Kotobukiya Hittekai

Ginkei [White]

Kit Review

Straight build

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Hittekai Ginkei [White] (1/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (2/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (3/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (4/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (5/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (6/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (7/8) Hittekai Ginkei [White] (8/8)

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Detail shots. The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga. (1/5) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Detail shots. The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga. (2/5) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Detail shots. The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga. (3/5) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Detail shots. The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga. (4/5) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Detail shots. The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga. (5/5)

Detail shots.
The level of precision is similar to Ikaruga.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - A pretty stylish stand is included.

A pretty stylish stand is included.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The detail is gorgeous, as you'd expect from Kotobukiya, a renowned figure maker. (1/2) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The detail is gorgeous, as you'd expect from Kotobukiya, a renowned figure maker. (2/2)

The detail is gorgeous, as you'd expect from Kotobukiya, a renowned figure maker.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The wings can be posed at various angles. (1/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The wings can be posed at various angles. (2/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The wings can be posed at various angles. (3/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The wings can be posed at various angles. (4/4)

The wings can be posed at various angles.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 1 (1/3) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 1 (2/3) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 1 (3/3)

Flight pose 1

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 2 (1/3) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 2 (2/3) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Flight pose 2 (3/3)

Flight pose 2

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The side units can be attached in either an open or folded configuration. These are tricky parts to Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The side units can be attached in either an open or folded configuration. These are tricky parts to

The side units can be attached in either an open or folded configuration.
These are tricky parts to build since you have to apply a lot of glue over a very small surface area.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The landing gear is reproduced as a swap-out part, and the landing gear mount is articulated and ca Hittekai Ginkei [White] - The landing gear is reproduced as a swap-out part, and the landing gear mount is articulated and ca

The landing gear is reproduced as a swap-out part, and the landing gear mount is articulated and can be extended.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Landing scene. (1/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Landing scene. (2/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Landing scene. (3/4) Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Landing scene. (4/4)

Landing scene.

Hittekai Ginkei [White] - Together with the Ikaruga in its non-metallic color.

Together with the Ikaruga in its non-metallic color.

The second mecha model kit from the game Ikaruga is the "Ginkei [White]." It's not technically the second kit in the lineup, but since everything up to this point has just been color variants of Ikaruga, it's fair to call this the second model. The design itself is completely new, and true to its name, it looks like a silver bird. (lol)

Compared to Ikaruga, Ginkei has a simpler overall parts layout, making the build noticeably easier. Unlike Ikaruga, where you had to glue down loads of small, pointy, fragile parts, the parts here are relatively larger and there are fewer spots where glue is strictly necessary. The exception is the two side units — each made up of a three-fold configuration and an open configuration — which are 100% glue-only assemblies. The gluing surfaces are extremely narrow, so they're fiddly to attach, and even after you've stuck them on, you're left wondering when they might pop off. Fortunately, everything else goes together without much trouble.

The wings on either side can rotate and move up, down, left, and right to some degree, letting you set them at various angles — but honestly, when you actually move them around, the difference doesn't feel all that dramatic. ^^; If anything, the landing gear with its combination of articulation and swap-out parts feels more impressive to play with.

Just like Ikaruga, Ginkei comes with a really cool dedicated stand that has a soft, figure-like feel to it. The molding is detailed and stylish — very much what you'd expect from Kotobukiya, a renowned figure maker. Overall, this is a more approachable kit compared to Ikaruga, and if the design appeals to you, it's a finely crafted futuristic aircraft model that's relatively easy to dive into. :-)

Hittekai Ginkei [White] | 2012.9 | ¥4,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.