Kit Review

Straight build + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Various angles (1/6)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Various angles (2/6)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Various angles (3/6)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Detail shots (1/5)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Detail shots (2/5)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Detail shots (3/5)

Detail shots

The propellers tucked away inside are nicely detailed too.

Underside view

Clear display stand

Remove the front cover and you'll see the spherical cockpit inside.

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - The cockpit instrument panel has dense molded detail, but most of it ends up covered by wet dec

The cockpit instrument panel has dense molded detail, but most of it ends up covered by wet decals.

Cockpit assembly

Five figures are included in the box.

Three crew members are placed inside the cockpit.

The two divers can be positioned near the hatch like accessories.

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - One LED goes into the back of the spherical cockpit, the battery/switch unit sits in the center

One LED goes into the back of the spherical cockpit, and the battery/switch unit sits in the center of the hull,
while the remaining LEDs are placed at the bow.

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - Assembly involves attaching the covers piece by piece — and there's an inner frame that becomes

Assembly involves attaching the covers piece by piece — and there's an inner frame that becomes completely hidden once the covers are on.

You can open the top cover to flip the LED switch ON.

Cockpit LED lit up

Front LED lit up

Some of the covers can be swapped out for clear parts.

Side view with clear covers applied to expose the interior

Front manipulator arm articulation

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 - A working pose of sorts (1/3)

A working pose of sorts

A good number of the standard-version parts end up as leftover parts.

Together with the 1/10 ISS EVA suit.

This kit is the 1/48 Shinkai 6500 ~Thruster Refit Version~ released as part of Bandai's Exploring Lab series. The Shinkai 6500 — a crewed deep-sea research submersible — was released as a plastic model in two versions: the standard type and the thruster refit type. This kit is the latter, which you could call the later production version. (I don't have the standard version, so unfortunately I wasn't able to review that one. T_T)

The Shinkai 6500 is a deep-sea submersible built in 1989, and the "6500" in its name refers to its ability to dive to depths of 6,500 meters. As a rare plastic model of a scientific submersible, it delivers the clean, quality build experience you'd expect from Bandai.

Assembly starts with building the inner hull framework, then you add the armor panels one by one — and the internal mechanics are nicely detailed throughout. The spherical cockpit in particular is meticulously reproduced right down to the molded detail on the instrument panel inside. You can also apply wet decals to the instrument panel for added realism, and figures of the three crew members seated inside plus two external divers are included as well.

Setting aside the figures — which are molded in a single flesh color — the color separation is actually pretty solid, and the straight build with wet decals alone already looks great. There are also some nice display gimmicks, like removing the front armor to expose the cockpit or swapping the side panels for clear parts so you can see inside. On top of that, a premium LED unit with batteries included lets you light up the cockpit interior and the front lights.

So aside from the front manipulator arms, there's not much in the way of articulation — but with its variety of display gimmicks and great sculpting, this kit absolutely delivers as a display model. And despite including the same premium LED unit with batteries as the previous ISS EVA suit kit, it actually came in cheaper at ¥4,800. Either way, it's a unique kit with that signature Bandai build quality, and if you're into scientific equipment, this looks like a really fun one to enjoy. :-)

Exploring Lab. Shinkai 6500 | 2012. 8 | ¥4,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.