UPDATE: Big Bad Toystore has opened pre-orders for both kits. Regular Zero here and Nightmare Zero here.
Hot off the heels of Wonder Festival, Kotobukiya have posted two product pages for the Zero and Nightmare Zero model kits. Click the preceding links and check out more than a dozen images of each kit and their complementary accessories! Additionally, pre-orders for the normal Zero are currently being accepted from Ami Ami. The Nightmare version, for now, requires a proxy to be able to pre-order from Kotobukiya's Japanese store. Pre-orders close on March 22nd.
While we're at it, here's the product description for Zero:
"The exact proportions are faithfully recreated based on the character’s appearance in the series, and thanks to the technology of CAD engineering that allows a wide range of impressive articulation, users are able to recreate Zero’s many poses from the game. Within this kit, Zero comes equipped with his signature Z-Saber in 3 different effects. Furthermore, by attaching the Milight 316 (lithium-ion battery with an LED attached) to the Z-Saber, you can make the clear blade light up!
The other accessories that are included in the model kit, including the Buster Shot Gun, hand parts, and three interchangeable facial expressions make this model kit perfect for posing in many different situations. You can switch out the hair part from the separately sold Mega Man X Zero Nightmare Version to create more dynamic poses."
And here's the description for Nightmare Zero:
"Moving away from the original color of Zero, the overall color scheme of Zero Nightmare Version was made with a purple base as drawn from the character’s appearance in the game. The new Nightmare Version of Zero’s signature hair differs from the original with more movement incorporated in its 3-dimensional design. The hair part in Zero’s original color will also be included as an additional part in this model kit, so you can enjoy creating various scenarios when posed together with the separately sold Zero. "
Both model kits are due sometime in June. Additional details on price and availability are forthcoming. Hang in there!
Beautiful. These are gonna make some fun customs!
ReplyDeleteI'm sad that there is no purple LED light
ReplyDeleteNightmare Zero's saber was always more grey, though... The White LED is the way to go.
DeleteBuy some translucent blue and translucent red paint, mix it and paint over the lens on the white one.
Should work. Maybe.
His head just seems "off" to me. Like his jaw is too pointy or something.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too late to re-tool this :(
And fix that hair.
Tooling is the most expensive part of mold-making, so they are very unlikely to re-tool this. Not only that, but they'd need to re-sculpt for reference. These are probably being manufactured already.
DeleteI've not been impressed with the majority of Kotobukiya's model lines over the years. I absolutely love all things Rockman-related, but -- after building many Gundam/Bandai kits -- I think Kotobukiya has a lot to learn as a model-making company. Just one example for these photos: look at the gems on the chest; the interior pegs really make them look like nipples, but they could have avoided that by putting clips on the outside edges of the gem, like Bandai does with clear parts on the Exia kits. It's incredibly rare to get a clear/gem part in a Bandai kit which has a peg dead-center on the other side, as Bandai knows it really ruins the gem. Kotobukiya's gate placement on the Max Armor kit was horrible.
Maybe. I'm not convinced they are making them just yet and those aren't painted prototypes... Not with a June release. The molds may or may not be machined, and even then, we are talking maybe 15-20% of the total sprues.
DeleteNow is the time to give this kind of feedback. I've seen it affect things before.
Kotobukiya has a different style, for sure. Their Super Robot Wars models are completely different from Gundams. The RG grade Gundams I like to build are made really well. But even they have a lot of issues.
I'm going to give Kotobukiya some slack since they are building the line, for now. And I am still hoping for an Alia. But I really hope they fix this at some point. Either a post release modification option or a 3rd party mod. Everything below the neck is fine. The head and hair is just... Ugh. I'd do it myself but I don't have that level of skill :(
I'll still get it, but I'd rather see some fixes.
Zero's chest armor looks like a bugged out face, the vent looking area looks like the mouth to me. Other than that I didn't notice that or the stuff you mentioned until you mentioned it and I focused on it.
DeleteThat said that is not how Zero is designed normally so it is a good point to illustrate why Koto needs to step up there model game. Can't verify the other complaints tho.
