Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
Being 1/48 scale, it's pretty big~! ^^

The stand can be adjusted at various angles.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (1/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (2/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (3/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (4/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (5/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (6/9)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Views from various angles. (7/9)

Various angles.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (1/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (2/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (3/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (4/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (5/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (6/7)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Detail close-ups. (7/7)

Detail shots.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - By default, LEDs light up in the 4 verniers and the cockpit. The cockpit LED is so small that

By default, LEDs light up in the 4 verniers and the cockpit.
The cockpit LED is so small that it's not really that noticeable.

Underside view

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Underside detail shots (1/4)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Underside detail shots (2/4)

Underside detail shots

Detail on the inside of the wings.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - The power and control terminals that connect to the stand can be covered with a cap. The stand

The power and control terminals that connect to the stand can be covered with a cap.
The stand mounting holes on both sides can also be covered with caps,
but the fit is so loose that if you flip it over, they just fall right off. -_-;

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - The engine detail on the inside of the wings looks great, but it's a shame you can barely see

The engine detail on the inside of the wings looks great, but it's a shame you can barely see it once everything is assembled.

Wings folded.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Looking at the build process — you route the wiring while applying black light-blocking sticke

Looking at the build process —
you route the wiring while applying black light-blocking stickers here and there, as shown above.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - You also connect the yellow LED for the cockpit. Looking at the upper cockpit section, the mol

You also connect the yellow LED for the cockpit.
Looking at the upper cockpit section, the molding is quite detailed, but...

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - ...if you apply the seals as instructed in the manual, the molding detail gets completely buri

...if you apply the seals as instructed in the manual, the molding detail gets completely buried.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - The area next to the control stick is the same — applying seals kills the molding detail. If a

The area next to the control stick is the same — applying seals kills the molding detail.
If at all possible, it'd be better to do some spot painting on just this area, or just skip the seals altogether.

Anyway, since I'm reviewing the kit as-is, I went ahead and applied all the seals. ^^;

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - After that, the outer armor panels just snap together like LEGO — very satisfying. Very Bandai

After that, the outer armor panels just snap together like LEGO — very satisfying.
Very Bandai — the snap-fit engineering is absolutely spot-on.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Next, to attach the wings you need to spread them open first. You temporarily connect to the s

Next, to attach the wings you need to spread them open first.
You temporarily connect to the stand, flip the switch to open the wings, then assemble.

Each wing plugs into the central control unit and locks in with a satisfying click~.

The LED section of each wing needs to be wrapped in black light-blocking stickers.

Then you thread the LED through each part one by one as you assemble.

Finally, clip the nozzle on at the back and the LED section is done.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Lastly, insert the engine mold on the inside and one wing is complete. You have to repeat this

Lastly, insert the engine mold on the inside and one wing is complete.
You have to repeat this process four times.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - There are three switches on the stand: one for opening the wings, one for the proton torpedo e

There are three switches on the stand:
one for opening the wings, one for the proton torpedo effect, and the power switch.
Depending on the combination, you can run it in Silent Mode, Demo Mode, or Silent Demo Mode.

Hold both the left and right buttons (1 and 2) while turning on the switch for action-only, no-sound Silent Mode.,
Hold just button 1 while turning on the switch for Demo Mode.
Hold just button 2 while turning on the switch for Silent Demo Mode (no sound).
Demo Mode isn't anything fancy — it just periodically opens the wings and triggers the proton torpedo effect on a loop for 6 minutes.

It takes 3 AA batteries.

For a look at the motorized action, check out the YouTube video below. (Direct recording~)

As you can see, I'm not sure about everything else, but... the sound is incredibly loud.
A bit too noisy for late-night sneaky sessions... ^^;

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - You can remove the landing gear covers and swap in the landing gear along with open-style cove

You can remove the landing gear covers and swap in the landing gear along with open-style covers.

Bottom view with the landing gear attached.

Detail of the front and rear landing gear.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - It would've been nice if they were articulated, but being swap-out pieces, they're at least st

It would've been nice if they were articulated, but being swap-out pieces, they're at least sturdy.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Sitting on the ground. (1/5)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Sitting on the ground. (2/5)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Sitting on the ground. (3/5)

Sitting on the ground.

