Kotobukiya is an organization that’s superb at producing fashions that may be very easy for folks of any ability stage to construct, however can nonetheless look actually nice and be enjoyable while you do the naked minimal. Whereas Its Frame Arms and Megami System traces generally is a bit extra sophisticated and contain sci-fi kinds of characters, the brand new Sousai Shojo Teien line is more down to earth. Every considered one of these Kotobukiya characters seems like an strange schoolgirl, and the Madoka Yuki mannequin kicks issues off. She additionally occurs to be a straightforward and satisfying construct.
The very first thing to notice concerning the Madoka Yuki Sousai Shojo Teien mannequin equipment is that the ensuing determine isn’t going to be all that dissimilar from the Body Arms and Megami System traces. Issues just like the heads, fingers, and equipment might be interchangeable generally, and the equipment even comes with a separate neck half to make sure it may work with heads from different Kotobukiya mannequin kits. She comes with extra hairstyles and faces than the opposite kits, however doesn’t supply the identical stage of articulation. There’s no glue required for her both, although I would advocate a dab for a few of her errant strands of hair in her pigtails and ponytail hair choices. You have to nippers, a file, and tweezers for the waterslide decals and fourth clean faceplate. But it surely’s very manageable and never intimidating, particularly since there are beneath 200 items right here.
Actually, essentially the most difficult half about placing collectively Madoka Yuki is engaged on her three hairstyles. She could be displayed along with her hair lengthy, in pigtails, and ponytails. For an added sense of realism, there are a selection of terribly tiny “strands” you’ll have to pop into place. The tiny curls for the lengthy coiffure are the smallest, however are best to pop into place attributable to having a whole lot of floor space to carry whereas making an attempt to put them. The ponytail is the best, however the twin strands that connect to the highest have a behavior of coming out on their very own. (A bit of dab of glue helps with that.) The pigtails are essentially the most irritating, as a result of the angle of the hair makes it troublesome to correctly place every part.
Her hair can also be one of many three locations the place you would possibly need to paint the equipment. (You truthfully don’t have to use paint wherever else to make the Madoka Yuki mannequin equipment look the best way she does on Kotobukiya’s website.) She additionally has two raised traces for “barrettes” in her bangs, which might require paint and don’t have waterslide decals. As a result of dimension, having painter’s tape and working towards with one of many three bangs elements offered within the equipment can assist fairly a bit. Even then, with the right supplies I nonetheless couldn’t get it proper and ended up with one “large” barrette, so hold that in thoughts. The opposite two elements that may want some paint, in the event you felt so inclined, are her cellular phone’s digital camera/display screen and the straps and zipper of her bag.
When you get to constructing the remainder of her physique, it’s truthfully actually easy and satisfying. Components come collectively simply and it’s a really pure construct. Every little thing matches collectively nicely as-is, and I didn’t expertise any joins that had been too free or stiff. The one “tedious” half is that her fingers are terribly detailed. Every one has a cuff half that goes with it, since this Madoka Yuki Sousai Shojo Teien mannequin equipment has her in her winter uniform with a barely outsized sweater. In lots of circumstances, there are various levels of the cuff going over her wrist and hand. It’s a incredible element, however it takes a while matching issues up correctly.
The totally different stage of articulation additionally means that you would be able to’t simply pose Madoka Yuki sitting such as you would a personality from the Body Arms Lady or Megami System mannequin equipment line. She really has a separate skirt, for poses the place she’s standing nonetheless or transferring, and an entire further backside half for if she’s sitting. Which is a superb element! However the draw back is, her waist half is troublesome to snap into place in comparison with the additional head elements. That is due to the joint within the skirt and the way her sweater hangs over her skirt. I discovered it difficult to get issues line up and, whereas she’s a fairly sturdy equipment, I used to be apprehensive about doable injury since I couldn’t actually see what I used to be doing. So… my Madoka Yuki stands or “leans” as a substitute.
I’m going to be frank. There are two different the reason why I’m an enormous fan past this being a enjoyable and fast construct. One is that En Morikura is behind the character designs for every Sousai Shojo Teien character. (Morikura did designs for characters like Kizuna Ai too.) The field for this commonplace model of the mannequin equipment even has a stunning image of Madoka Yuki on it. However the different is… I like the alternatives for doable enjoyable scenes. For instance, she’s about the correct dimension to pose with figmas, only a tad taller. So I may pose her with the Astolfo/Rider figma and faux she’s a Destiny/ sequence Grasp. She’s additionally the correct dimension to pair up with sure Bandai’s Pokemon mannequin kits to turn into a Pokemon Coach Lass. Perhaps I’ll finally use the Megami Device Bullet Knights Lancer mannequin’s head with it and faux she’s a robotic making an attempt to faux to be a traditional highschool lady? She works in quite a few conditions.
Principally, I really feel just like the Kotobukiya Sousai Shojo Teien Madoka Yuki mannequin equipment is an ideal “first” equipment for individuals who need to construct a figma-like determine. There are a really manageable variety of items. You truthfully don’t should do any portray. (Her bangs look wonderful with out the barrette accents.) She’s extremely versatile, because of coming with three ready-to-go faceplates and hairstyles. The ultimate determine has elements that match flush and joints that match collectively completely, although swapping between her sitting and standing decrease physique elements is likely to be a bit harrowing with that fiddly joint. It’s a extremely enjoyable construct and the ultimate determine provides you so many show alternatives.
The Sousai Shojo Teien Madoka Yuki mannequin equipment is on the market in commonplace and Dreaming Style Fresh Berry variants for $56.99 every. The following characters within the line are Koyomi Takanashi in her winter uniform and Ritsuka Saeki in her summer season uniform.
