Scale: 1/48-ish -main body is 3"/ 76mm long

Parts: 7 resin.

Instructions: None

Decals: 1 image, ALPS-printed waterslide by JBOT

Molding Quality: 8 - slight mold seams but no other flaws

Detail: 8 - sufficient for the subject

Accuracy: Oh, c'mon - it's an egg!

MSRP: $39.99 USD (~$40.71 CAN/ € 25.68 EUR) available from

Overall Rating: 8+ quick, fun project and ideal first resin kit

Let me first say that I am not a fan of egg-planes or the other 'super-deformed' models (gundams and figures, mostly) that pop up from time to time. Seems to me one of the more inscrutable aspects of Japanese culture.

But hey, your mileage may vary - almost certainly does, in fact - and who the bleek am I to say what's cool an what isn't? Nobody, that's who. Not my job.

What You Get

This is one of the first releases from new kids on the block 2 Fat Guys (now, I happen to know that they're really just big boned ... but that's the name they chose). Whatever I think of the subject, they've nailed the production and packaging of the kit.

Inside the sturdy box are seven pressure-cast resin pieces, neatly bagged, and one ALPS-printed waterslide decal. There are no instructions. If you can't figure out parts placement from the boxart then ... well, you shouldn't be allowed near pointy objects, for your own safety. But for those folks who have never worked with resin a sheet of tips and tricks would be nice. (Wet sand and superglue - that's it, basically).

The decal gives you an illustration of a super-deformed Darth Vader - looking like a Very Evil "Hello Kitty" (wait, isn't that the same thing?). It's printed by JBOT, so you know it's good - though you'll probably want to brush on a coat of liquid decal film anyway, since ALPS decals are so very, very thin. You place that in the indented section in the front of the fuselage and place the resin cockpit frame over and .... voila: Studio Model. Except smaller and squished.

On to the important stuff: the parts. The master is by Al "Alvis 3.1" Petrie - anyone who has seen Silly Week at ARC knows the name. It's got the porportions and exagerations of the genre down pat, I'll give him that. And JPG has done an excellent job casting it. There's a bit of mold seams on my review copy, but that's dead easy to clean up. No bubbles or pits mar the parts - it's a good quality cast all around. Fit, from what I've seen just using double-sided tape, is excellent.

Also available (as a separate item at additional cost) are another pylon and solar panel so you can make a TIEgg/Defender.

Hang on a minnit ...... now that ... that's pretty nifty. Perhaps if I rake the panels back ....

Conclusions

Darn you, JPG - darn you to heck. I was trying to write a fair and balanced review of a subject which I don't really care for ... and then you had to throw in that third wing. Darn you to heck, you honor student.

In all seriousness, it's a good kit and the price is right for what you get. If the subject interests you, buy with confidence.

If, however, you do not find superdeforms/eggplanes appealing - stay away. Or it will be a gateway drug and you'll find yourself craving these.

Don't ask me how I know.

Highly recommended.