|
 |
|
I picked up this kit through a mail-order catalog several years ago. I remember going to my local hobby store and seeing several of the SF3D kits on display. They were totally unique and intriguing, but at the time I was more into space ships and tanks. Years later, they were out of production and almost impossible to find. I paid $50 for this one, and don't have any regrets.
If you are a sci-fi fan and model builder, and have never built one of the SF3D kits, do so. They've been re-released under the name "Maschinen Krieger Ma.K.ZbV3000", but are still manufactured by the original company, Nitto. Based on original designs by Japanese artist Kow Yokoyama, these are unique futuristic armored fighting suits which seem to follow a kind of progression from a German WWII motif. There are many sites on the web with additional information on Ma.K. as well as SF3D worth looking at. Though a popular series, it's doubtful they will be available forever. Once Nitto finishes the current run, they'll become collectibles again.
The kit itself is nearly perfect. The plastic parts are crisply molded with no flash, the fit is excellent (though the landing gear attachment points within the fuselage are a bit weak), and the extra photoetched screen and metal flexible springs add lots of great detail. The pilot is a full kit in itself, and can be posed standing next to the Hornisse (Hornet), or sitting in the pilot's cradle. I chose the latter, obviously. I would like to set this kit up on a display base, but I'm not sure if I should make it a tarmac base, or a mirror. The tarmac would be more model-like, but the mirror would help showcase the detail on the underside of the Hornisse.
I chose to paint the Hornisse in a splinter camoflage pattern, similar to one I'd used on a Stuka some time ago, though I chose a color combination closer to the illustrations on the data card provided with the kit. The engine bells were sanded as smooth as possible, so I could use Testor's buffable aluminum paint. Eventually, the Hornisse will go next to my unbuilt Fledermaus.
