SAFS R Space Type Prowler

Sorry for the huge delay, I had to take the photos of the old Prowler box and contents before posting this up. This review shows both the old SF3D and the new Ma.K boxing. The SAFS R Space Type Prowler is the space equivalent of the Raccoon, used for recon purposes. It has additional fuel tanks (very Gundam like if you ask me) poking out at the back and an enlarged pulse radar. Of the Nitto boxing, this kit contains all the parts of a Raccoon, SAFS, and Fireball so you can build any one of the SAFS suits out of it.

Finally posted this and got a weight off my chest! :)

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : off-white injection molds
Number of parts: unknown in 6 sprues
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good
Overall accuracy: Accurate
Date of release: Sept2001
Release price: 1500 yen
Current Running price in YAJ: 3600 - 6750 yen

Pictures

old box

contents

SAFS sprues

Fireball sprue (dunno why mine had some parts nipped off), Raccoon sprue and Prowler sprue

Camo card front (old)

Camo card back (old)

Instructions (same for both old and new)

Box front (new Ma.K boxing)

Box back (new Ma.K boxing)

Camo card front (new)

Camo card back (new)

Decals (new)

SAFS Mk.III Raptor (WAVE)

SAFS Mk.III Raptor (WAVE)

This is a WAVE issue of the MkIII Raptor, basically using the old SAFS Nitto molds plus injection version of the Modelkasten Raptor/Snake eye/Fireball SG parts together with new decals and camo card. There are two versions of the Raptor released by WAVE, one containing resin parts from Modelkasten (series 00.28), and the other cheaper version containing injection molded parts. This one reviewed here is the injection version (series 00.02). I've yet gotten my hands on the resin version, which is rare even on YAJ and reaches ridiculous (oops, no offence) prices.

I really wanted this kit when I started this Ma.K hobby and I was not disappointed by the contents even though it was quite expensive. With the recent rumor/news of new Hasegawa releases of the Snake eye and possibly the Raptor, this item has all but disappeared from YAJ.
Well, we shall see...

Sorry, no decal photos as I've misplaced mine for the moment. I will put it in once I find it! :)

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : khaki injection molds
Number of parts: SAFS sprues + 2 new sprues
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good
Overall accuracy: Accurate
Date of release: Sept2003
Release price: 2600 yen
Current Running price in YAJ: 4500 - 6650 yen

Pictures

box

contents

Raptor's two additional sprues, the one of the left is the same sprue as the Snake eye and Firecall SG released by WAVE as well at the same period of time, the one on the right holds the cool pilot head with visor, new leg parts, Raptor hatch and rear armor.

instructions and camo card (front)

instructions and camo card (back)

Added:
decals (at last!)

Panzer Aufkalarungs T.W-47/N2 Kuster (Modelkasten)

This is the night fighting version of the Krote, created by Modelkasten using Krote sprues(all 4 of them excluding the mechanic) plus added resin parts for the armor as well as some sensor on the turret. There are also additional leg parts and smoke grenade launchers. I personally like this version better than the original Krote, probably due to the additional armor which makes more sense and the grenade launchers.
This box is labeled as series 00.25. Strangely this one I bought does not have the camo card.

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : khaki resin (Krote parts) + yellow resin
Number of parts: 5 sprues + yellow resin
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good, little bit of flash on the resin
Overall accuracy: Accurate
Date of release: June 2000
Release price: 7500 yen
Current Running price in YAJ: around 10000 yen

Pictures

box

contents

resin parts

decals

Panzer Aufkalarungs T.W-47 Krote Review

Panzer Aufkalarungs T.W-47 Krote
One of the first Ma.K model kits I saw displayed at a local hobby shop was the Krote (well, a variant of it anyway), the Krote is an icon in the Ma.K universe. An unmanned A.I unit, it is armed with a mini-gun and follows other Strahl forces in their battles (based on the Ma.K books illustrations). I immediately identified that the hip and legs assembly are the ones used in the Gans, as well as some other biped in Ma.K. I bought it very early in my Ma.K adventure in order to try to build a Gans from it, but gave up the idea once I got my own Gans. Personally I don't really like the turret shape and weapon but that's me... After seeing some fellow modelers build and paint it, I am liking the design more and more...
I have used the mechanic in my Fledermaus build and replaced the cigarette his holding to a torch. Its not very detailed (as in most figures in that Ma.K Nitto line, the body and legs are in two halves that don't match up properly.

There are three variants of this model which I know of, the PAK (replaced the minigun with a tank gun), the Kuster for night-fighting, and PAK armed with a short barrel (shown in magazine but not sure if its an authorized version).

Now, on with the review!

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : khaki resin
Number of parts: unknown, in 5 sprues with a mechanic figure
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good, little bit of flash here and there, heard the fitting is not good
Overall accuracy: Accurate
Date of release: March 1999
Release price: 2700 yen
Current Running price in YAJ: 6500 - 7800 yen

Pictures

Box

Contents

Sprues A, B and C

Sprue D and Figure

Multimedia (springs, wires, PE parts), instruction, camo card and decals

Camo card front

Camo card back

Gladiator (Bomvol Und Zionel)

By Bomvol Und Zionel, I was informed by our admin that this is one of the earliest resin kits released in WF. Its quality is very good, with virtually no flash on the main body and little bit of seamlines running thru the other parts. Considering its an old kit, its very good. This kit has the laser part, and additional notes on how to get brass tubes to make the tri-tube rocket launcher. The instructions strangely shows the assembly of the tri-tube rocket launcher and not the included laser.