Shrap,
DeleteHave you built any of the newer RG kits, like RX-93, or Crossbone? Even the difference between the 00 Quanta and Wing Zero is significant in terms of manufacturing and design. I personally think there has been a lot of significant improvement in the RG line over the last year; Bandai is really nailing it, and has really figured out where to use under-gating, how to color-separate designs, and ideal gate placement. Kotobukiya just seems slow on the model-improvement uptake; HexaGear, and Frame Arms still have the same problems they've had since their inception. I'm not getting multi-color runners from Kotobukiya as I am with Bandai; I'm instead getting tiny parts with their own separate tiny runners, which are literally 95% the runner, and 5% the actual model piece.
I hope you're right about it not being too late for feedback, and that they are still refining the models, but my guess is that -- since we stopped seeing the notice about these awaiting license approval -- that they aren't going to bother making those kinds of changes.
You're not wrong, shrap. His head is too angular and it's quite noticeable.
DeleteAnon 10:48
DeleteLast RG I built was the Gold Frame Amatsu ASTRAY. I want to get the Impulse though. I am debating on getting a Unicorn since I just watched that or Nu Gundam. But in all honesty, I am out of room. The issues I have with the RG is that I have too many loose parts. My Freedom wing is loose and I'm not happy about it. My Wing Zero stand mount pegs broke too. I had to 3D print a replacement part for the 00 because I either broke it or lost it in my carpet, I can't remember.
Kotobukiya's runners are color separated well enough for the Max Armor, more or less. It would have been nice if they took a different method on the radar and the are around the ankles. On that note, the feet are super stiff, but I could fix that if I wanted to.
Where Buy nightmare?
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese Kotobukiya webstore seems to be the only choice right now but considering BBTS got both the limited charge shot X and the Hyper MAX armor, they'll probably have Nightmare Zero up as well.
DeleteIt will almost certainly show up for pre-order on Nin-Nin Game.
DeleteHuh, never heard of Nin-Nin Game. How long have they been around?
DeleteThey've been around for long enough (not as long as AmiAmi though), and I have really enjoyed shopping with them; I get stuff shipped to me almost immediately after it comes out in Japan, as opposed to BBTS where it's a month or three later. Nin-Nin is also sometimes cheaper than, or comparable to (even after shipping) BBTS. If getting stuff when it comes out matters to you: I suggest their DHL shipping option.
DeleteFantastic. Here's to hoping they don't pull an MHToys and skip town with everyone's money, then blame the customers for it.
DeleteNever used a proxy server before is this a simple process? Will these eventually be available in the US/UK?
ReplyDeleteI can guarantee these will be up on BBTS and Amiami. All the other kits were why not these.
DeleteBBTS opened pre-orders for both figures.
ReplyDeleteI'll be pre-ordering Nightmare from BBTS but regular from Kotobukiya's Japanese shop via proxy (White Rabbit) because they include that stupid stage sheet smh -___-
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ReplyDeleteNightmare is also for pre-order through Kotobukiya's US store.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kotous.com/retailstore/new-pre-orders/mega-man-x-zero-nightmare-version-plastic-model-kit.html
Ordering from Kotobukiya's US store is probably safest for folks in the US, as it will be easiest to get replacement parts.
DeleteYou can get replacements if the model is damaged. But I tried to get replacement parts that I damaged myself, and I cannot order them. They told me to contact Japan, and they refused. So I am SOL. It's just a stress mark, so I could paint over it, but I really don't want to.
DeleteI lost X's left ear and I contacted Kotobukiya Japan, in Japanese, to ask about getting a replacement by filling in the form included in the set. They said they could only do that within Japan. I mailed the form to a friend living in Japan so he could do it for me and then send the piece back to me. Sounds very overly complicated and the little piece of plastic might have ended up costing a lot. Luckily, before my friend got the sheet, I FOUND THE STUPID EAR ON A CORNER WHILE VACUUMING MY ROOM! I recommend you all just better be extra careful with your sets and never lose or break anything.
DeleteYup, I had the same problem when I damaged one of the pieces for Proto Man's foot. It was a major bummer.
Delete