This is the Fumina Hoshino kit, the first release in the Figurise Labo series.
Figurise Labo is a lineup that expands on the Figurise Burst concept — which only covered the upper body — into a full-body figure. The face sculpting method using precise layered injection is the same as Figurise Burst. The biggest difference is that by going full-body, the layered injection is also applied to the skin-colored areas of the torso and legs. It's a double-injection setup where a thin skin-tone layer is molded over an orange-tinted base on the legs.
As many of you probably know, human skin has always been one of the hardest things to pull off in CG. That's because skin isn't just a flat surface color — it's semi-translucent, and you can see blood vessels and tissue beneath it. The same challenge applies to plastic models, and here they're attempting to recreate that more realistic skin tone by placing a red inner frame inside a semi-translucent skin-colored shell, so the interior subtly shows through. It definitely has a bit more depth compared to a plain skin-tone molding, but I wouldn't say the difference is dramatic — it's more of a subtle thing.
In other respects — the straightforward assembly, and the fact that it's essentially a fixed-pose figure model kit with only the ponytail moving — it's the same as Figurise Burst. That said, the torso and legs with the double layered injection are noticeably stiff to assemble. The upper body snaps together smoothly like a typical Bandai kit, but the lower body requires some force and doesn't go together as cleanly. It's probably because the legs and torso feel solid all the way through — almost resin-like rather than hollow — so the tolerances aren't as well managed. On the flip side, it does give the kit a satisfyingly hefty feel.
In the end, this is a kit that once again shows off Bandai's technical chops... but it also feels a lot like a "figure assembly experience kit" (?) of sorts. Normally figures achieve their color through painting, so there's something to be said for pulling off a complete color combination purely through plastic injection molding. The result is very vivid, though I think opinions will be split on the color palette itself.
About a year after this kit came out, a color variant called [The Second Scene] was released — and it wasn't just a simple color change, it also came with upgraded injection molding technology. As a result, this original kit has essentially been discontinued and become something of a rare find. For details on what changed, check out the Figurise Labo Fumina Hoshino [The Second Scene] reviewfor reference.
Anyway, the price is a bit steep relative to what you get, so it's hard to say it's cheaper than buying a regular figure... But if you're curious about quickly putting together a colorful figure using the latest technology — especially the injection molding side of things — it's worth a look. :-)
Figurerise Labo Fumina Hoshino | 2018. 6 | ¥5,500
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
