Scale Models
Scale modelling and Area 88 go hand in hand. In fact, while working as an assistant for Leiji Matsumoto (creator of a zillion good things including Galaxy Express 999 and Captain Harlock), Kaoru Shintani would build scale models to act as a reference. These included everything from World War II propellor planes to crazy star fighters. So it should come as no surprise that Area 88 should be featured in several scale model releases.
The first wave of models to be released, right at the height of the manga series popularity in 1982 was the Takara 1/100 scale series, which featured 7 hero and 3 enemy kits (10 in total). It is a very high-quality release, with nicely tooled new moulds and extras such as 1/24 scale figures for the heroes (no enemies though!), mark stickers, and inside-the-box-top printing that doubles as the Area 88 runway. Although very well done, it does miss out on some pretty significant aircraft that are featured in the story.
The second wave hit in 1996. First there was Hasegawa’s 5-kit combo series of 1/12 scale figures and 1/144 (and one 1/400) scale model airplanes. Given that 1/144 is not one of Hasegawa’s “house scales”, most of the airplane kits are reboxings of Dragon kits (except the 1/400 scale 747-100). However the real draw was for the highly detailed resin statues of several of the series’ main characters – Shin, Ryoko, Saki, Mickey and Sirene.
Perhaps emboldened by that successful release, Hasegawa also began releasing a series of 1/72 scale kits – this time using their own moulds. This 7-kit set is mainly focused on Shin (F-8E, F-20, X-29, and Draken), but also includes planes for Mickey (F-14A), Greg (A-10) and Saki (Kfir).
The third wave, timed to coincide with the release of the new animated television series, hit in 2004. First there was a 1/48 scale two-pack set (featuring Shin’s F-8E and Mickey’s F-14A) that came bundled with a bonus DVD of the series. A bit of an underwhelming release considering the opportunity.
From January 2004 to December 2005, trading figure company The Other Corp released a line of 1/144 gashapon miniatures of various modern military aircraft that are painted as according to their actual appearance in the series, despite one of the offerings – the Su-47 Berkut – never having appeared at all.
The fourth wave began in August 2016 with the release of Hasegawa’s beautiful Creator Works – Area 88 series. Originally begun with 1/48 scale offerings of Shin’s Draken and F-8E, Mickey’s F-14A, and Greg’s A-4 Skyhawk, the series (thankfully!) shifted focus to 1/72 scale releases of nearly all the aircraft in the series (13 with a few notable exceptions), before finishing up with 1/48 scale kits of Sirene’s F-104G and Shin’s F-20. With thirteen 1/72 scale and six 1/48 scale kits in the series, this is by far the largest and most important Area 88 modeling set.
