Introduction
SF3D began as a feature in the May 1982 issue of Hobby Japan under the name, 'Wonderful Junk Kit' Included in that early feature was a scratch-built kit built by Kow Yokoyama of a powersuit pieced together from a Microman action figure, ping pong balls and salvaged model kit parts.
The S.A.F.S (Super Armored Fighting Suit) Mk.I got to be the most recognizable of Kow Yokoyama design. It first appeared in the December 1982 issue of Hobby Japan and has been an icon of the SF3D/Maschinen Krieger genre ever since. It serves as basis for numerous other variants ranging from S.A.F.S Space-type Fireball to S.A.F.S Mk.III Raptor.
It was first released by Nitto in 1984 as SF3D kit and again reintroduced in 1999 under the Maschinen Krieger banner. Wave took over the rights to produce the Ma.K kits after Nitto ceased production and have released the S.A.F.S first in 2010 and re-released it again in June 2018.
The kit
The kit consists of five sprues molded in black styrene and one softer polycap sprue molded in dark brown color containing the polycaps, joint covers and power cables. The kit also comes with waterslide decals which covered five marking options. Although painting is required, the Wave kit is snap fit and requires no glue for the most parts. Molding quality is excellent which requires minimal clean up and the parts goes together without a hitch.
I decided to use 'hairspray method' for the chipping effect. For this, i opted to use GSI Mr. Mahogany Surfacer which gave nice rusty basecoat that will show through the chips and scratches. Camouflage consisted of Gunze's RLM 02 grey and RLM 75 grey violet which was applied by airbrush following few light coat of hairspray. Now the fun begins! to create scratches and chips, simply take wet, hard bristled brush and rub on area where scratches likely to occur. I paid particular attention to knee and shoulder plates, feet, hands and area around the hatch where pilot gets in and out. Please note that for this technique to work, only use acrylic paint for the camouflage color. Gunze and Tamiya acrylics works well for this purpose.
Wave kit includes decals for 5 marking options and loads of maintenance and warning stencils. However, I only used few of them and instead used serial number from Aeromaster Grumman Martlet decals. The kit supplied decals were in good register and adheres well to the painted surface even without help from Solvaset.
To finish it up, i gave the the whole model oil wash using mixture of 50/50 burnt sienna and ivory black followed by Mr. Weathering Color Sundy Wash to simulate accumulated dust on the legs, hands and top of the hatch. Everything was then sealed using Mr. Premium Semigloss Topcoat.
Verdict
Thoroughly enjoyable kit all around. It's nice to build SF kits once in a while, great way to get around AMS. I kinda regretted only buying one of this though, if you ever came across this or this older Nitto kit for sale, grab a few before they're gone!
Paint Used:
Mr. Mahogany Surfacer
Mr. Hobby H-70 RLM 02 Grey
Mr. Hobby H-69 RLM 75 Grey violet
Mr. Color 12 Olive Drab
Mr. Color 28 Steel
Mr. Color 68 Red Madder
Mr. Color 137 Tire black
Tamiya Acrylic XF-16 Flat Aluminum
Mr. Color GX Super Clear Ⅲ UV Cut Gloss
Mr. Hobby Premium Semi-Gloss Top Coat
Mr. Weathering Color Sundy wash
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 1451 x 914px
Listed in Folders
Oh my Gosh! I had a similar model that had a night vision scope and was named the "Raccoon." I painted a Raccoon face on it and added a striped tail to the suit as well and painted it shades of gray to match the animal's counter shaded coat. It looked rather lethal.
THEN I got into the Heavy fighting suits. Somewhere in storage I have a built up "Jerry" but I used the legs and some fixtures off the Kroote for the Judge's Car model I built. I have seen lots of rereleases of the original SF3D kits online, but I can't afford them now. I want to try building a custom design along the lines of the early models one day. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5215155/
THEN I got into the Heavy fighting suits. Somewhere in storage I have a built up "Jerry" but I used the legs and some fixtures off the Kroote for the Judge's Car model I built. I have seen lots of rereleases of the original SF3D kits online, but I can't afford them now. I want to try building a custom design along the lines of the early models one day. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5215155/
Oh, yes, i was very lucky to get this for just 2,400 yen, which is just above 21 bucks. And it went out of stock just after i ordered it.
Wave did very good job with this one, the only regret i have is that i didn't buy more! Other than Ma.K re-releases they did Macross and VOTOMS models as well
And by all means, please share that racoon suit, that sounds pretty awesome!
Wave did very good job with this one, the only regret i have is that i didn't buy more! Other than Ma.K re-releases they did Macross and VOTOMS models as well
And by all means, please share that racoon suit, that sounds pretty awesome!
Unfortunately, I sold the built up model to my mom's Dialysis doctor who paid me $50.00 on the spot for the thing as he collected raccoon figures.
I found out the SF3D kit is still out there. $40.00 on e-bay, and CUSS! I missed the big Pasadena model kit collectors show by two weeks. (March 3rd.) If I can get it, I might just rebuild it, Fluffy. striped chenille tail and everything.
I found out the SF3D kit is still out there. $40.00 on e-bay, and CUSS! I missed the big Pasadena model kit collectors show by two weeks. (March 3rd.) If I can get it, I might just rebuild it, Fluffy. striped chenille tail and everything.
Very nice work. Old fan of that line of models. I still have an original S.F.3.D Mk 1 AFS model and box. Assembled it in 1986
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