GreenStrawberry Star Wars BTL A-4 Y-Wing Canopy (VC03) 1:72

[Mike]

Star Wars BTL A-4 Y-Wing (VC03)

1:72 GreenStrawberry

 

 

It's common knowledge that the new Bandai Star Wars model kits are pretty awesome, especially since they can be made without any paint or glue, but with this being a modelling forum there are likely to be a lot of us considering upgrades, because we just can't resist!  GreenStrawberry have a raft of update sets for these kits that should satisfy most tastes, and they have now broadened their range by introducing a new range of vacform canopies, and with more planned and in progress.  What does a vacform canopy do to improve your model?  It gives you a more scale-accurate window pane to the full-size props, and it allows a greater view into the interior of the ship with less distortion.  This is ideal if you're painting and/or detailing the area, or if you just want a more realistic looking canopy.

 

 

The set arrives in a small box in the usual dark GS theme, with the two canopies inside protected by a ziplok bag, accompanied by an instruction sheet and a set of vinyl masks for good measure.  The two canopies are different because one is moulded pre-cut into front and rear halves, while the other is moulded closed, allowing you to choose open or closed, or just build two and be done with it.  

 

There's a lot of folks that are a bit wary of using vacform canopies, but they're actually not too difficult once you know how - if you do, skip to the next paragraph.  If you fill the interior void with Blutak before you begin cutting, and use a brand new #11 blade, scoring round the cut mark lightly so that you don't drift away from the line.  Once you've cut it out, offer it up to the model, and gently sand any uneven or proud areas with a sanding stick, being careful not to scuff the clear surfaces.  When you're happy with the finish, peel off the Blutak and clean both sides, then dip it in your Klear/Future or whatever you use so that it's ready to use on your model.

 

 

Conclusion

A useful set that has been missing from the aftermarket scene until now, and they should hopefully sell well to anyone looking to add a bit more realism to their model.  The range is continually expanding, so if your preferred topic isn't yet covered, keep checking back.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of