1:500 [Walker Machine Xabungle] GEAR GEAR

Gear Gear 1:500 - a kit from the Walker Machine Xabungle range, Hasegawa

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Gear Gear machine in 1:500 scale from the Japanese firm Hasegawa. It belongs to the Walker Machine Xabungle model range, which Hasegawa has been building up for a long time and gradually adding further machines to. It is an ordinary glued kit: the parts are separated from the sprues, glued and painted.

Why the 1:500 scale in particular

The Walker Machine Xabungle range rests on two scales at Hasegawa, and the difference between them has its logic. The walking machines themselves come out in 1:72, while the 1:500 scale is reserved for the giant ground colossi, and the sister items Irongear and Greta Gull belong among them. The Gear Gear comes out in exactly this group, which is why the number looks unusual at first glance. Anyone building the whole range gets two consistent size families this way, which can be displayed side by side.

Building and painting tips

Glue the injection-molded plastic with a thin cement for plastic, which is drawn into the joint by capillary action and leaves no excess, and on machines as broken up in shape as this one that is essential. Before painting, lay down a primer, which unifies the surface and reveals the joints that have not closed, and it is better to fill and sand those before spraying. Spray the base color with an airbrush in thin layers; the modeling of the shapes is then brought out with a dark wash into the recesses and a light dry brush along the edges. Lay the decals over a gloss clear coat and seal them with a matte one.

Who the model is for

• Fans of Japanese robot and science fiction subjects
• Collectors who build the whole Walker Machine Xabungle range
• Modelers with experience of glued injection-molded kits
• Those looking for an unusual piece for a display case outside the usual aircraft and tank themes

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.