1/48 Hasegawa F-22 Raptor

Gallery Article by Sato on Oct 12 2010

 

"THE IDOLM@STER" Haruka Amami

It is a Japanese limited edition model from HASEGAWA of the orthodox school airplane model manufacturer. It is a commodity put on the market before "PT45 1/48 F-22 Raptor" with same metal mold.

At last few years, Japanese subculture "Itasha" became popular.  It gives the paint of the animated cartoon "Moe" girl character to a real car. This fashion spread over the Japanese model world. So car model manufacturer put the "Itasha" commodity on the market in a body. And a high-quality decal came to be supplied.

This kit is planned as the airplane model called "Itaki" that derives from such a flow.

It appears the color design in the flight action game "ACE COMBAT".  Mascot's girl is a character of another game "THE IDOLM@STER".  The commodity has been completed by the collaboration of each company that cleared copyrights.

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The kit surpasses past F-22 kits in accuracy and reproducibility, because of latest design and complete new metal mold. To reproduce the detail on the surface of F-22, enthusiasts may choose photo-etched parts. But I think it is unnecessary with this detail.

Because the same parts are offered by clear and smoked color, you can select canopie by your favor.

6x AIM-120C and 2x AIM-9X are attached in this kit. Because the attached decal for weapons are pretty omitted, I used the decal "U.S. AIRCRAFT WEAPON STENCIELS" from PLATZ.

The cast colors are pink and black because it reproduces showy color design in the game. The pink upper surface penetrates light. And there is a possibility that the color is transparent even in the intake and the main gear hangar under the airplane. I painted silver inside to prevent optical transmission.

Everyone may become careful to join the upper, lower surface and the air-intake in any models. But it is easy to straighten it, because the accuracy of the kit is good. Additionally, The kit has some built-in parts to suppress distortion and keep strength. So you can assemble it more easily than past kits.

As many as two stenciel decal sheets near the A3 size are attached. These are a very hard film. I recommend to put them with softening chemicals.

Because it appears the color design in the game, the detailed caution decal is not attached. I printed the decals of the main gear, the weapon bay and inside of air-intake by myself. It took two weeks or more to put them all.

After decal had dried, I paint red pearl and half gloss to produce feeling of 3D texture-mapping effect. I always make decoration stand with stainless steel arm and fix the model with 2mm bolt. It is good idea to prevent the landing gear damaged and safe carrying.

Of course, I like normal air models and assemble them too! I am interested in various category afv, cars, figures, etc... Please experience a Japanese subculture "Itaki" if you have a chance to get it.

I want to say thank you everybody on this site in conclusion. When I assemble air models, I always refer to information on this site. And I'm also glad anyone refere to my work.

Thank you.

Sato

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Photos and text © by Sato