MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam is the AEUG's transformable mobile suit in Mobile Suit Z Gundam (1985, U.C. 0087), flown by Kamille Bidan. Bandai's official profile calls it a transformable machine developed as a symbol of the AEUG.
What it does in the story
Kamille moves into the Zeta in the second half of the series, after the Gundam Mk-II, and it becomes the AEUG's front-line machine against the Titans. Its aircraft form, the Waverider, is what lets the AEUG take the war down to Earth: Bandai's profile states that the Waverider can enter the atmosphere on its own and can operate on Earth.
What makes it different
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The Waverider is a re-entry vehicle, not just a flight mode.
The transformation was designed around getting a mobile suit to Earth through the atmosphere rather than around moving faster in space. Bandai's profile is explicit that the MA form can enter the atmosphere on its own and can keep operating once it is down there.
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The Wave Shooter is a different form entirely.
Bandai's High Grade Wave Shooter kit separates the two names. The Waverider carries re-entry capability; the Wave Shooter is the form with the Wing Binder fitted, which gives that up for enlarged variable-geometry wings, better low-altitude handling, shorter take-off runs and more range.
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It is the Mk-II and the Rick Dias in one airframe.
Bandai describes the Zeta as combining the strengths of the Gundam Mk-II and the Rick Dias, with high mobility and attack power. Both of those machines had already been AEUG front-line equipment before the Zeta arrived.
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Bandai publishes its armament list item by item.
The official profile lists two head vulcans, two beam sabres that also work as beam guns, two grenade launchers, a wire-shot launcher, a beam rifle with a sabre, the Hyper Mega Launcher and a shield. It is the kind of list you can check a built kit against, part by part.
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Frequently asked questions
1. Is the Wave Shooter the same thing as the Waverider?
No. The Waverider is the Zeta's own flight form and has atmospheric re-entry capability. The Wave Shooter is the form produced by fitting the Wing Binder, which trades re-entry away for larger wings and better low-altitude flight.
2. Which Zeta Gundam kits actually transform?
The RG 1/144 and the PG 1/60 transform without swapping parts. The MG Ver.Ka rebuilds the mechanism with locking points so the Waverider holds its shape like an aircraft model. The HGUC kits reproduce the Waverider by replacing parts.
3. What does the shield do in Waverider mode?
Its upper red section becomes the nose of the Waverider, and the shield doubles as a flying sub-unit that mounts on the left forearm in mobile suit mode.
4. Who else has flown the Zeta Gundam?
Kamille Bidan flies it in Z Gundam. In the sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Judau Ashta uses it before moving to the ZZ Gundam.
5. Does Bandai publish a height for the Zeta Gundam?
The official mecha profile lists armaments but no height figure, so there is no official number to quote. The Waverider is measured along its length rather than its height, which is why a built kit takes up more shelf width in that form.
Background sources: MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam — Gundam Wiki · Ζガンダム — 日本語版 Wikipedia
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