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : khaki resin
Number of parts: unknown, did not count them
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good, little bit of flash
Overall accuracy: ?
Date of release: ?
Release price: ?
Current Running price in YAJ: 25000 - 30000+ yen (rare item)

Pictures

box

Contents (resin parts, 4 page instructions, additional readme on the tri-tube launcher and decals)

Off-white colored Resin which is a very light resin. No multimedia included though.

The additional instructions on the tri-tube launcher and the included decals. Those of us who have the 1/35 Hobbybase Gladiator 'toy' will notice the 'water' label. I personally dislike that label as it does not seem to fit the kit at all.

1/20 SAFS Mk.III resin

1/20 SAFS Mk.III resin
Here is a rare WF resin kit which a forum member had asked me to bid for him. I took the liberty to do a quite review on this before sending it out (Thanks Tudor!). Its labeled as a Trans kit, (I take it as a conversion) but includes all the parts for a full SAFS MkIII. The manufacturer is Operation Super Hammer a.k.a. Ueno-san.Thanks Jason Eaton!

On with the review, its very nicely molded with very little flash on the main body and the other parts as well. This suit is armed with a laser arm similar to the Fireball SG.

Details

Scale: 1/20
Type of material : off-white resin
Number of parts: 21
Decals: yes
Instructions: yes
Overall quality: Very good, virtually no flash
Overall accuracy: Accurate
Date of release: ?
Release price: ?
Current Running price in YAJ: 4700 yen (very rare item)

Pictures

one-page instructions

Top view of the parts breakdown

front view of the parts breakdown

Small package of resin hands, shoulder armor and joints

Prowler Review tonight!

I will post up the Prowler review tonight, to be followed up by some Ma.K resin reviews!

Stay tuned!

PKA M Melusine

PKA Melusine
This time I managed to get my hands on the 2 different versions of Ma.K PKA M Melusine in order to review them. The first is Series 00.02 Melusine (bottom) and second is Series 00.22 (top). The Gustav box stacked between them is because I bought 00.02 together with it (the Gustav kit is required to complete the Melusine as 00.02 is a conversion). Both are expensive kits at YAJ and this review costs me alot, if I don't sell them away... I myself am not a big fan of this design, but that's another story.

This review hopefully will anser some questions posted by fellow members regarding the differences in price and contents of the 2 versions.

On with the review!

2 versions of Melusine, 00.02 below and 00.22 on top, with a Gustav stacked between

First, the cheaper kit, Series 00.22. This is a complete kit, meaning that everything required to build a Melusine is inside the box. As usual you get sprues, a packet of multimedia wires and springs, camo card, instructions and decals. This kit contains a separate packet of resin (in white)
and a separate sheet of instructions (black piece of paper on the right), to build a 1cm cube of plastic to lengthen the groin joint.

Contents

The sprues are Gustav sprues A and B, Kauz sprue E, and the figure from the konrad kit. Once completed, this kit will have the standard laser arm as well as a panzer faust rocket from the Gustav kit. But the interesting part is the white resin...

Melusine white resin parts

The white resin comprises of 2 halves of the main body, side armour as well as cameras that poke of of the body, and some bits and pieces for different parts of the body.

Now onto the more expensive kit, the Series 00.02. As can be seen, the box is just as large as the full kit, even though the contents are much less...

00.02 box

Contents

What you get, besides lots of bubble wrap inside to protect the resin, is a solid body of yellowish resin fot the body, resin of the parts, instructions, decals and camo card. You will need the Gustav kit to complete this, and usually in YAJ they sell both together as an auction.

Close up of the resin

After looking at the resin body, I am fully convinced that this is a much nicer looking kit, pardon the pictures, but the hatch is detailed ON THE INSIDE as well, (whereas the normal one uses the Kauz hatch that is just a hollow piece) and resin cast so nice that there is only flash on the bottom! The interior is also beautifully casted. This kit allows for nice open hatch modelling...

To complete this review, here are the differences between the decals and camo cards...

Decals (00.22 left, 00.02 right)

Camo cards (00.22 left, 00.02 right)

Now for the price, the 00.22 costs about 8000 yen onwards (about 110usd), and the more expensive 00.02 one together with a Gustav costs 12000 yen onwards (about 160usd).
If I have the money and I want an open hatch Melusine, I'd definitely go with the 00.02. Hope this helps!
Will




Took additional photos of the 00.02 resin...

front

back

And the amazing resin pilot with arm parts (which I totally missed out, sorry!)
Man this resin pilot is very detailed and I personally think its worth the difference in price!

Melusine Reviews tonight!

Hi all, sorry for the delays, Melusine full conversion and partial conversion reviews tonight! I've taken the photos but need to go to church fellowship first...
Tonight I come back and post them up.
Stay tuned!

Will

Shipment 9 is IN!

SMJ shipped to me shipment 9 and today the parcel came in... This is my largest shipment to date...
Cheaper kits (mostly) and a couple of my 'first' time kits... First time as in the first time I physically gotten the kit. Melusine!!! Now I can compare the two different versions of Melusines and post a review...

Kuster and Gladiator, my 'first time' kits