings... althought those last ones seem to be quite tricky from reading the manual....
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Post by jwm on Jun 15, 2005 14:36:11 GMT -5
Funny-I never took the light sabers off the trees. I figured the electric one was good enough. I'll be interested to hear if your Zeta can actually hold the gun. On mine the ball and socket joints for the shoulders aren't firm enough to support the gun or the shield. It limits the posing quite a bit. Another problem you'll probably find is that it's difficult to keep the stabilizer fin and wings mounted firmly on the back. On the plus side, once you get it in waverider mode (set aside some time- it ain't easy) it's very sturdy, although it takes up a lot of shelf space. JWM
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Post by bleen on Jun 15, 2005 20:54:27 GMT -5
Well, I still haven't built the shield, but the arm droops slowly when holding the gun :-( I think it's a mixture between weak shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. The legs are not very posable either due to poor anle articulation and waist plates fixed a little akwardly :-( Still, you can make it hold the gun with both hands, or put the back end of the gun under the armpit... that way it doesn't droop :-) It's nowhere near the strike's posability though ![:-/](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/undecided.png) I'm wondering if the WZC PG will be better or worse in that matter... that sexy box is calling me, but I still have to finish this one! @_@;
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Post by jwm on Jun 15, 2005 23:15:11 GMT -5
I'd go for a Zaku II, next, but that's just me. The Wing Zero Custom is another mixed bag. No problem with sloppy arm joints but, as you might imagine, balancing the thing with those huge awkward wings is a challenge. Most of the skeleton of the WZC is metal. If you decide to get it here's a piece of advice that will save you some grief. It has a double jointed ball and socket waist joint. Make sure it's good and tight. When I built mine I tightened the joints to what I thought would be firm enough. I didn't take into account the extra weight and leverage of the wings. As it is, it poses OK (see episode 001 of Doesn't Play Well With Others), but the waist joint is floppy, and it's way too much trouble to disassemble the whole thing to try and fix it. Another consideration with the WZC is display space. It really needs more than just a shelf on a bookcase, or in a display cabinet to show it to its best advantage. On the good side, it seems to be the one piece that people who have no familiarity with Japanese toys fall in love with. It's the only thing on the shelf that impresses most visitors. There's more to tell on the WZC, but I'll save it until you get the kit. (You know you're going to go for it ![8-)](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/cool.png) ) JWM
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Post by tristan on Jun 16, 2005 11:35:36 GMT -5
give us pics ;D ;D ;D and no, NO PG is as posable as the strike, he's the king of posability ![;)](http://lemonstre.fr/robot-japan/smileys/wink.png) i found the wing PG posable enough k, it's no strike, but is does the job look here, you can look how posable he is (WZC) www.dalong.net/look at the top and press the 'PG', ther eyou'l see all the PG's
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Post by bleen on Jun 16, 2005 17:59:52 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for the advice! jwm, I ALREADY have the WZC's box sitting right next to my TV set... waiting its turn after I finish the Zeta. It's highly possible I'll start with it this weekend, since next Monday is a holiday in my country... so I hope to finish the Zeta on Saturday or Sunday... And you WILL get pics... when I finish building it :-) After the WZC I have 2 HGs (the Zeta and the RX-78-2), which will take a little time too.. so I'm not planning to get another gundam kit for at least a month or two (plus the PGs which I like so much are everything but cheap). But when I DO get one, I was thinking of the MK-II, which incidentally was my first choice, before the Zeta and the WZC... what happened is that I got the WZC and the Zeta quite cheap on Ebay, and there was no MK-II at the time... and I was really PG-hungry ;-) I'll post again when I finish building the Zeta :-) hopefully, with pics
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Post by jwm on Jun 16, 2005 18:49:05 GMT -5
Wow, Bleen You've really got the PG fever! Can't say as I blame you. OK a few more things on the WZC. Wiring is a pain on this one. For some reason Bandai uses very fine very limp wire, and they don't give you any extra. If you make one mistake, you're out of luck. If you can find some similar gauge wire at an electronics store, it would be money well-spent. (by the way, what is the unit of currency in Argentina?) I mentioned the waist joint; the same holds true for the legs. Tighten them all just a little tighter than what seems right- remember they will be carrying more weight than on any of your other models. Make sure the light in the chest is secured tightly also. Mine works, but sometimes you have to tap on it, or press the cockpit lid to make it work. That's all I can think of right now. Let us know how it comes out. JWM
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Post by bleen on Jun 18, 2005 18:22:15 GMT -5
Well, here I am, after a full day of PG building... the monster is complete... and it is... awesome! XD It's now standing between my MG EX-Ss and my PG Strike.. and it outshines both. I STILL like the Strike more, but after transforming the Zeta... I can say my opinion of it changed. After my terrible experience with transforming suits (EX-S, HGUC ZZ), I wasn't too thrilled about the transformation part... but this kit shows it can be done well. I LOVE the light saber which lights up, and the wings are amazing... Unlike jwm, I've had no problems with the wings and fin staying in place at all. And the wiring was not that hard after all... I think I figured out why a lot of people have trouble with it, and here goes a little advice for you who have PG Zetas with broken wingtip lights... Buy aluminium foil. Take appart the wings. Take apart the lightsaber (its battery is great for testing). In the contact points where the cables start and finish, carefully peel the wires so the copper shows. Wrap the copper tip in aluminium foil. Fill the hole for the screw with aluminium foil too. Then screw the thing on again. That should solve the problem IF the trouble is with the wire contacts. You can know this by testing the end of the wings with the battery like the manual says to discard that the problem is the LED. I think it's highly probable that the wigtip lights not working problem is due to the high number of places where the circuit opens and closes. The weaker one being where the wire starts and finishes. I used aluminium foil in the 8 wire tips, so far I've had no problems :-) I'll post pics later... now I have to start with the PG WZC! :-) (I'll post about that one in another topic). jwm, thanks a lot for the WZC tips! The unit of currency here is the argentinian Peso. Dunno why you're asking that for though... O.o?
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Post by jwm on Jun 18, 2005 18:57:13 GMT -5
Unit of currency: idle curiosity. Great idea with the foil. Someday if I get ambitious I'll do that. I think about it every so often, and tell myself I'll get at it on some rainy day. We just had the rainiest year in memory here in So Cal. It still sits undone. That's what I have found with all my PG's. Once they're on the shelf I don't want to mess with them. Otherwise I'd have fixed the waist joint on the WZC, the beam cannon on the Dom, and the wing lights on the Zeta. Anyway, looking forward to seeing the pics. Good luck on the Wing. JWM
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