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The Iron Bible

- High-End Master Model Release

 In 2006 Kotobukiya launched its new HMM "High-End Master Model" series. Over the years, this has become the longest-running model kit series in the history of Zoids, and has been the tide to carry fans through many dry spells for other Zoids media. The line features reimagined designs from earlier series, including some original variations or versions of Zoids that were never realized in model kit form before now.

 With this series you can expect fully poseable model kits with tons of movable gimmicks, and a high number of parts. The older motorized kits tended to average around 60 ~ 100 parts. By comparison, many HMMs in the Liger size range from 400 ~ 550 parts. The line also features gorgeous custom-drawn box art, mostly by Mercy Rabbit. Each kit reimagines its battle story lore and offers unique details about the specific Zoid.

- Instruction Legend

 This image appears in most Instruction Manuals. Keep an eye on these icons to see where the kit may demand closer attention. While these are still snap-together kits they may require glue to make sure some parts stay firmly attached (they can otherwise be loose and create sagging parts). A good hobby knife and sprue cutters/nippers are recommended.

- Lore Bookmarks

 Anything with a silver bookmark beside its name has some degree of lore on the page, usually either the concept sketches or the story from the instruction booklets. If it has a gold bookmark, it has all of the lore included in the instructions. If it has a red mark, it doesn't seem to have any of its own original lore (either re-uses earlier release lore or only has descriptions about the kit.) We will review box stories on a case-by-case basis, but many seem to be summarized versions of the instruction info.

- High-End Master Model Pages

HMM-001 Shield Liger

HMM-001 Ltd Shield Liger Desert Type

HMM-001 Ltd Shield Liger Ramar

HMM-002 Command Wolf

HMM-002 Ltd Empire Command Wolf LC

HMM-002 Ltd Command Wolf Irvine Custom

HMM-003 Blade Liger

HMM-003 Ltd Blade Liger Mirage

HMM-003 Ltd Blade Liger Leon Ver.

Blu-Ray Box Blade Liger Limited Ver.

HMM-004 Geno Saurer

Dino Expo Geno Saurer Bone Color Ver.

HMM-005 Shield Liger MK-II

HMM-006 Saber Tiger

Zoids Source Exhibit Saber Tiger CA Color Ver.

HMM-007 Command Wolf AC

HMM-008 Molga & Molga Canory Unit

HMM-009 Saber Tiger Schwarz

HMM-010 Geno Breaker

HMM-011 Cannon Tortoise

HMM-012 Molga AA & Molga Carrier

HMM-013 Gun Sniper

Dino Expo Gun Sniper Bone Color Ver.

HMM-014 Buster Tortoise

>HMM-015 Iron Kong

HMM-016 Blade Liger AB

HMM-016 Ltd Blade Liger AB Bang Ver.

HMM-017 Red Horn

HMM-018 Gun Sniper Naomi Special with W2 Unit

HMM-019 Great Sabre

HMM-019 Ltd Saber Tiger Gold

HMM-020 Lightning Saix

HMM-020 Ltd Lightning Saix Irvine Special

HMM-021 Dark Horn

HMM-022 Liger Zero

Liger Zero 2014 Blu-Ray BOX Ltd Ver.

HMM-022 Ltd Liger Zero Empire Ver.

Limited Liger Zero CAS Set Clear Ver.

HMM-023 Command Wolf LC & AC Ballad

HMM-024 Gun Sniper Leena Special

HMM-025 Pteras Bomber Jamie Ver.

HMM-026 Liger Zero Schneider

HMM-027 Geno Saurer Raven Ver.

HMM-028 Godos

HMM-029 Shield Liger Bang Ver.

HMM-030 Liger Zero Jager

HMM-031 Dark Horn Harry Special

HMM-032 Liger Zero Panzer

HMM-033 Berserk Führer

HMM-034 Shadow Fox

HMM-034 Ltd Fire Fox

>HMM-035 Geno Breaker Raven Ver.

HMM-036 Dibison Thoma Ver.

HMM-037 Psycho Geno Saurer

HMM-038 Iron Kong Schwarz Ver.

HMM-039 Iguan

HMM-040 Gojulas

HMM-041 Death Stinger

HMM-041 Ltd Death Stinger Hiltz Ver.

