Some time around the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Bandai began releasing model kits based on various Star Wars vehicles. This was an interesting development; here was a company famous for creating model kits for Gundam and other popular Japanese franchises now using their talents to create models based a franchise that is live action, Western in origin, and arguably the most popular science fiction brand in the world. In a way, it is a far cry from their regular wheelhouse.
In the years during which this blog was silent, I managed to obtain and build a few of Bandai’s Star Wars kits. Here are my thoughts so far.
Ostensibly, Bandai’s Star Wars kits are extremely similar to their Gundam Kits. They come in the same kind of packaging, they are assembled in the same fashion, and aside from some differences in font, their instruction booklets are laid out exactly the same way (albeit with a lot more English text in the SW manuals). That being said, I would not say that the assembly process is actually identical. In my experience so far, the Star Wars kits are generally made of fewer pieces than a Gundam kit of similar size, but they require far more painting and detailing in order to make them look right. This is because the Star Wars kits are based on live action props and characters, and also because of Star Wars’ visual aesthetic, which is often described as “used future”. Mechanical objects in SW are made to look old, dirty and worn. Without this worn and weathered look, a model of an X-Wing or the Millennium Falcon would just not look right. Thus it is up to the builder to add these details, by any means necessary.
This means that the build time for a Star Wars kit is about as long, if not longer, than that of a similarly sized Gundam. It also means that paints, brushes, and possibly other supplies that are generally optional for Gundam kits are essentially mandatory for building the Star Wars kits. This is a bit disappointing considering how much more mainstream Star Wars is. It is more likely that someone finds themselves building a Star Wars kit before a Gundam one, and if they struggle to achieve the same quality that is shown on the box due to a lack of skill, knowledge, or supplies, there runs the risk that they give up on the hobby before they even get started.
Beginners aside, I can say that if you can give these models the love and care they need, they really do look quite stunning. Bandai apparently gets access to the original scale models, props, and other assets used to create the films, and base the model kits directly on these resources as much as possible. If you see something that looks strange or out of place, check some screenshots from the relevant Star Wars film, and you may be surprised to find that kit was correct all along.
When the Star Wars line first released, it featured only a handful of kits, mostly based on smaller starfighters such as the X-Wing and the A-Wing. Over the years, it has expanded in a very Gunpla-esque way. You now have multiple variations of the same craft (Luke’s X-Wing, Poe’s X-Wing, Poe’s X-Wing with rocket booster from Episode VIII, Red Squadron X-Wing, Blue Squadron X-Wing, and last and least, the Resistance X-Wing. They also release the same models at different scales, and have expanded into kits featuring Droids, human characters with masks, human characters without masks, and freaking Yoda because why not at this point? It all seems a bit much to me, even if I like the idea of the kits.
So that’s the scoop. To wrap things up, I will briefly go over some of the kits I’ve encountered during the last few years and offer my thoughts.
1⁄72 scale X-Wing
This is the first one I received as a Christmas gift in 2017. I haven’t finished building it, as the symmetric nature of the X-Wing, coupled with the fact that it has four wings, means that the build process is incredibly repetitive and gets a bit exhausting. On the other hand, it has a lot of great details, including the option of using both an R2 and R5 astromech droid, and landing gear that folds into the craft. It also includes a stand that recreates Luke’s attack on the Death Star’s exhaust port. A finely detailed kit, and one I hope I can get around to completing.
1⁄144 scale X-Wing & Y-Wing combo pack
For about the price of a cheap High Grade Gundam kit, I bought this two-pack of smaller scaled starfighters. I was rather skeptical that it would be worthwhile to make these two ships at 1/144th scale. The thing about an X-Wing is that it isn’t as big as a Gundam, so at this size the model is significantly smaller.
When I was finished, I found both models to be quite endearing. Small they may be, but they still pack in a surprising amount of detail. It is particularly striking to see how well the X-Wing compares to its 1⁄72 scale counterpart. It lacks most of the same gimmicks, but it captures all the important details.
1⁄72 scale TIE Striker
I only go this kit because I found it on clearance for under ten bucks, and I couldn’t say no at that price.
The TIE Striker is a TIE variant that appears at the end of Rogue One during the battle of Scarif. It has long fang-like wings that can move into different positions. From a visual level, I find the Striker to be a bit silly. It looks too much like a TIE Interceptor that was cut in half. On a conceptual level, I don’t think it justifies its existence. It is supposed to be a fighter/optional bomber/optional troop transport, but this doesn’t make a ton of sense, especially for a craft that cannot seemingly land and take off on its own.
As a model kit, the Striker has few pieces, and few gimmicks. In fact, it gets out-gimmicked by the Lego version of the same ship, which has the courtesy to include the rear cockpit for the Striker’s optional gunner/bomber. I have this one on my desk at work, as I don’t really care what happens to it.
1⁄12 scale Boba Fett
I am currently working on this one, and will write in greater detail about it soon. It has some excellent detail, but requires more painting than I’ve ever had to do, and some of its decisions are rather questionable.