In Box Review – Bandai First Order TIE Fighter Set & Poe's X-Wing Fighter (003 & 004)

When Bandai started releasing their new Star Wars kits a few years ago they raised the game to a whole new level. Just focusing on vehicles we had a whole new range of 1:72 scale fighter sized models, and 1:144 scale larger sized spacecraft. And now, spotting another gap in their range, Bandai have started producing their fighter sized craft, in a smaller scale.

The 1:72 scale models are excellent. They are finely detailed and innovatively engineered in such a way that it is possible to snap fit them without any glue. In addition you have a choice of decals or stickers for the markings which opens up the models to a whole range of people, from children who want a simple toy, to model makers who want a finely detailed scale replica.

But can this excellence be scaled down? I've decided to take a look at two sets which feature vehicles from the Force Awakens film, the First Order TIE Fighter set and their adversary, Poe's X-Wing Fighter.

The first thing that come to note is that these are very compact offerings. No instruction manual, the instructions are printed on the inside of the box lid, although they are clear and in both Japanese and English. No decals this time, only stickers, I think they've taken a view that most people won't be comfortable with applying such small decals.

Looking at the plastic, there is, once again, plenty of detail despite the size. The part count is low and there's no clear parts, and as before they'll both snap together. The TIE Fighter set contains two TIE Fighters. One standard First Order fighter and one Special Force's fighter (the twin seater that Finn and Poe escape in during the film).

First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter Sprue (one of two TIE fighters in the box)

Poe's X-Wing Sprue

Each of the boxes also comes with a stand. In the case of the TIE Fighter set there is a twin stand or one single stand (which means you won't able to put both on single stands). If you don't want to use a stand then there's optional base plates to both TIE Fighter bodies which means you won't be left with a hole where a stand would connect.


I have seen these models advertised as 1:144 scale although in both cases the box does not mention a scale. Other models in the range, such as the Star Destroyer and Millennium Falcon (although there is an actual 1:144 scale Falcon) are clearly not. I measured a TIE fighter and compared it to a 1:72 FineMolds (original) TIE fighter and it seems to be in the same region, scale wise. This means they could easily accompany the larger 1:144 craft, such as the Millennium Falcon should you wish to create a battle diorama.

As I had them open I thought I'd go above and beyond an in-box review and start building. As you can see, a few minutes work and you'll have yourself a very nice little TIE Fighter. It's also worth noting in the picture you can see that the way the wings and cockpit top join it means you can't put this together in the wrong way. This is the same for every part, once again, an example of the thought that has gone into producing these models.

Bandai First Order TIE Fighter Set & Poe's X-Wing Fighte - Overall In Box Score: Promising. I'm scoring both kits together as they both offer a detailed but easy to assemble model. I have seen more complex 1:144 kits with clear parts and decals but these kits appear to be purposely simpler to appeal to a wide range of modellers. Certainly they're much better than any other Star Wars snap fit kits on offer.

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12 Day Modelling Challenge: Day #7

Day 7. I was happy enough with how the grey wash, that I tried on day 4, came out and so started washing the undersides of the Typhoon. Even though I'm still waiting for it to dry I can see a huge difference, it works really well on the panel lines, much more subtle than the dark wash that I've used previously.

I also got the Bandai Y-Wing started. Black undercoat to start with followed by several lighter shades of grey before a very light coat of white. And then, a coat of grey wash, which may or may not take it all the way back to being grey again. Guess I'll find out when it dries.

12 Day Modelling Challenge: Days #5 & 6

My Christmas modelling challenge continued on day 5 with the completion of the Airfix Typhoon's decals, no pictures as there's only so many pictures of an unfinished model that a man can take...

After that I started adding the missile racks under the wings which usually the kind of slow and fiddly task WWII modellers get to avoid, but not in this case.

While I was waiting for the glue to set I started test fitting another model, a Bandai 1:144 scale Y-Wing Star Wars fighter, that I'd recently received from Japan. In fact it went together so well that it turned into an accidental part-build!

What a kit! Just four small sprues (plus a sprue containing a stand) but the amount of fine detail packed into such a small scale is incredible

After a few months of modelling malaise I find, suddenly, in such a small kit, my motivation comes surging back. If this kit is anything to go by I can't wait to try out a few more Bandai Star Wars kits. As well as the detail the way the kit is engineered is simple brilliant. For example, the two engines on a Y-Wing, at first glance, look the same. But actually there are slight differences and the kit is engineered so that the internal clips, pegs etc are shaped and positioned in such a way that you can't get them the wrong way round.

I honestly can't see myself bothering with any of the Revell offerings now.

Incomplete Review - Revell 1:110 TIE Fighter (06734)

Scale: 1:110, RRP - £5.99 (or £12.99 including paints, glue and brushes)

With the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, being released I decided to get into things with a quick and easy build. This was a bit of an impulse buy, I was in my local hobby store when the first batch had just arrived and the owner let me have one before they were even out of the shelves.

I've had fairly strong opinions on Revell and their Star Wars range but I was more than prepared to give them a fair chance here. I really wanted this kit to be a good one.

So to the kit, I was a bit hasty in getting started so I actually forgot to photograph the sprues so I'll direct you to Britmodeller's in-box review. The parts count is small, 22 in all but they do look reasonably detailed.

