Build Saga- Zoids Command Wolf RMZ-003 Mission Complete! [Realize Model]

Picking up after last week’s beginning, this is the conclusion of assembling RMZ-003 Command Wolf from the Realize Model Zoids range. I did notice on the box that the full designation is RMZ-003 RZ-009 Command Wolf… but I think you get the picture.

Today’s post, we’ve completed the kit and now have the full wolf-type Zoid to enjoy.

The bulk of my work finishing the kit was assembling the legs, which wasn’t difficult, but was time-consuming. Since I usually reserve Sunday evenings for building, I actually had to finish up Monday morning after getting a late start. We’d watched Dracula: A Love Story while enjoying some Olive Garden takeout. Good movie, if a little silly in spots, but I like my Dracula a little absurd.

Like the other body parts, there were some grommet pieces to work into the insides of the legs, made of a pleasantly rubbery material that I admittedly enjoyed bending on the sprue a little too much. A couple of them were a bit tricky to fit into place, though. There was also an ankle joint on each leg that took a little extra effort to assemble. A rod from one piece had to fit through a tight opening in another that connects to the wolf’s foot. It was a snug fit, and by the last one, I was pretty much over it.

Thankfully, the white armor pieces didn’t require much cleanup, but the grey parts did. One rear leg shoulder area, in particular, separated from the sprue in a weird way, leaving a mark I couldn’t completely shave down. I think some sanding is in my future. Without decals, the Command Wolf would definitely benefit from some panel lining as well — something I may tackle later, which would also be a good time to fix that sprue scar.

There were polycaps used in the leg construction, which did my heart good. However, as I mentioned in the first post, they’re not made of that classic, satisfying polycap material. It makes sense for the construction, but man, I just wanted to squeeze them.

Once the legs were assembled, it was just a matter of attaching everything to the torso. This part was pretty straightforward, though some joints were tighter than others. That tightness does pay off, though, as it allows Command Wolf to hold just about any dramatic pose you’d want.

All that was left was attaching some hoses to the sides and placing the tiny pilots into their cockpits. The hoses will attach backward if you’re not paying attention — something I realized after they didn’t look quite right and I double-checked the instructions. The pilots are incredibly small, and each cockpit has a specific one. I ended up using a pair of bent tweezers to get them into place. Thankfully, there’s a connection point to keep them from rattling around, which is something I’ve grown used to with older Zoids.

Once fully assembled, Command Wolf is awesome. It’s packed with articulation and ready for action. The detailing is great, and I’m definitely planning to do some additional work on it in the future. This is my first Realize Model Zoid, and it definitely won’t be my last.