How to shorten RG Zeta's beam rifle

It's time once again for another tip/tutorial for your Gunpla Kits.

This time around, we'll be tackling a simple modification for RG Zeta's beam rifle. A friend of mine asked about why my RG Zeta's beam rifle, when retracted, is shorter than it should be. I replied, I'll teach you how when I blog it. And that's what I'll show you in this entry.

A bit if background, before I got my RG Zeta, I first had a MG Zeta ver 2.0 and then an HGUC Zeta. And playing around with them made me realize that the retracted beam rifle of the RG should really be shorter compared to its OOTB(Out of the box) build.
Comparing scales and models, HGUC and MG kits stayed true to what it should be.

And now here's how we make RG Zeta's beam rifle true to as it should be.

Notice that the one on top is the modified beam rifle, and the lower one is the OOTB. OOTB beam rifle is a bit longer when retracted. 

Here's what we need for this modification.

Hobby knife (X-acto blade)

file

side cutter

super glue(plastic cement, if you prefer)

Ikimashou!!

STEP 1: Disassemble the whole main of the OOTB beam rifle. You can leave the long barrel assembled.

Notice how the barrel is connected to the main body. Also notice that the encircled peg joints blocks the path of the barrel to go through all the way back during retraction.

STEP 2: Using your side cutters, cut the peg joint on both sides of the main body.

TEST FIT: Test fit the barrel and the main body once again. See how the excess track help with the barrel. Do a test as well if it hinders in retracting.

Now the barrel slides back, all the way back as it should have been. But we are not yet done. There are still some modifications we need to do to finish up.

STEP 3: With the main body and barrel attached, Attached the hilt/grip of the rifle. Try retracting the barrel all the way back with the hilt/grip attached.

You will notice that it will not slide all the way back again. It's beacuse of the hilt/grip somehoew hinders the retraction, show in a red circle.

STEP 4: We will the modify the barrel to give space for the hilt/grip. Disassemble the barrel this time and cut a portion of the barrel, as shown in the picture. Do this on both sides of the barrel.

TEST FIT: Reassemble the main body, barrel, and the hilt/grip. See here, we opened a space to allow the retraction to push all the way back. 

TEST FIT: Reassemble everything. Here's how it looks when extracted and retracted.

Extracted

Retracted

Here are the pictures, of the 2 beam rifles compared. Both now can retract all the way back.

Extracted

Retracted

Action pose!!!

Simple modification that everyone can do :D 

For any questions or other issues you'd like me to address, you may message me thru:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aro9nes
email: andrewnaynes@gmail.com


Until then... See ya!!!!