Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack. It's bigger than you'd expect.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (1/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (2/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (3/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (4/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (5/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (6/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (7/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (8/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (9/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (10/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (11/11)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Close-up of the cockpit. Since it's not a dedicated aero kit, the detail

Close-up of the cockpit. Since it's not a dedicated aero kit, the detail is just average.

Propeller section

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Weapons mounted on the wings (1/3)

Weapons mounted on the wings

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - There are a few very small parts on the wings and underside, so you'll ne

There are a few very small parts on the wings and underside, so you'll need tweezers and super glue to assemble them.

Tail fin detail

You'll need a separate stand to set it down on a flat surface.

The wings and propellers can fold to recreate the storage mode.

The wings and propellers fold like this.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Storage mode. Looks pretty convincing, right? (1/4)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Storage mode. Looks pretty convincing, right? (2/4)

Storage mode. Looks pretty convincing, right?

Displayed on the included dedicated stand

The gatling gun on the underside of the nose can rotate in all directions.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Putting it on the stand gives it a much more dynamic feel. (1/4)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Putting it on the stand gives it a much more dynamic feel. (2/4)

Putting it on the stand gives it a much more dynamic feel.

Together with the Jigabachi, the previous entry in the RMC series.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Both are 1/72 scale, but there's quite a significant size difference betw

Both are 1/72 scale, but there's quite a significant size difference between the two in their original source material.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound - Different scales — 1/72 vs. 1/35 — but a commemorative photo with the MG

Different scales — 1/72 vs. 1/35 — but just because they both appeared in the same anime,
a commemorative photo with the MG Ingram.

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (1/2)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound (2/2)

The second entry in the RMC (Real Mechanical Collection) series — targeting mecha from SF anime — is the Hellhound helicopter from Patlabor: The Movie 2. The first entry was the Jigabachi helicopter from Ghost in the Shell, and it wasn't really clear what they'd release next, but it looks like they're planning to keep the line going either way. :-)

For mecha fans, having more options to choose from is always welcome. And the second entry, the Hellhound, is a step up from the first Jigabachi in a number of ways. The molded colors look better, and the size issue — where it felt a bit small for the price — has been addressed. It's noticeably bigger than the Jigabachi, which makes the build a lot more satisfying.

Sure, it's not as finely detailed as a dedicated aero kit, but as an SF kit it's got enough detail to enjoy. And like most kits like this, there's something to be said for the fact that it exists at all. ^^; (Well, that's the fan in me talking.)

This kit has gimmicks not just for flight mode, but also for storage mode with the wings and propellers folded in — and they move pretty convincingly and lock into place nicely, giving it a really clean look. There are a few glued parts that require tweezers and super glue, which is a bit of a hassle, but since there aren't many of them, it's forgivable.

Overall... compared to the previous Jigabachi, this one is easier to build, more satisfying to put together, bigger in size, and has some fun gimmicks — so it's just a better kit all around. At the very least, Patlabor fans or anyone who's been interested in the Hellhound should be able to have a good time with it without any major complaints.

I'm personally a big Patlabor fan and really enjoyed the theatrical films, but honestly, the Hellhound wasn't really the kind of mecha that left a strong impression on me. I'd say something like the Extllabor that Bandai released as an EX kit is more memorable... but anyway, as a mecha fan, it's still a pretty interesting SF helicopter kit. :-)

Real Mechanical Collection Hellhound | 2008. 4 | ¥3,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.