I would straight up recommend just getting SHF Build. Due to both his original price and his multiple re-issues you can get him for basically the same price as the FRS without too much trouble, and while the height discrepancy would usually be an issue... well, FRS Build is actually slightly shorter than most FRSes and matches SHF height. You are basically just missing out on his weapon but in exchange getting a much more gorgeous figure with a wider ranger of articulation

AFAIK only OOO's chest symbol is pre-painted but I feel like the majority of the lines will be separate, but I'm imagining the black lines on the arms and gloves will need to be stickered/painted. (though of course black lines are the easiest to do with any panel liner.

The only problem is that defeats the purpose of collecting all the model kits. Like I still plan to get W, Kuuga, and Hibiki despite owning the SHF's. It's less to get a figure of Build (which isn't even a design I like a lot though he's pretty cool) and more to have that eventual full lineup of main Riders in a consistent style and scale.

The idea that they may redo him is pretty tantalizing, though. I mean, they did it with Kabuto and Faiz to good effect. You guys have definitely scared me off Build for now (though I do still want Zi-O) I may get Kabuto instead, or one of the three I mentioned above.

Painting up Zi-O wasn't that much trouble, the pink sections are mostly rectangular/large shapes that can be masked off easily.

But there are a lot of blank spots they didn't give you stickers for: the fingers, the neck, even the helmet is incomplete. The stickers for the visors looked terrible so I just oped to paint it in, and finally I had to add the black sections that are around the white clock face.

Yeah, by far the biggest problem I had with Zi-O was his eyes. His belt is also really bad but I can live with that; his eyes though you really wanna do yourself

Zi-O's face stickers are the worst. In 16 Figure-rise kits, those face stickers are the most difficult, frustrating things I've worked on. Tiny stickers that need to go on narrow raised surfaces and in shallow grooves. Stickers that have the adhesive quality of a postage stamp's shadow. Stickers that move if your hand comes within inches of the kit's face.

The worst.

The arms straps and neck really beg for some silver paint.

And if you can get a tiny bit of paint on those Ride Watches, it makes the figure seem super detailed

https://i.imgur.com/YODuAkS.jpg

Glad I tend to paint black stickers wherever I can. :lol

45 minutes left til Hobby Next Phase Autumn starts, at least if they start at 00:00..

when it starts, i will post the pic and the link immediately here

I thought Hobby Next Phase 2021 Autumn is on Nov 18?

well, it's Nov 14-18

14 is FRS
15 is FRS Digimon
16 is P Bandai Kyoukai Senki, i guess?
17 is SD GDW and Entry Grade
18 is RG Gunpla