It’s the Sirbine, a revamp of the Dunbine, the main mech from the TV show of the same name. The plastic kit was based on scans of Max Factory’s 1/35 scale soft vinyl Sirbine, but reduced to about 50%, making this kit about 1/72. Using the magic of computer aided design, Max Factory produced a beautiful and unusual injection molded kit for us to enjoy.
The kit is unusual in that Max Factory has eschewed the snap fit craze that has seized the anime hobby. The kit is also fixed pose, very unusual in this day and age. But I consider this a plus, as no detail is compromised. After one afternoon of work, here is where it’s at.
The big wing cover (aura converters), head, hands, and feet are still unglued to simplify painting. The kit assembles brilliantly, with perfect fit. Normally when an organic subject is kitted, the wiggly, curvy pieces have gaps. But not this one, everything fits like a Swiss watch - props to Max Factory!
That is so cool Neal, you Islanders always get the cool kits LOL. Figs are not my fortay however those who do them have my respect. Man that is neat. 1/72? About how tall?
I hope Max Factory can do a plastic kit of the OVA version of the Zwarth, but Kotobukiya was the company that did the resin kit. The TV versions of the aura battlers are kind of outdated in appearance.
I have the vinyl kit this was based off on, and was one of those ‘IT’ kits back in the days for how ahead of the (vinyl) time it was. So also bought this for a fraction of the cost of the vinyl kit. The masking though…someone need to produce a masking set for this…
Actually, the JPN price for the original vinyl kit was about the same as the new plastic kit! [:|] I also had the vinyl kit, but bought it in Japan, so I paid about 4,800 Yen. I never built it, so I sold it to a friend. I can imagine buying it in the USA or another country other than Japan would have doubled the price.
The filigree detail admittedly looks challenging, but I figure what better chance to hone the old “hairy stick” technique?
Sorry Neal but I gotta ask…is " hairy stick" a direct translation from Japanese?? Just trying to have alittle fun my friend.[:)]. Paint brushes are really becoming a lost art, in modeling anyway.
Looking foreard to your magic on this figure good sir.
The problem is the details are all ‘metallic’ which are somewhat difficult to paint with a brush for a smooth finish. Mostly because good metallic paints are not brush paintable…
