Kit Review
Straight build
Straight build
The fifth Muv-Luv kit is a completely new unit — the F-18E/F Super Hornet US Marine Corps Ver. has been released. The overall design concept looks similar to the previous Takemikazuchi and Shiranui, but look closely and you'll find there are almost no shared parts — it's a brand new kit.
Unlike the flashy and complex Takemikazuchi and Shiranui, the Super Hornet has a somewhat simpler overall design. As a result, the part count is lower, assembly is easier, and most importantly, the kit's durability has improved dramatically.
Honestly, the Takemikazuchi and Shiranui looked stunning with their elaborate designs, but the complexity of their structure made it hard to keep parts locked in place — they were kits you'd feel nervous just leaving standing on a shelf. The Super Hornet, however, has a streamlined design throughout and improved polycaps, bringing joint stability up to a level you'd expect from a Bandai MG. The smaller binders in particular make posing much easier, so pulling off standing poses and all kinds of action poses is a whole lot more manageable now. ^^
Articulation is pretty solid too, so even demanding poses come together without much hassle. The weapons and accessories are a bit fewer than the previous kits, but the parts selection is still impressively generous. The sheaths and knives that mount on both sides of the knees are especially stylish.
Even if you gave up on the Takemikazuchi or Shiranui due to durability issues, this kit is absolutely worth another shot — and it's also a great recommendation for anyone who liked the Muv-Luv series' designs but could never quite bring themselves to pull the trigger. Not only is the durability improved, but the overall assembly experience and feel in hand have gotten better across the board, making this a Kotobukiya kit that anyone can enjoy without stress. :-)
Muv-Luv F-18E/F Super Hornet US Marine Corps Ver. | 2011.7 | ¥4,800
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.