Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Various angles (1/5)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Various angles (2/5)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Various angles (3/5)

Various angles

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Detail shots (1/6)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Detail shots (2/6)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Detail shots (3/6)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Detail shots (4/6)

Detail shots

Underside view

Underside detail shots

You can display 4 Cosmo Tiger IIs on the underside of the stand.

The stand and main body lock together securely with a slide mechanism.

You can rotate the gun barrel and adjust each of the 3 gun angles independently.

Some gun barrel parts are left over as leftover parts.

This kit includes two LED units — one blue and one green.

The blue LED unit can be inserted inside by opening the front deck.

The green LED unit fits into the underside of the bridge.

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - You can also use the separately sold ¥2000 LED unit that was used for the 1/2 BB-8 and 1/144

You can also use the separately sold ¥2000 LED unit that was used for the 1/2 BB-8 and 1/144 Millennium Falcon.
As you can see, you insert the LED bulb into the nozzle section and slide the power unit inside the body.

All 3 LEDs lit up at once

It looks much better with the lights dimmed.

Wave Motion Gun light-up effect. Looks pretty convincing!

Green LED at the bridge section

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Nozzle light-up effect using the separately sold LED unit (1/3)

Nozzle light-up effect using the separately sold LED unit

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought - Alongside the 1/1000 Andromeda. The Andromeda is so massive that the same-scale U.N.C.F.D-1

Alongside the 1/1000 Andromeda.
The Andromeda is so massive that the same-scale U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought looks tiny next to it.

A brand-new warship from Yamato 2202, the U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought, has been released in 1/1000 scale. At first glance the design feels like a budget version of the 1/1000 Andromeda that came out three months ago. In terms of lore, the Andromeda is a massive 444m vessel, while the Dreadnought is a much smaller 250m warship — so the size difference between the two kits is actually quite noticeable. (See comparison photos)

Maybe that's why, despite including two general-purpose LED units, it's priced at ¥4500 — significantly cheaper than the Andromeda. It's relatively smaller in size, but in terms of detail and molding, the U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought actually feels like the superior kit.

It's also got that distinctly Bandai warship feel — a satisfying build that's both bold and intricately detailed. Color separation and seals do a decent job of representing the official colors even in a straight build. That said, aside from the rotating gun barrel and adjustable gun angles, there aren't any particularly special gimmicks, and the display options are fairly standard — just the stand with 4 Cosmo Tiger IIs.

The two included LED units are used to light up the front Wave Motion Gun and the bridge. The blue LED is inserted under the front deck for the Wave Motion Gun glow, while the green LED goes under the bridge for the bridge illumination. You can also add the separately sold ¥2000 LED unit, which tucks neatly into the rear of the hull and lights up all 3 engine nozzles with a bright glow.

The overall LED lighting effect is decent enough, and the clear parts are well-placed to help spread the light. That said, just like previous kits, you really need to dim the lights to appreciate it — and whether it's worth the extra investment will really come down to personal preference. Unless you're a die-hard Yamato fan, I wouldn't really recommend going out of your way to buy the extra LED unit.

Anyway, setting the LED effects aside, the warship itself is genuinely excellent. Out of all the Bandai Yamato warship kits released so far, this one has the most impressive sense of three-dimensionality and visual presence. If you're a fan of angular warships in the Andromeda style like I am, this is definitely a kit I'd highly recommend. :-)

1/1000 U.N.C.F.D-1 Dreadnought | 2017. 6 | ¥4,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.