The wings, (for want of a better word), are both single pieces which was noticeable when compared to other kits in which the solar collector arrays are a single piece with a separate frame that attaches to them. I can see why because it's simpler for the novice builder, but if you want to airbrush them it'll involve a lot of masking as you spray the dark panels and then the grey coloured frames.

Up until now I've been avoiding the elephant in the room. That scale! 1:110. Just ignore this, especially if you wish to combine this with models from other ranges. This kit is actually bigger than the FineMolds kit and the Bandai kit both of which are 1:72 scale (and both of which scale up the same next to each other).

Now I appreciate that we're talking about the scale of fantasy vehicles and so with that in mind I measured up the pilots in all 3 kits. FineMolds and Bandai both were 1:72 scale, this kit was nearer to 1:50 scale. So why put a scale on it the first place? This seems very misleading if you're a modeller as really this is a toy kit. Looking a bit further at the history of this kit it then became apparent that this is actually Revell's 2012 Easykit Pocket TIE fighter, re-boxed and with the parts unpainted. Suddenly this looks like a rather lazy re-release just in time for the new film.

So how did it build? It goes together fairly well, in fact it's almost a push fit kit. The cockpit has a large hatch to the top which is meant to open to allow you to see inside (and see the oversized pilot). Again this seemed to emphasise the toy like nature of the kit.

Unfortunately this where my pride takes a bit of a knock. Due to the tight fit of the parts my dry fitting wasn't a thorough as it should have been and the hinge for the hatch ended up catching on the rear wall of the cockpit preventing the two halves from going together. How embarrassing...

So at that point there was only one place it was going, in the bin. I can't say I'm that bothered as I've already built the FineMolds kit and, despite the restrictions, I have one from Bandai to be getting on with.

I have to say when I saw all these kits in the store I though about getting a few other Star Wars models to quickly build. But with this experience I've changed my mind. I feel that there are much better options out there from Bandai and now, also, from Dragon who've just announced their new Star Wars range for 2016.

Dragon - Phase 1 Star Wars Releases

Overall Build Score: 2 out of 5, The detail is reasonable and a low number of parts makes it ideal for younger modellers. While it is relatively inexpensive it is essentially a repackaged Easykit Pocket TIE fighter from a few years ago without the pre-coloured parts. Combine this with very odd and completely wrong scale(s) make it feel like a somewhat lazy attempt at a cashing in on Star Wars as the new film is released.

Bandai and Star Wars - The Evil Empire Strikes Back?

There’s disappointing news for Star Wars fans outside of Japan.

If you follow my Instagram you’ll have seen I recently picked up one of the incredible kits from Bandai, in this case an excellent 1:72 scale Y-Wing. These kits are so good there has been huge worldwide demand for them. It was originally expected that such kits would be for the Japanese domestic market only but as we live in the time of the global economy naturally word got out and people from other countries started buying them. Why wouldn’t they when they’re the best kits they can get?

No that's not Coruscant...

Disney appear to have realised that this would probably have an impact on sales in other markets for which they have different, (and in my opinion, substandard), ranges and different agreements and so they’ve come down hard on Bandai and ordered them to ensure their distributors and re-sellers don’t offer them for sale outside of Japan. I'm sure they're completely within their legal rights to do so but the fact it's been allowed to go on for some time before they've pulled the plug is somewhat frustrating. Sadly this seems to be the way with some large corporations, especially American ones. They’re the first to want a free world market but when things don’t go their way they end up crying off to regulators, lawyers etc…

So what does that leave those us outside of Japan with? Well we get Revell’s frankly uninspiring offerings (although they may only be available in the US).

Disappointing...

At this point I should mention that Revell have made a statement that they had no involvement in Disney's decision. Interesting though that they mention they have no license to sell in Japan, it took me a minute to find their items for sale in Japan, but we'll overlook that for now...

The starter kits are well and good for those that are new to the hobby, something I've championed before. However the so called “Masters” range is actually a case of Revell doing what they do best, buying up old moulds and re-boxing them. In this case it’s the Fine Molds kits (one of which I once awarded 5 out of 5). Most of us would have been happy with that if something better hadn’t come along in the meantime. Plus they'll cost more than the Fine Molds kits ever did, for what is essentially old stock, the rumoured price of the "Masters" (Fine Molds) Falcon is in excess of $300!

However there are ways for us model builders to get hold of the Bandai kits, in the short term at least. First of all most Japanese sellers have been very good at communicating how (slowly) they’ll be taking stuff off their websites, so if you want something be quick (one informed me that I have until the 20th of September to buy any remaining stock or get any pre-orders in, which they’ll honour). Second, market sellers such as those on Amazon, eBay etc. will be selling them independently, although I expect prices will rise sharply one sellers realise they can profit. Once that happens there’s the third option, kit hunters based in Japan. In this case individuals living in Japan will buy kits and mail them to you, usually for a percentage fee (there’s a list here of some, but I can’t personally recommend any as I’ve not used them yet) which may turn out to be a better option than paying a premium on those for sale in option 2.

In my case my remaining hobby budget for the year has mostly been spent and I need to inform Iana that lots of parcels will be arriving in the mail from Japan in the near future (and my poor postman who has to carry them all)!

The sad part is this all seems so unnecessary, I was looking forward to seeing the new film in December but now there's a bitter taste about it all