Bandai release schedule

Pretty much. Bandai sells waterslides as a separate deal, with some being for specific kits, as well as general-purpose decals. As far as I know, they only include waterslides for the following:
  • P-Bandai releases (this is why the P-Bandai PG Falcon has them)
  • The 1/48 Mega-Size line starting with 2011's AGE-1 Normal; for a size reference, the Gundam PGs are all 1/60.
  • The ver. Ka series of 1/100 Master Grades starting with 2011's v Gundam
  • The Macross line starting with Macross Frontier (only the 1/72s)
  • Most of the Star Wars line
  • The larger One Piece ships have them but only for the sails
  • And I believe also some of the Battleship Yamato kits
So yeah, as far as waterslides go, they're actually pretty uncommon for Bandai kits.
 
Well, there is the only really large complaint against Bandai. If they are not going to include them in the kits, they should make it an option to purchase separately. That would include any photo etch stuff, too.
 
I can see the logic on Bandai cheapening the Standard Falcon kit- they need to provide a motivation for people to pay the extra cost for the Perfect Grade kit. Making those deleted elements available as additional items would defeat that motivation unless the basic kit+waterslide decals+photoetch+lighting would cost more than the Perfect Grade kit which includes them. Giving customers a way to get a PG Falcon cheaper that what the actual kit would sell for would be stupid business wise...

This would be an excellent are for aftermarket companies to explore- I am sure after all these Falcons that have been already built there is a good wishlist of changes to the decals or some altered photoetch that could be addressed...
 
To be honest, the lighting kit that comes with it sucks. So to pay extra just to get is not worth the extra money. There is no reason to not include, at a minimum, waterslide decals with a $300 kit, no matter the marketing or business reasons. It's just a cruel tactic, especially when I go and buy a $30 Bandai Star Wars kit and waterslide decals are included. If they want to differentiate the premium perfect grade, they should opt for some other incentive or not offer the lesser grade kit.
 
My 2 cents: Until the time comes when sticker decals offer the same performance characteristics as waterslide decals -- thickness, edges, the ability to use with softening solvents, longevity, etc. -- then waterslide should be the minimum standard for 99% of all kits. If Revell, for example, is putting out a "build and play" toy with crappy proportions and indifferent details, then, sure whatever, throw in stickers. Otherwise, the inclusion of stickers in a kit is really just a courtesy for modelers who choose to use them, are still developing their skills, or aren't as discriminating about the final product. In other words, stickers should be included a bonus, not a replacement for waterslide.
 
yeah, I'd much rather Revell released the Standard version with a proper decal sheet and ditch the rest to charge less

The lighting kit is nothing special and you can buy pre-wired/pre-resistored LEDs that you can just attach a 9 volt to for less anyway. You still got all the holders molded in place and you can do a better job even if not very experienced in lighting

The photoetch is ok for the exhaust grilles, but I actually prefer the plastic piece for the part around the cockpit tube over the etch.
Plus I have seen better 3-D printed grilles and there might even be an aftermarket mutil layer photo-etch that does a better job duplicating the koolshade look anyway so nothing special there

The decals on the other hand are the part that really is what most modeler will need and currently there is no aftermarket way to get them (that I know of). The stickers just do not cut it. Maybe they work for Gundam stuff, but not for Star Wars stuff
 
The sticker decals are fine. I had to use one on the 1/144 Falcon after I accidentally rubbed off a waterslide before I could topcoat and it's barely noticeable.

Personally, saying that not including waterslides with the PG Falcon as cruel is overreacting (why should they give it special treatment when it's not even their main money printer), though maybe being familiar with Bandai's prior kits could've helped eased worries.
 
SawbonesAdmiral said:
The sticker decals are fine. I had to use one on the 1/144 Falcon after I accidentally rubbed off a waterslide before I could topcoat and it's barely noticeable.

Personally, saying that not including waterslides with the PG Falcon as cruel is overreacting (why should they give it special treatment when it's not even their main money printer), though maybe being familiar with Bandai's prior kits could've helped eased worries.
Click to expand...

Because the stickers are inferior to waterslide decals in Bandai's kits. I notice the difference considerably. For me, it is literally night and day, especially since the stickers do not react to the decal softeners. Maybe there is a solution to that? But, the point is, that the same template is used to print stickers and waterslide decals. Is there a significant enough difference in price to justify not including waterslide decals?

To your other point... Bandai had included waterslide decals in all their Star Wars kits until recently. It was only when they introduced the vehicle model kits (the ones around $10) that stickers took the exclusive place of waterslide decals. So, I was used to Bandai always including waterslide decals. And every Star Wars kit that I've personally purchased made by FineMolds or Revell have included waterslide decals. It's not a cost thing for Bandai since they have the capability to print them.
 
I used a couple spare Bandai stickers to add some minor detail to my R2 Eagle. When I later topcoated the model with Tamiya flat from a rattle can, most of them started peeling up. I haven't touched stickers since.
 
Hunk a Junk said:
I used a couple spare Bandai stickers to add some minor detail to my R2 Eagle. When I later topcoated the model with Tamiya flat from a rattle can, most of them started peeling up. I haven't touched stickers since.
Click to expand...

They react to dirt/oil; back when I was doing Gundams I made a habit of wiping the surface with a clean cotton bud after dabbing the area with some alcohol or water, and then applying more pressure than what I think I need.
 
Quick build of the Blockade Runner:

ビークルモデル　ブロッケード・ランナー

vm_blockaderunner040.jpg


Also a nice look at R4-I9:

バンダイ1/12　R4-I9　レビュー

Hat tip to Changkaishecky.
 
9924A12B-F5DC-416E-8950-0AC0A23BF6C5.jpeg
9924A12B-F5DC-416E-8950-0AC0A23BF6C5.jpeg
I just finished my first Bandai build - the 1/12 Stormtrooper. I wanted this to be a simple, out of the box, project.

I really had a lot of fun. The kits are so well engineered they’re super easy to put together. A few seams I was surprised to see (e.g. back of the helmet), but with all the articulation, accessories, and other details, I’m a fan.

Looking forward to building up some ships and doing some painting and weathering.

Sean
 
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Hmmmm. Well, I thought it might be fun to do a model of the Star Destroyer docking bay, scaled to fit the new Bandai Blockade Runner.

I think it could look really cool inside a deep black picture frame. With lights on the side of the docking bay, of course.

However, as a 3D print it'd be at least £114 or about $200 USD. And that'd be using Shapeways' grainy "versatile" plastic. Let alone "detail plastic" acrylic printing, which would be several times that. Just did a zero-detail frame to estimate costs. Even thin detailed plastic plates over a lower-resolution frame would be quite costly.

Screen Shot 2018-12-02 at 22.03.59.png
 
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