It looks clean with the wings folded in.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Two types of canopy are included. The one on the left is a clean fixed type combining plastic

Two types of canopy are included.
The one on the left is a clean fixed type combining plastic and glass,
while the one on the right uses two clear parts with seals applied.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - The clear parts with seals can open and close, but the seals look pretty rough, so for display

The clear parts with seals can open and close,
but the seals look pretty rough, so for display purposes you'd probably want to go with the fixed type or paint it instead.

Cockpit detail.
As mentioned above, applying the seals just makes it look even worse. -_-

Cute little R2-D2.
Also a tricky part to apply seals to.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - The cockpit also has a gimmick where a targeting scope slides out from the back and extends in

The cockpit also has a gimmick where a targeting scope slides out from the back and extends in front of the pilot.

Pilot and R2-D2 figures.

Together with the figures.

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter - Together with the 1/72 X-Wing. The level of detail is similar on both, but the 1/48 feels more

Together with the 1/72 X-Wing.
The level of detail is similar on both, but the 1/48 feels more open and impressive.

Together with the same-scale 1/48 AT-ST.

Straight build

The most anticipated release in Bandai's Star Wars lineup! The 1/48 X-Wing Starfighter is here. There was plenty of buzz before release — beyond the large size and precise detail, the big talking point was the motorized gimmick, similar to the 1/350 Yamato.

First off, the overall detail is clean and impressive as expected, though since the 1/72 was already so well done, the level of detail feels about the same. The bigger size just makes the assembly feel more satisfying — like snapping together LEGO — and the molding feels more open and bold. That also makes panel lining a bit easier compared to the 1/72.

The detail is better appreciated through the photos above than through words, so take a look at those. In terms of new gimmicks added for the 1/48, it seems the only new one is the targeting scope inside the cockpit that slides out from the back. In terms of color separation, the rear verniers, inner wing engine gimmick, and rear/upper mechanical gimmicks have been changed to black compared to previous versions. Also, just like the earlier kits, the detail doesn't really show up well on a straight build, so panel lining is highly recommended — it's a lot of work, but the results are definitely worth it. ^^

The motorized feature using the Mecha Box is basically similar in concept to the 1/350 Yamato, but much simpler in function. First, you place it on the stand and flip the switch on the right end — LEDs light up in the cockpit and the four engine nozzles at the rear. The nozzle LEDs are visible even in bright light, so the effect is pretty nice, but the cockpit LED has low brightness and a small exposed area, so it's not very noticeable.

Pressing button 1 opens or closes the wings, and pressing button 2 triggers a sound effect along with LEDs lighting up in the proton torpedo section. Combining buttons 1 and 2 with the power switch gives you three modes: Silent Mode, Demo Mode, and Silent Demo Mode.

The reason Silent Mode exists is pretty obvious once you watch the video above — the action sound effects are incredibly loud. Holding both buttons 1 and 2 while flipping the switch skips the sound effects and just does the wing movement and LED lighting, but the problem is the motor noise itself is still pretty loud even without the sound effects. -_- ;;;

Next, holding button 1 while flipping the switch activates Demo Mode — nothing too exciting, it just repeats the sequence of opening wings → proton torpedo effect → closing wings on a loop for 6 minutes. Before release I was expecting something with Star Wars background music and flashy effects, so it's a bit of a letdown. It's just the repetitive noise of the wings moving and torpedo sound effects... pretty underwhelming -_-. Some background music would've made it so much better. It seems like a feature mainly useful for brief in-store displays and not much else.

Finally, holding button 2 while flipping the switch activates Silent Demo Mode — no sound effects, just the wings opening and the LEDs blinking on and off. But the motor noise is still loud, which kind of defeats the purpose... lol

Anyway, to sum up the motorized gimmick:

1. The rear nozzle LEDs are bright and clearly visible even in well-lit conditions — very nice.
2. The cockpit LED makes you wonder why they even bothered.
3. Opening and closing the wings with a button is cool, but the thunderous sound effects are way too loud and make you self-conscious.
4. The proton torpedo LED effect is decent enough.
5. Silent Mode exists because of the noise, but the motor sound is still loud enough that it doesn't help much.
6. Demo Mode is very underwhelming.

Personally, I was hoping for something more varied in effects and demo modes — like the 1/350 Yamato — so I'm a little disappointed. That said, it's big and looks fantastic, so it's easy to forgive. The price is a bit steep at close to ¥10,000, but for Star Wars fans this is definitely a kit worth getting as a gift. :-)

1/48 X-Wing Starfighter | 2015. 4 | ¥9,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.