The Beast King gets an upgrade.
Bring one of the most iconic Republic Zoids to your collection with the HMM RZ-028 Blade Liger AB 1/72 from Kotobukiya.
This upgraded version of the legendary Blade Liger adds the Attack Booster, increasing the machine’s offensive capability, speed and mobility while retaining the enormous deployable Laser Blades that made the RZ-028 famous. At approximately 400mm long with between 401 and 600 parts, this is a seriously substantial HMM build.
RZ-028 Blade Liger
The Blade Liger is one of the defining designs of the ZOIDS franchise.
Developed from the Shield Liger platform, the Blade Liger takes the basic lion-type concept and turns it into a considerably more aggressive high-speed combat Zoid.
Its most recognisable feature is impossible to miss:
Those enormous Laser Blades.
Mounted along either side of the body, they transform the Blade Liger from an already intimidating mechanical lion into something specifically designed to charge directly through enemy machines.
The Attack Booster
The AB stands for Attack Booster, and that’s what separates this version from the standard Blade Liger.
Mounted across the rear of the machine, the Attack Booster combines additional propulsion with weaponry to increase the Blade Liger’s overall combat capability.
Kotobukiya specifically describes the equipment as strengthening its speed, defence and agility, while the HMM version incorporates working deployment features rather than simply treating the booster as a static backpack.
Opening Attack Booster
The Attack Booster’s external covers can be opened and closed.
Once deployed, the internal booster and beam cannon can also be repositioned, allowing you to change the appearance of the equipment between configurations.
Closed up, it integrates neatly into the Blade Liger’s silhouette.
Open everything and suddenly the machine looks ready to do exactly what its name suggests:
Attack. And boost. Preferably simultaneously.
Deployable Laser Blades
Naturally, the Blade Liger’s signature Laser Blades haven’t gone anywhere.
The huge blades mounted on either side of the body can be deployed and extended, allowing the model to recreate its combat configuration.
Folded away, the machine retains its relatively streamlined feline appearance.
Bring the blades forward and the personality changes completely.
At that point it’s less “mechanical lion” and more “400mm-long mechanical lion carrying two enormous swords.”
Approximately 400mm Long
Yes.
40 centimetres.
Kotobukiya lists the completed Blade Liger AB at approximately 400mm in total length.
That makes this substantially larger than many builders expect when they first see “1/72 scale” on the box.
Because the Blade Liger is a quadruped, most of that size stretches horizontally across your display rather than vertically.
So measure the shelf.
Then measure it again.
401–600 Parts
The Blade Liger AB sits in Kotobukiya’s 401–600 parts category.
This is therefore very much a proper HMM project rather than a quick evening build.
The construction includes the detailed mechanical body, four legs, head, cockpit, armour, tail, Laser Blade mechanisms and the substantial Attack Booster assembly.
For experienced Gunpla builders moving into HMM ZOIDS, expect something much closer to a substantial modelling project than a simple High Grade.
Detailed HMM Engineering
Kotobukiya’s Highend Master Model range takes classic ZOIDS and re-engineers them as highly detailed articulated plastic kits.
Instead of concentrating on motorised walking gimmicks, HMM focuses on the mechanical construction and appearance of the machine.
That means more detail.
More articulation.
More individual components.
More painting opportunities.
And considerably more time wondering where that tiny mechanical piece you just dropped went.
Opening Cockpit
The cockpit located inside the Blade Liger’s head can be opened and closed.
A pilot figure is included and can be positioned inside, helping reinforce the enormous scale of the completed machine.
It’s a particularly effective detail on a four-legged Zoid because the cockpit forms such an obvious part of the head.
Removable Zoid Core
Hidden inside the torso is another classic HMM feature.
The Zoid Core can be removed from the body.
It’s not something you’ll necessarily see once the entire model is assembled, but that’s part of what makes HMM construction so enjoyable.
Kotobukiya hasn’t concentrated solely on the external armour.
There’s mechanical detail underneath it too.
Revised Colours
Kotobukiya revised the moulded colours across the Blade Liger and Attack Booster to more accurately reproduce the intended appearance of the machine.
The combination of blue armour, white sections, dark mechanical components and orange transparent pieces gives the finished model its unmistakable Republic appearance.
