Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

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doghunter1
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Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

Is the Zaku II Kai B-Type really wearing a Stahlhelm as seen here, or is it a different head?
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PowerdGNFlag
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

It's an alternate head configuration. I'm not sure if the B-type appeared in 0080, but subsequent media featuring the FZ more often than not have a mix of both head types. Functionality-wise there's little to no difference between the two.
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doghunter1
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

PowerdGNFlag wrote:It's an alternate head configuration.
When you mean "alternate head configuration," is it the normal head given an upgrade for a certain purpose, or does it mean a new head, like the GM Head on Karen's Ground Type Gundam in 08th MS Team and the Zeta Zaku in ZZ?
Xenosynth
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

http://puu.sh/dH9uQ/21fbe6e477.png

As in, it's just an alternate head. I've never seen an explanation for it. I think some games make it a commander unit head, instead of the horn others get.
Erisie
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

Furthermore, is there any relationship between the Zaku II Kai and the stahlhelm used in the Geara Zulu?
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Dark Duel
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

None whatsoever beyond "it looks like a Wehrmacht stahlhelm"
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ShadowCell
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

it's there in case the "Zeons are Space Nazis" thing wasn't obvious enough to the viewer
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mcred23
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

PowerdGNFlag wrote:I'm not sure if the B-type appeared in 0080
For maybe two or three seconds.
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Gelgoog Jager
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Re: Zaku II Kais and Stahlhelms

If we had to pick an in-universe reason, I think it might be a similar case to the MS-06D Zaku Desert Type, which also had two different heads:

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/msv/ms-06d.htm

First, there was a model using a head with two regular antennas, supposedly an early model:

http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ms-06d-karakal.jpg

Later there was a second one with a single commander antenna was supposed to be a later model:

http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ms-06d-color.jpg

I don't think there'd any mention on a performance difference between those two. I guess the simplest explanation would be that the single antenna type might have been a minor modification that allowed using the same type of antenna as other Zakus, which would have been better from a production and logistics POV. I also suppsoe that the later model might have been slightly better resistant than the other model.

Back to the MS-06FZ, I imagine that the B-type might have simply been a minor revision with the sole purpose of reinforcing the defense capabilities of the head. This wouldn't be the first time we see something like this as there aare examples of some MS-06J and MS-06F2 units that had additional armor plates attached to their heads:

http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/File:MS-06 ... -_Tech.jpg
http://bo.ggame.jp/about/ms_list.php?ms ... n#msDetail

All that being said, I think the case of the MS-06FZ B-type might even simpler as the Stahlhelms seems to be attached on top of the A-Type's head, judging by the larger volume and the fact that the cable goes under the Stahlhelms. Therefore we could simply assume that the Stahlhelms was a minor improvement to increase the overall defense of the head, and perhaps even particularly of the head cable which is the one part that benefits the most from having the helmet protect it from the sides and the back. Perhaps in the long run Zeon planned to have all A-Type upgraded into B-Types at some point, but the war situation didn't allowed it.
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