Elmeth 1/550th Scale Sci-Fi Model
| Name of Product | Elmeth 1/550th Scale Gundam Kit |
| Product Number | Code: BAN08671 Series: Gundam 0079 |
| Manufacturer | Bandai |
| Genre | Sci-Fi (Gundam) |
| Scale | 1/550th |
| Price | 300 YEN (£2.21 Purchased 2010 from Hobbylink Japan) |
What do you get?
This is a re-release of an old plastic model kit. The kit comes
in a plain carboard box (no bubble wrap of foam inserts), you
get two sprues with all of the parts for the kits. This is not
a snap together kit you will need to glue this model together.
The kit comes with all the parts for building the Elmeth model
as well as a Gundam Mobile suit and 10 probes/remote weapon pods.
The finished model is 8cm in length, 4cm high and 9cm across from
the wing tips.
The kit does include a set of instructions written in Japanese
(although it is easy enough to follow the pictures if you don't
speak the language).
How does it assemble?
As you can see from the number of parts on the sprues and the instruction pictures, this model is very easy to put together. Hobbylink who I bought the kit from list it as Level 2 on the skill required. Which they classify as "Easy to Complete".
To be honest this model is very close to being a 'snap together' type of kit. Only a small amount of glue was required to stick each piece due to the kit having a insert peg in hole type of construction. I also didn't require several pairs of hands to hold one bit steady while trying to glue another part.
I did have to do a bit of cleaning up to smooth over some of the
parts where the model parts connect to the sprue. Unfortunately
some of these were along edges that were highly visible on the finished
model. Part of that was me not being careful enough when removing
the parts. Most of the parts fitted together very neatly, a couple
(like the underside engine intakes left a bit of a lip, not sitting
flush with the rest of the engine. But by and large the model parts
were clean and crisp.
The detail on the model is fairly basic but that is because this
is a re-release of an older model, and given the price I don't think
you can complain. Even though it also comes with no transfer decals
comparable sized plastic kits at the higher end of the market would
cost around 6000 Yen (£40-£45).
The only tricky part of assembling the model was sticking the front
bodywork on. There isn't much of a connection to the main hull and
because this is the only part of the model the bodywork touches,
it can feel a bit flimsy. You can also choose whether or not to
have the landing gear down. If you don't want the landing gear down
you can simply stick the landing gear covers in place as if in flight.
Building the model probably took me less than an hour after removing
all of the pieces and cleaning up some of the edges.
The final word.
So there you have the finished model. You may be into these models
in their own right or you may simply not be a fan of the Gundam
style. Personally I was looking for some wargaming potential. I
loved the almost Thunderbird 2 vibe about this model (being green
helped!). The size of the model is perfect to act as a dropship
for your sci-fi armies from 2mm to 10mm. It would also act as a
good aerospace fighter for 15mm to 28mm games. At just over £2
each I could see a row of these on an airfield acting as a clear
objective marker.
Also these models have great value for kit bashing of other projects.
You could easily use the engines, landing gear etc. on other models.
Personally I plan on converting this model to act as a dropship
for my 2mm anime style ground forces.
There are a number of other kits in this range of the same if not
more potential for wargaming.
