Recently I stumbled onto a set of miniature Zeta Gundam figures in a second-hand store in Bangkok that I have never encountered before. Naturally, I had to pick them up for closer examination and also wanted to present them here to see if someone has more information about them. As you can see we are dealing with soft PVC-based super-deformed designs from the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam television series. Each figure is a solid little statue without articulation and is attached to standardized round base.
Not much information can be gathered from the bases, we have a generic copyright claim for SOTSU/Sunrise and each figure has a sequence number in what I presume to be one giant set. the Hizack figure has two numbers on the base, I guess there are two versions in Titans and E.F.F. colours that utilize the same base. The figures I found have the following numbers:
1 : MSZ-006 Z Gundam
7 : MSA-005 Nemo
8 : MSK-008 Dijeh
9 : MSA-005 Methuss
10-11 : RMS-106 Hizack (E.F.F.)
12 : RMS-108 Marasai
14 : RX-139 Hambrabi
15 : NRX-055-2 Baund Doc
18 : AMX-004 Qubeley
As you can see, this is a really big series, containing at least 18 figures, maybe more. I have a huge gap in the start of the series where I presume we would find the Gundam Mk-II, Hyaku-Shiki and Rick Dias among others, and there are also lots of enticing gaps that make me wonder if there are Gaplants, Gabthleys or Asshimars out there, really making me curious to find out more.
Size-wise these figures are a little bit taller than the older (and taller) generation of SD Gundam Full Color Figures but the main difference is that the proportions are entirely different. Actually the proportions vary greatly between these figures based on the original design, traditional shaped mobile suits have been given big (and rather ugly) bobble-heads whereas more exotic designs like the Hambrabi and the Baund Doc look better.
These figures appear rather modern; both the sculpts and the paint applications are very detailed and the proportions remind me of the type of artsy collectibles that are in vogue right now with brands such as Pop Mart, and it wouldn't surprise me if these figures are sold as expensive random boxes with chase figures in the set. If anyone has more information about the origin of these figurines (and if they are actually legitimate) I would be curious to learn more as I expect it unlikely I will encounter more of them anytime soon.
