Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

Four hand parts are included, and the sculpt is pretty nice.

Parts for the Specium Blade / Specium Ray / Ultra Slash

You can swap out the chest armor for the Specium Ray pose, but honestly there's barely any difference.

The backside section can be swapped out for a part with a stand joint hole.

Separate forearm parts can be attached for the Specium Ray firing pose.

The arms can be locked in two different positions.

Leftover parts

Non Scale Ultraman - Comparison shot with Bandai's 1/12 Ultraman [Type B]. It looks pretty plain next to the Bandai version,

Comparison shot with Bandai's 1/12 Ultraman [Type B].
It looks pretty plain next to the Bandai version, which comes with Extra Finish coating and gloss injection.

Hip articulation is slightly better on the Kotobukiya version.

When it comes to waist flexibility, Kotobukiya wins hands down.

The forward shoulder swing angle is similar, but the Kotobukiya version extends out a bit further.

Specium Ray firing pose

Specium Blade pose

Non Scale Ultraman - Ultra Slash pose (1/4)

Non Scale Ultraman - Ultra Slash pose (2/4)

Ultra Slash pose

Following Bandai, Kotobukiya has now released their own modern Ultraman kit. While Bandai's Figure-rise Standard was 1/12 scale, Kotobukiya went with a non-scale Type B form. The Kotobukiya version is slightly larger, but they come out to a pretty similar size overall.

The kit follows Kotobukiya's typical figure model kit style — excellent color separation, great proportions, and a solid lineup of accessories for recreating various scenes. Like Bandai, separate parts are included for the Ultra Slash and Specium Blade, but uniquely, extra forearm parts for the Specium Ray are also thrown in, along with a gimmick that locks the arms together when swapping them into the cross position. At that point you're also supposed to swap out the chest armor for the Specium Ray firing pose, but the two pieces look almost identical, so it's hard to tell them apart — doesn't feel like it adds much, honestly.

Ultimately, the key question for buyers is how it stacks up against the Bandai version. In terms of looks, the Bandai version — with its Extra Finish coating, gloss injection, and even an LED unit — definitely comes across as more premium. On the other hand, the Kotobukiya version has better articulation overall, and the waist joint in particular is noticeably more flexible than Bandai's. The joint strength feels quite stiff, so at least nothing is loose, but compared to the smooth movement of the Bandai version, it can feel a little awkward to pose.

Price-wise, Bandai comes in at ¥4,500 and Kotobukiya at ¥5,500. When you consider that the Bandai version already includes an LED unit and coating, the Kotobukiya version feels like it's roughly twice as expensive. And whenever two kits of the same subject come out from different manufacturers like this, I always get asked which one to recommend, so...

If you prioritize the LED unit, smooth articulation, and overall visual quality, I'd go with Bandai. If better articulation and ease of painting matter more to you, then Kotobukiya is the way to go. In the end, you'll want to weigh it all carefully and go with whichever suits your own taste. :-)

Non Scale Ultraman | 2019.8 | ¥5,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.