We have to get to the Wave Rider transformation, but before we do that, let’s take a look at some comparisons with the Zeta’s transforming siblings.
Real Grade Zeta
Folks, I think this is the end of the line for this Real Grade. It’s still broken, it’s getting even saggier, and I’m not really digging the look of it anymore.
I typically like the look of Real Grades, but I think in this case it makes the Zeta way too busy.
Rest in peace little guy. You’ve earned it.
Zeta Plus
This was a surprisingly good example of how good the Revive’s articulation is, because the Zeta Plus’ is rough. Way worse than I remember it being.
For example, while the Revive’s leg can pivot at the hip (as seen below), the Zeta Plus can’t:
It also can’t really lift its legs or arms very high:
If you still had doubts that the articulation on these transforming models actually needed improvement, I think this puts the debate to rest:
ZII
The ZII is only a year older than the Revive, so it’s articulation isn’t nearly as bad as the Zeta Plus. In fact, it’s quite comparable to the Revive:
The Revive still has a bit more range, and the ZII’s armor gets in the way a bit, but overall I feel like it steals a lot of the Revive’s thunder.
Methuss
I didn’t take any comparison poses with the Methuss. It’s an entirely different (and much older) design, and I didn’t need to compare them to know it’s articulation was going to be way worse.
Though I did take some kinda-sorta-but-not-really action shots with them all:
Wave Rider Mode
Now it’s finally time to get to the transformation. Of course, it’s actually a partsformation, and the process is not terribly different than the Zeta Plus or the ZII.
We start with the grey brick that everything attaches to:
And then start adding all the bits and pieces:
Note that these are all the actual pieces off the mobile suit. There, isn’t, for example, a special flattened version of the chest to use in the transformation.
Then we bend the legs into position. We’ve seen this before on other transformers, but the Revive here takes it to the next level.
Compared to the Zeta Plus, for example, the Zeta’s legs are meant to tuck in much more compactly, and that’s exactly what we get:
Something else that’s interesting is that the model comes with landing gear, but it only attaches to the Hyper Mega Launcher, so if you want to post it at rest you’ll have to put it into what I’m calling “Extra Chonk” mode:
I’ve seen transformations that look good, but this one looks good. Everything is perfectly compact, and aside from the fists around back, all the mobile suit-y bits are perfectly hidden.
Speaking of which, compare it to the Ver. Ka’s Wave Rider
While a much more impressive engineering feat, it leaves something to be desired visually. You can see way too many of the mechanical bits, and the side skirts tend to move around too much (while also being raised up a bit too much).
Meanwhile, the Revive’s partsformative nature, they were able to make it look perfect:
This actually might be the better display option than the mobile suit mode. It’s that good:
And just because I have them, a few dark shots too:
Alright, that’s enough. Now let’s look at some more (transformed) comparison shots.
Methuss
This isn’t really a comparison shot as much as a pairing. The Methuss and Zeta go together like peas and carrots. Not putting them together is a crime worthy of Gundam Jail.
They both look like such sleek space fighters. A match made in heaven.
ZII
I hate to say it, but this is making me think less of the ZII’s transformation. I used to think it’s compact formation looked good, but next to the Zeta it looks too much like a mecha that’s had it’s body painfully broken and twisted to contort it into a vertical stack of body parts.
I still think you can make in argument in its favor, but the Wave Rider mode looks so much more elegant next to it.
Zeta Plus
This is easily the most interesting comparison of all, as it’s the only other one I have that’s actually part of the Zeta line. And to add an additional wrinkle, I’ve seen some fans engage in what I can only describe as mobile suit gatekeeping and/or purity testing, alleging that because it lacks the flying armor, even the Zeta Plus isn’t really a true Zeta successor.
But when you get the two transformed and sitting side by side, it’s hard not to laugh at such BS.
From almost every angle, their silhouettes are so similar that the Plus’ use of wing binders instead of flying armor becomes a distinction without a difference.
Even when viewing them from below, they don’t look that far off:
As usual, the lesson here is that people on the internet sometimes just like to say shit without actually thinking it through.
Video
I took some videos of some of these models spinning around together on the turntable, but I don’t feel like editing them right now. Besides, that kind of stuff leans a bit too far into Content Creator, and right now I need to do everything I can to steer clear of that mindset. I will probably get to them eventually, just not right now.
That’s It!!
This is the build that broke me, but it’s also the one that helped me Rise From the Ashes and fix a lot of my problems. For that reason alone it’s probably going to have a place in my heart for a long time. But for now, I’m just glad to wrap it up so I can move onto what’s next.