HMM-042 Iron Kong PK

HMM-043 Gojulas the Ogre

HMM-043 Ltd Gojulas Gunner

HMM-044 Storm Sworder

HMM-044 Ltd Storm Sworder Ala Barone

HMM-045 Sturm Tyrann

HMM-045 Ltd Sturm Tyrann Berserk Unit Set

HMM-046 Shield Liger DCS-J

HMM-047 Godos Former Republic Ver.

HMM-048 Iron Kong Yeti

HMM-049 Gun Sniper W2

HMM-050 Death Stinger ZS

HMM-051 Rev Raptor

HMM-052 Raven Raptor

HMM-053 Liger Zero X

HMM-W001 Wild Liger

HMM-W001 Ltd Wild Liger Guren

 * Basic Info updated through September 8th 2022

- Ultra Rare Limiteds

 These kits are in a separate section because it's nearly impossible to the average collector to obtain them. These were all kits made for exclusive events, and were released in extremely low numbers (usually 1 ~ 10). See individual pages for more info.

Site Renewal Campaign Berserk Führer Holotech

Photo Contest Plated HMM Liger Zero

Photo Contest HMM Godos Clear Ver.

Photo Contest HMM Iguan Clear Ver.

- Zoids List

- HMM Customize Parts

- Frequently Asked Questions

 What is the difference between Marking Plus Version, Repackage, and original release?
 MPV and Repackage (which are essentially the same thing) are rereleases of old kits with some extra love. They usually contain additional waterslide decals (often based on the battle story with emblems and logos not seen in the original release), clear colorless plastic (eyes, sensors, etc.), a generic pilot figure instead of the anime ones, and sometimes updated or new box art.

 Are the molds updated for MPV kits?
 No mold changes are made specifically for the MPV/Repackage kits, aside from maybe slots for flying bases. However, many confuse this matter because the older koto kits, some nearing 15+ years old, have not aged well. Some of them exhibit poor plastic quality and worse joints (PC parts deteriorating or not gripping as well, parts crumbling, and so on.) Kit materials age and HMMs are no exception. MPVs/Repackages also usually include mold changes made to earlier variations. For example, the Shield Liger MPV has a slot for a flying base, a change made for the earlier-released DCS-J. The Geno Saurer/Breaker Repackage have the mold modifications made for the Raven Version.

 My Blade Liger AB is missing two parts for the blades!
 Blade Liger AB variations only include two PC parts for the blades, a note in Japanese that might be missed during assembly. You're supposed to choose between which assembly you wish to build: Blades only, or Blades + Boosters.

 What's the best place to buy HMM Zoids?
 If you're in the US, stores like USA Gundam are now carrying Zoids at near retail prices and offering cheap shipping to boot. The down side is that they release quite a while later. If you want the faster Japanese release, stores like amiami, amazon JP, and HLJ are great places to go. If you're after used kits, always err towards Buyee (Yahoo Japan) instead of Ebay, where prices can get insanely out of hand.

 I was panel lining my Zoid, and the part shattered! What happened?
 ABS plastic can be quite sensitive to paint, which can cause tiny microfractures in the plastic that are often invisible to the human eye. When the part is strained, these microfractures can turn to serious cracks, and the parts can literally fall to pieces as you try to assemble them. You may want to check out Kotobukiya's insight into how to handle ABS plastic over on their website. It's also worth noting that this effect is especially noticeable with pour type Gundam Markers and paints using thinners, because the ink is thin enough to sink into the plastic.

 How do I tell what parts are ABS?
 In your instruction manual there'll be a couple pages with a list of sprues that come with the kit. Underneath of the names (Part A, Part B, etc.) there'll be a note about what type of plastic it is.

 Why do you use "Spec" instead of "Version"?
 The is based on the kanji that was used for most of these kits during the early days (仕様), which at the time was often translated to Specification, Special, or Version. Koto's official stance is that while it's discussed among the team, there's no hard and fast rule for how it should be translated. We use "Spec." because it applies to multiple possible variations and works fluidly with most lore bits. Yes, we know it's not entirely consistent with box names.

 The lore seems differently spaced than the books, is that right?
 The HMM instruction manuals are striving to fit as much story and lore content as they can into a 2 page format. When converted into English, this results in 1 paragraph sometimes being an entire page worth of text. Keeping this true to form on a website that isn't limited by such printing standards would be cruel and unusual punishment, so I space out lore sections to improve the quality of life of our readers.

- Extra Details

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