War has always been an arms race between enemies. Technology enabled people to kill their fellow men better and so war never really changes.
While Char was a great pilot but piloting a Zaku II against a technologically advanced unit like the RX-78-2 it was bound to get harder and so R&D has always been researching for better mobile suits and the Gelgoog was the next generation for the Principality of Zeon.
I started with the chest for this model. Unlike other builders who would usually start with legs, ground up, I like following the instructions.
Zeon suits are often bulky with boxy dimensions in their legs and torsos.
Next came the head with its iconic mono eye. I'm not sure if it was a general design choice to have the villains using mobile suits that are mono eyed like a cyclops monster while the protagonist suits would often have dual eyes making it more human.
With the mono eye situated in the middle and an almost snout like lower part of the face it was both looking like a cross between a cyclop and an orc.
Usually the weapons are often the last part in a build but here it was in the instruction booklet near the start.
Armed with a beam machine gun, a double naginata and a large Zulu-like shield giving it a medium to close range combat capability.
Next came the arms and shoulders. It veered away from the usual spiky shield pauldron and shield the Zaku would usually have and have these huge angled pauldrons instead giving it more heft.
With the arms, pauldrons, chest, head and weapons done I called it a day and would continue on the next day.
While a lot of builders are really fast and would often just snap build kits I would like to savor the build and taking time to cut, sand and clean up the parts as much as I can.
This level of self-control is also something I do because of budget constrains that I would like to do at least 1 per month at the most 2 regardless of the grade because if I build fast I might end up being over the budget as I would just keep building kits.
If only I had unlimited funds and time I would just keep doing this.
Anyway here are the lower half of the body with the waist, legs and feet.
With all the parts done it was time to put everything together!
And viola here we are with the chunky boy, Gelgoog. The bulky shoulders and legs making it look like it could take a few hits (unless fighting a Gundam wherein it just takes one shot!)
The pinking salmon color of Char's mobile suit lending it a more orc-like color thus it is a space Orc!
I had some extra decals from working on the Sazabi and I decided to add a couple of designs for the Gelgoog. So it breaks some of the parts with a decal here and there.
It looks good to me!