Scale Models (1/100)
Takara 1/100
Beginning in October 1982, not coincidentally right at the height of the manga series’ popularity, Takara released a ten-kit series of Area 88 models in 1/100 scale. Although it has largely fallen out of favour with scale model builders, at the time, this scale was quite popular, largely due to the success of Tamiya’s “mini-jet” series.
This was a premium quality release. As new toolings, the kits were all finely detailed (for the time), featured recessed panel lines, and included pilot and ground crew figures. As a bonus, each of the boxes included a foil sticker of the character’s mark (Shin’s flaming unicorn, Mickey’s PlayBoy Bunny, etc.), and the inside of the box was printed To replicate the base runway. What really made the series special though, was that the eight “hero” boxes also contained high-quality 1/24 scale character figures.
The only real downside to this series (besides the scale, I suppose) is that since it was released alongside the manga, it only features planes and characters from roughly the first half of the series. The most notable exemptions are probably Sera “Siren” Barnock and Gary MacBurn. Although I haven’t checked the timing carefully, both characters appear right around the mid-way point of the series, so it might have been cutting it close.
However, it’s worth noting that Takara seems to have been unwilling to go head-to-head with Tamiya as planes which had appeared by that point, such as the J35 Draken and Blackburn Buccaneer, were also left out – presumably because Tamiya already had quality 1/100 scale kits on the market (which, also un-coincidentally got a re-release at the same time). In fact, the only real redundancy between the two series is the A-4 Skyhawk. So, given that Tamiya also has a great 1/100 scale F-104G and MiG-21, it’s conceivable that they would’ve been skipped either way.
The character figures you do get are Shin Kazama, Mickey Simon, Shin (again), Saki Vashtal, Mickey (again), Kim Abba, Campbell and Greg Gates. Personally though, instead of two Shin/Mickey characters, it would’ve been nice to see Ryoko Tsugumo and… Satoru Kanzaki? Old Man McCoy? Oh, well…
| Kit No. | Box Art | Aircraft | Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
F-20 (F-5G) Tigershark | Shin Kazama |
| 2 |  |
F-100D Super Sabre | Mickey Simon |
| 3 |  |
F-8E Crusader | Shin Kazama |
| 4 |  |
Kfir-C2 | Saki Vashtal |
| 5 |  |
F-14A Tomcat | Mickey Simon |
| 6 |  |
AV-8A Harrier | Kim Abba |
| 7 |  |
A-4M Skyhawk | Campbell |
| 8 |  |
Yak-38 Forger | A.G.F. pilot
(no figure!) |
| 09 |  |
MiG-27 Flogger-D | Col. Kilvic
(no figure!) |
| 10 |  |
A-10A Thunderbolt II | Greg Gates |
Tamiya 1/100 “Mini Jet” Series
Although not an Area 88 release, the Tamiya 1/100 “Mini Jet” series, does complement the Takara series very well. Tamiya released the first five kits in the series (MiG-19, Corsair, Skyhawk, Lightning and Mirage) in 1969 and it has grown and gone trough several re-boxings both by Tamiya and others, including Revell and Ben Hobby.
For the completists, I have noted which planes appear in the Area 88 manga series, even if briefly, as well as their primary pilot(s) (where applicable).
| Kit No. | Box Art | Aircraft | Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA1001 |  |
MiG-19 Farmer E | Anti-Government Forces |
| PA1002 |  |
A-7A Corsair II | A88 Aircraft Carrier |
| PA1003 |  |
A4-E Skyhwak | Campbell |
| PA1004 |  |
B.A.C. Lightning | The Escape Killers |
| PA1005 |  |
Mirage IIIC | |
| PA1006 |  |
J-35F Draken | Shin Kazama |
| PA1007 |  |
G.91 R1/R4 | Mario Bandini (Frece Tricolor) |
| PA1008 |  |
F-104G Starfighter | Sera “Siren” Barnock |
| PA1009 |  |
MiG-21 Fishbed F | Gary “Mac” MacBurn |
| PA1010 |  |
UH-1B Iroquois | Area 85 Helicopter Attack Unit |
| PA1011 |  |
AJ37 Viggen | |
| PA1012 |  |
A-6A Intruder | A88 Aircraft Carrier |
| PA1013 |  |
F-4E Phantom II | “Phoenix” Charlie |
| PA1014 |  |
F-4K Phantom II | |
| PA1015 |  |
IL-28 Beagle | |
| PA1016 |  |
B-52F Stratofortress | Project 4 Bombers |
| PA1017 |  |
AH-1G Huey Cobra | Area 85 Helicopter Attack Unit |
| PA1018 |  |
Vertol V-107-II | |
| PA1019 |  |
SH-3A Seaking | A88 Aircraft Carrier |
| PA1020 |  |
Vertol KV-107-II | |
| PA1021 |  |
Buccaneer S.Mk.2 | Major Roundell |
| PA1022 |  |
F-86 Sabre/MiG-15 | |
| PA1023 |  |
Me262A / Me163B | |
| PA1024 |  |
CH-54 Sky Crane | Training Base in Greece |
| PA1025 |  |
B-52D Stratofortress | Project 4 Fuel Tanker |
| PA1026 |  |
F-105D Thunderchief | Ngyuen Van Com |
| PA1027 |  |
B-52D Stratofortress | Project 4 Bombers |
| PA1028 |  |
F-4EJ Phantom II | Various |
Tamiya 1/100 “Combat Planes” Series
In its most recent incarnation, the set has been rebranded as the Tamiya “Combat Planes” series. Unfortunately only ten of the original kits have been re-released under this branding – easily identified by the black background behind the same original artwork, originally done by Masami Onishi and Shin Ueda.
| 01 |  |
IL-28 Beagle | Mario |
| 02 |  |
MiG-21 Fishbed | Gary “Mac” MacBurn |
| 03 |  |
Mirage IIIC | |
| 04 |  |
Me262A / Me163B | Gary “Mac” MacBurn |
| 05 |  |
F-4J Phantom II | “Phoenix” Charlie |
| 06 |  |
A-6A Intruder | A88 Aircraft Carrier |
| 07 |  |
A-7A Corsair II | A88 Aircraft Carrier |
| 08 |  |
B.A.C. Lightning F Mk.6 | The Escape Killers |
| 09 |  |
MiG-19 Farmer | Anti-Government Forces |
| 10 |  |
G.91 R1/R4 | Mario Bandini (Frece Tricolor) |