Bandai 1/100 Cosmo Zero type 52 fighter

The Type-0 space carrier-based fighter (零式宇宙艦上戦闘機) or Cosmo Zero was a space attack fighter which can engage space-, air- and ground targets. It was a space fighter plane used by forces of the United Nations Cosmo Navy. Like most space crafts in the show it has transatmospheric capability. In Star Blazers, Kato/Cory Conroy appears to have called it space fighter Zero.

In 2199, the first two prototypes were just completed in time to join the Yamato on her journey to Iscandar. During the course of the journey and due to necessary development and adoption to the constant engagements with the Gamilas Empire several improvements and sub models were created.

Considered by many to be the prototype of serious anime that had a considerable influence on later series such as Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Space Battlship Yamato, of which this is one of its fighters, ran through nearly a dozen seasons and even sparked a live action movie. I have not seen any of these episodes, but have been aware of the series since before I got interested in anime'.  This particular kit was being offered at a very nice price at a recent IPMS event and since it was in near new condition, I picked it up.

The majority of the parts are in a light blue save for the leading edges of the wings and fin, which is in white. A display stand is included. There is a clear one-piece canopy that covers a cockpit in which is the upper portion of a pilot. The only other cockpit piece is the pilot's head.

Judging by the general breakdown, Bandai uses the aft portion of the craft for other variants as everything forward of the intakes is a separate construct. You first build the rear portion and there are several info notes in the first three of 8 construction steps. I can't read any of them as the instructions are completely in Japanese. It could be painting info, but the box art is well done and should suffice.

Once the front and rear sections are joined, one can add the landing gear and under wing weapons things. The decal sheet provides the forward red bits and the black anti-glare panel, but the fin will need to be painted as will the canopy surround. While the white parts are in white plastic, most of us today will paint those prior to installation.  I guess I need to watch an episode or two for more info on colors. I'm sure that You Tube has some.  

Bandai pretty well stuck with 1/100 scale for a lot of its anime stuff for quite a long time before moving on to the large scales. These kits won't be something that will interest many modelers, even though who like sci-fi as they are probably too small and are a bit on the weird side in terms of how they look. I don't anticipate this being an easy build based on the VF-1 I did a few years back. However, it will be different and I like that it has a display stand. These are not all that difficult to find, but I do notice many sellers thinking they are worth more than they really are.

http://yamato.wikia.com/wiki/Type-0_Cosmo_Zero

September 2018

Copyright Scott Van Aken. All rights reserved.

Thanks to me for picking up the preview kit.