Kit Review

Straight build

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. Didn't realize the Salamis and Magellan were that di

Size comparison with a cigarette pack. Didn't realize the Salamis and Magellan were that different in size;

~ Magellan ~

Feel the pressure of those intense Igloo-style panel lines spread across the entire hull..

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - The panel lines around the bridge are so incredibly fine they almost look like wrinkles;; (

The panel lines around the bridge are so incredibly fine they almost look like wrinkles;;

Great detail on the engine thruster section~

Bottom side

Top and bottom alike — the panel lines are absolutely relentless.

There are bridge-like structures on both sides as well.

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - The shuttle attached to the underside of the hull can be detached. The landing gear is repr

The shuttle attached to the underside of the hull can be detached. The landing gear is reproduced with swappable parts.

The Magellan comes with 3 x 1/1700 scale GMs included.

Look closely at the top and... it's completely bare, like it's wearing some kind of hood ^^;

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - Bonus. Comparison with the old 1/1200 Magellan kit from over 20 years ago. The size differe

Bonus. Comparison with the old 1/1200 Magellan kit from over 20 years ago.
The size difference isn't as big as you'd expect. Looks like one of them didn't follow the official specs too closely..

As expected, the old kit is nice and smooth with no panel lines~.

~ Salamis ~

The highlight of the Igloo version Salamis has to be those Balls attached to the front.

Those intense panel lines are here too

Underside

The thruster detail is comparatively a bit plain.

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - With the Balls removed. They don't stay on very securely, so you'll need to glue them if yo

With the Balls removed. They don't stay on very securely, so you'll need to glue them if you want them to stay properly.

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - In the original design, instead of that Ball-mounting structure, the Salamis had a single c

In the original design, instead of that Ball-mounting structure, the Salamis had a single cannon like the one on the right.

Salamis in original style.

The cannons on the sides can be swapped on and off.

The Salamis also has a tiny little shuttle attached.

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - Even at that tiny size, the landing gear is still done with swappable parts. Barely possibl

Even at that tiny size, the landing gear is still done with swappable parts. Barely possible to hold in your fingers;

The Salamis' biggest highlight — the three Balls!!

Pretty tiny, right?

Smaller than a fingernail, but the detail is surprisingly convincing.

Comparison with the old 1/1200 Salamis.
Why is the size difference so dramatic here!?

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - It really seems like the Igloo version Salamis came out too small. The main difference from

It really seems like the Igloo version Salamis came out too small.
The main difference from the old kit is the Ball storage section at the front.

Comparison with the old kits.
Doesn't it feel like the sizes are all over the place? ^^;

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - Either way, the Igloo version warships show off the most intense panel lines of any kit to

Either way, the Igloo version warships show off the most intense panel lines of any kit to date.

Shuttle comparison between the Magellan and Salamis

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - The terrifying panel line trio — the Igloo version EX warships. Click the photos and take i

The terrifying panel line trio — the Igloo version EX warships.
Click the photos and take in all those wrinkles.

EX Model Salamis & Magellan - Size comparison with the EX Albion. One Year War-era warships are mostly long and slender i

Size comparison with the EX Albion.
One Year War-era warships are mostly long and slender in that classic warship style, except for the White Base..

Following the Igloo version EX Musai, this time we get the Federation warships Magellan and Salamis released together in a combo set. True to the Igloo version style, they're covered in intense panel lines all over.

The overall design and feature recreation concept is exactly the same as the EX Musai. All the parts that need to be swappable are swappable, the shuttle detachment is reproduced, and even on the tiny shuttle, the landing gear is still done with swappable parts.

Honestly, since the main selling point of the Igloo version warship series is the panel line intensity, there isn't a whole lot else to explain ^^; The real point of this review is just to sit back and enjoy the photos.

One thing worth highlighting though — the Ball, beloved by hardcore fans, is reproduced in 1/1700 scale and it actually looks the part. It's so incredibly tiny that even assembling it is a challenge... but it's genuinely adorable :-) I'd bet some people bought this kit just for these ultra-miniature Balls.

One thing that does seem a bit off though.. comparing with the old kits, despite the scale difference between 1/1200 and 1/1700, some feel too big and some feel too small. The EX Salamis in particular is only about 10cm — really, really tiny. Bandai is known for throwing specs out the window, but this feels like it might be pushing it a bit..

Maybe because it includes two warships, it came out at the rather steep price of ¥4000 despite the small box size.. but compared to other EX kits, the value for money is still pretty solid. The molded colors are reasonably close too, so along with the Musai, this is a highly recommended ultra high-quality EX kit even for non-painters :-)

EX Model Salamis & Magellan | 2005.8 | ¥4,000 | 1/1700

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.