Kotobukiya Ace Combat

XFA-27

Kit Review

Straight build

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. Being 1/144 scale, it's small and compact. (1/2) Ace Combat XFA-27 - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. Being 1/144 scale, it's small and compact. (2/2)

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
Being 1/144 scale, it's small and compact.

Ace Combat XFA-27 (1/4) Ace Combat XFA-27 (2/4) Ace Combat XFA-27 (3/4) Ace Combat XFA-27 (4/4)

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Underside

Underside

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Cockpit

Cockpit

Ace Combat XFA-27 - A small clear stand is included.

A small clear stand is included.

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Stand with the angle adjusted (1/2) Ace Combat XFA-27 - Stand with the angle adjusted (2/2)

Stand with the angle adjusted

Ace Combat XFA-27 - The landing gear is implemented as a swap-out part.

The landing gear is implemented as a swap-out part.

Ace Combat XFA-27 - You can also swap in a version with the rear lower wings folded.

You can also swap in a version with the rear lower wings folded.

Ace Combat XFA-27 - There's a linked mechanism where folding one wing causes the opposite wing to fold along with it.

There's a linked mechanism where folding one wing causes the opposite wing to fold along with it.

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Landing configuration (1/2) Ace Combat XFA-27 - Landing configuration (2/2)

Landing configuration

Ace Combat XFA-27 - Bottom view in landing configuration

Bottom view in landing configuration

The XFA-27 from the PS3 game "Ace Combat Infinity" has been released as a Kotobukiya plastic model kit. I personally have fond memories of enjoying Ace Combat 2 back in the PlayStation days, so it's genuinely nice to see the XFA-27 — which appeared in that game — finally get the kit treatment.

First off, being 1/144 scale, the kit is very compact in size. And yet the price tag is ¥4,200 — truly outstanding value for money... T_T (that's sarcasm, by the way) 

The high price does come with the red parts on the body pre-painted, so even a straight build has a decent look to it. Waterslide decals are also included for those who plan to paint it, but given that a separate Modelers Edition is already being released specifically for painted builds, I have to wonder if there was really any need to throw in waterslide decals here. Wouldn't it have been better to drop those and bring the price down a little...

With the low parts count, you can knock it together in about ten minutes. Along with the linked wing movement gimmick on the main wings, there's also a swap-out gimmick for the rear wings in their folded position. The landing gear is handled straightforwardly as a swap-out part, and a small, compact clear stand is included. Detail-wise, it's not a full-on aero kit, so the molding sits at a decent SF kit level — it has a clean look, but given the price, it does feel a little bare.

Either way, the price relative to the contents and size is the biggest sticking point, but for fans, this is probably the kind of kit where you're just glad it exists at all. :-)

Ace Combat XFA-27 | 2018.10 | ¥4,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.