A straight build therefore already has plenty of visual impact.
Painting simply gives you the opportunity to push it further.
Clear Orange & Colourless Clear Parts
There’s a particularly useful bonus for custom builders.
The transparent parts used around the front cockpit and tail lamp are supplied in the standard clear orange, but Kotobukiya also includes colourless clear versions.
That means you’re not locked into the standard orange appearance.
Use transparent paints and you can create your own sensor colours without having to fight against pre-coloured clear plastic.
Blue.
Green.
Red.
Purple.
Whatever suits your custom Blade Liger.
New Emblem & Caution Mark Decals
The kit includes an updated set of emblem and caution-mark decals designed to add further detail to the finished Zoid.
These smaller technical markings work particularly well across the large blue armour surfaces.
You can keep things relatively clean for a more animation-inspired appearance or apply the additional markings for a more realistic military-machine finish.
Brilliant Custom Painting Potential
The Blade Liger AB is exactly the sort of HMM kit that rewards additional finishing work.
There’s a huge amount of exposed mechanical detail sitting underneath those blue armour panels.
Try adding metallic details to the internal frame, hydraulic pistons and joints, then contrast them against the cleaner external armour.
The Laser Blades and Attack Booster also provide great opportunities for additional metallic finishes and heat effects.
And because the machine is 400mm long, there’s plenty of surface area to work with.
Possibly too much.
Clear the weekend.
Weather It or Keep It Clean
The Blade Liger looks equally good with two very different approaches.
A clean finish emphasises its heroic Republic appearance and distinctive blue armour.
A weathered finish can make it look like a machine that’s actually been charging around the battlefield cutting enemy Zoids in half.
Panel lining, subtle armour chipping, dust around the paws and lower legs, metallic wear on the claws and heat staining around the Attack Booster can completely transform the finished model.
A Centrepiece Zoid
At 40cm long, Blade Liger AB isn’t really a background model.
It becomes a centrepiece.
The long feline body already gives it plenty of presence, but deploying the Laser Blades and Attack Booster increases the visual footprint even further.
Put it alongside smaller humanoid models and the sheer size becomes particularly obvious.
2025 Reproduction
The current ZD131R version is a reproduction of Kotobukiya’s Blade Liger AB. Kotobukiya lists its Japanese reproduction release as September 2025, with a Japanese retail price of ¥8,800 including tax.
The previous product code was ZD131.
Product Features
- Manufacturer: Kotobukiya
- Franchise: ZOIDS
- Range: HMM – Highend Master Model
- Model: RZ-028 Blade Liger AB
- Scale: 1/72
- Total length: approximately 400mm
- Parts count: 401–600
- Plastic model kit
- Helic Republic Zoid
- Attack Booster included
- Opening and closing Attack Booster covers
- Deployable booster
- Deployable beam cannon
- Extendable and deployable Laser Blades
- Opening cockpit
- Pilot figure included
- Removable Zoid Core
- Clear-orange cockpit and tail-lamp components
- Bonus colourless clear components
- Newly designed emblem decals
- Newly designed caution markings
- Revised moulded colours
- Materials: PS, PE, ABS and PVC
- Recommended age: 15+
- Product code: ZD131R
- Previous product code: ZD131
- Japanese reproduction: September 2025
Why Add HMM Blade Liger AB to Your Collection?
Because Blade Liger is already one of the greatest-looking Zoids ever made – and the Attack Booster makes it even better.
You’ve got the unmistakable blue Republic armour, enormous deployable Laser Blades and detailed mechanical body of the standard Blade Liger, then Kotobukiya adds the Attack Booster with opening covers, movable booster equipment and a deployable beam cannon.
And it’s enormous.
At approximately 400mm long with up to 600 parts, the HMM RZ-028 Blade Liger AB is a serious modelling project with enough mechanical detail to keep experienced builders busy and enough shelf presence to completely dominate a ZOIDS display.
For ZOIDS fans, Helic Republic collectors or builders looking for a substantial HMM project, the Blade Liger AB is an absolute beast.
Blue armour. Laser Blades deployed. Attack Booster open. Forty centimetres of mechanical lion ready to charge – the HMM RZ-028 Blade Liger AB isn’t exactly subtle, and that’s precisely why we love it.
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