Bandai's Model Kits Sizes and Size Comparisson?

[kitsunemx]

Hi, i'm thinking about getting some old destroid and valks kits, but i'm worried about their height, i mostrly like my model kits to be around 11-14 cm. (around 1/144 HG kits or Revoltech Mechas), so, i was curious if any of you had info about the sizes of any of these kits or some pics with size comparisson, those would be pretty much apreciated : )

here are some examples of what im thinking of buying

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953439

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953441

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN958220

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953438

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN958222

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN966791

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953440

[Penguin]

All of those kits are in the height range you mention except the 1/100 VF-19 models and the VF-2SS. These are a little more than 14 cm in battroid mode, but not hugely. The VF-19 is fairly thick and bulky in battroid mode as well. The cannon on the battroid VF-2SS sticks up quite a ways unless you lower it over the shoulder, which obscures the head of the battroid.

[Noyhauser]

I'd also stay away from the 1/100 models. the VF-19 has horrible proportions and the VF2SS is pretty meh.

While they don't transform the 1/144 VF-17 actually looks really nice built up with a bit of care. It is also in the same scale as HG, which is pretty cool if you ask me (even though they are a little smaller). I've got them as well as a VF-19 and VF-11 (using tect resin mod kits) beside some HGUC stuff.

[kitsunemx]

thanks guys, i think i'll take your advice and steer away from the transformable 1/100 though i'm very tempted any info if destroids like these would be ok too in that height range?

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10129306

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10129304

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953436

i want to get these kits while they're available but don't want em to stand out that much on my shelf of HG's and revoltechs lol

[Vifam7]

thanks guys, i think i'll take your advice and steer away from the transformable 1/100 though i'm very tempted any info if destroids like these would be ok too in that height range?

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10129306

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10129304

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN953436

i want to get these kits while they're available but don't want em to stand out that much on my shelf of HG's and revoltechs lol

You'll probably want to stay away from anything bigger than 1/100 scale. The first 2 are 1/72 scale. They will be significantly bigger. Not sure what you mean by "HGs" but I'm assuming 1/144 scale HG Gundam kits. In that case, you'll mostly want to stick to 1/144 scale Macross kits - like the VF-17S and Nousjadeul Ger you linked to in the first post.

Edited February 3, 2011 by Vifam7

[kitsunemx]

great advices guys, im ordering a lot of these over the weekend, Vifam7 i did mean High Grades, sorry im so used to gundam models that i forgot explain i guess lol

you wouldn't believe how hard is to get reviews on these kits or any sort of size info or pics so any info is always apreciated

[Noyhauser]

great advices guys, im ordering a lot of these over the weekend, Vifam7 i did mean High Grades, sorry im so used to gundam models that i forgot explain i guess lol

you wouldn't believe how hard is to get reviews on these kits or any sort of size info or pics so any info is always apreciated

I'm sure you'll find that among the community, we can give you reviews on most kits.

The three destroids are repops of older Arii kits. They don't build up easily... and their posability and proportions aren't the best (think like the original gundam models, maybe a bit better.) Probably the best options out of all of these are the Bandai 1/144 kits. Alot of people really like them and they will be in scale with your High Grade gundams.

Another option might be Wave's new series of 1/100 Battroids: I haven't built them but I given their usual quality they should be good.

http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVMC-56

[Vifam7]

great advices guys, im ordering a lot of these over the weekend, Vifam7 i did mean High Grades, sorry im so used to gundam models that i forgot explain i guess lol

you wouldn't believe how hard is to get reviews on these kits or any sort of size info or pics so any info is always apreciated

As Noyhauser wrote above, these kits do not build up easy. In other words, you're going to have to glue, sand, and paint. These are not the snap-fit wonderkits of today. That said, there aren't many pieces so they come together rather quickly. Great for painting experiments and learning how to build traditional kits.

[kitsunemx]

not really afraid of the gluing and sanding (though i do hate doing complicated paintjobs since i don't have spraycans or air brush) but i figured these kits are cheap enough too fool around with and besides might be the only way to get destroids or macross baddies in sortof scale with my other figures, if anyone has pictures of any kit please do post 'em, i think it'll help many people : )

the wave series valks look awesome, also the destroids but a little pricy for my budget.

from what i've seen from the 1/144 kits are somewhat limited on poseability, any recommendations to improve that? probably using hobby bases's ball joints or stuff like that

Edited February 3, 2011 by kitsunemx

[Noyhauser]

not really afraid of the gluing and sanding (though i do hate doing complicated paintjobs since i don't have spraycans or air brush) but i figured these kits are cheap enough too fool around with and besides might be the only way to get destroids or macross baddies in sortof scale with my other figures, if anyone has pictures of any kit please do post 'em, i think it'll help many people : )

They are a great learner kits as Vifam said, and they would be prime candidates for modification with new joints. The models can be quite stiff in appearance... the first order of business would be to give them proper ankles.

However they are not in scale with your gundam figures (Bandai does not release in 1/72 Gundams.) I'm a bit of a scale nazi for my stuff... so my macross kits are either in 1/144 (to match with Gundam stuff) or 1/72 (to match my airplane collection.) The difference in sizes in a certain scale (like 1/144) is nice because it gives a sense of why VFs are so nimble.

You should look at the macross main page, and go through the listings for IMAI models if you're still interested in Bandai's 1/72 Macross releases. Most (but not all) of them were originally Imai tools:

http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/models/imai/imai_orig.htm

from what i've seen from the 1/144 kits are somewhat limited on poseability, any recommendations to improve that? probably using hobby bases's ball joints or stuff like that

Actually, the VF-17 kit is fairly good for posability, but at a cost. The knees have exposed poly joints, which can look a bit ugly from some angles. There isn't really a way to modify it easily to make it more posable. The thigh and shin segments fit in a way that would dissuade using a ball joint to get any lateral flexibility. Its not revoltech but its pretty good.

[kitsunemx]

Actually, the VF-17 kit is fairly good for posability, but at a cost. The knees have exposed poly joints, which can look a bit ugly from some angles. There isn't really a way to modify it easily to make it more posable. The thigh and shin segments fit in a way that would dissuade using a ball joint to get any lateral flexibility. Its not revoltech but its pretty good.

that's actually a relief to hear, now i'm even more lean on ordering the VF19 fire valk and VF17 at their 1/144 scale, mostly because of the battroid mode since the plane modes don't really look that good on those kits..

anyone here has the 1/144 Queadluun Rau or 1/144 Nousjadeul Ger just to get a number on their height?

[AcroRay]

I'm sure you'll find that among the community, we can give you reviews on most kits.

The three destroids are repops of older Arii kits. They don't build up easily... and their posability and proportions aren't the best (think like the original gundam models, maybe a bit better.)

No - those Destroid kits were by Imai, and are far higher quality than Arii's 1/100 versions of the same mecha. The 1/72 kits are around 7 inches or so, give or take depending on the Mech. The Defender and the Spartan are rather nicely articulated. They just lack poly-caps, and tend to have seams in inconvenient places (at least, if you're used to modern Bandai and Kotobyukia kits). There are details pictures of them, and instruction scans, in the Imai repop kit thread here in the model section.

They're also far more articulated than the original series of Gundam kits, as well as more articulated than Takara's /172 & 1/48 Dougram kit series from the same era.

There is a rather wide range of quality and articulation across the spread of Imai and Arii's vintage Macross kits. They do feel as though they were being hastily driven through a number of different sub-contractor design firms. Some are excellent, so merely solid. Others can be terrible. I built a huge number of them back in the 80s when they were 'new'.

[Noyhauser]

No - those Destroid kits were by Imai, and are far higher quality than Arii's 1/100 versions of the same mecha.

Oops that was a slip of the tongue: I meant Imai, as I noted in my last post.

The 1/72 kits are around 7 inches or so, give or take depending on the Mech. The Defender and the Spartan are rather nicely articulated. They just lack poly-caps, and tend to have seams in inconvenient places (at least, if you're used to modern Bandai and Kotobyukia kits). There are details pictures of them, and instruction scans, in the Imai repop kit thread here in the model section.

They're also far more articulated than the original series of Gundam kits, as well as more articulated than Takara's /172 & 1/48 Dougram kit series from the same era.

There is a rather wide range of quality and articulation across the spread of Imai and Arii's vintage Macross kits. They do feel as though they were being hastily driven through a number of different sub-contractor design firms. Some are excellent, so merely solid. Others can be terrible. I built a huge number of them back in the 80s when they were 'new'.

I completely agree with you that they are pretty good compared to their contemporaries, however I think in the case of the OP I think its a distinction that might be lost. If his baseline for comparison is the Revoltechs and HGUC, then these kits aren't really that great for constant posing and can be somewhat of a challenge to build. What I'm trying to suggest are items that would suit his interests.

I too like the spartan (which was what he was looking at), I built one ages ago. I think the best modification would be to change the ankles because they are the most "stiff" part of the entire model... the feet don't sit flush with the ground and ruin what is a pretty articulate kit.

Edited February 4, 2011 by Noyhauser

[AcroRay]

I completely agree with you that they are pretty good compared to their contemporaries, however I think in the case of the OP I think its a distinction that might be lost. If his baseline for comparison is the Revoltechs and HGUC, then these kits aren't really that great for constant posing and can be somewhat of a challenge to build. What I'm trying to suggest are items that would suit his interests.

Yeah! I kind of wondered if my point of reference - being about 28 years or so ago - was at all useful!

That was even before that new-fangled "System Injection"!