ATTACK GIRL GUN Ver. CHARLIE TANGO

Attack Girl Gun Ver. Charlie Tango, a kit from Bandai

A science fiction plastic kit from the Japanese brand Bandai, designated in the name as the Charlie Tango version. As with the other Bandai models, the parts are already colored in the plastic and join by the snap-fit system, that is, by simply snapping together without glue. The range has several versions told apart by the designation in the name; check how they differ from one another on the box of the particular kit.

A collection that holds together

Models from one range look best standing side by side, because they share both the shape language and the colors. If you are planning a collection, it pays to think the display case through in advance: shelves deep enough, a level surface and spacing that lets you pick a model up without catching the one next to it. Think about a uniform surface finish as well: if you knock the sheen off every piece with the same matte varnish, they will come across as one collection rather than a random assortment.

Tips for building and displaying

Cut the gates off in two stages and level the rest with a scalpel, so that no whitened plastic is left on a colored edge. Protect the finished model from direct sunlight: ultraviolet light shifts the shade of colored plastic over time, and it shows most on light-colored parts. You can remove dust from an intricate surface with a soft brush or an air blower; leave wet cleaning aside. Anyone who wants to can paint the model: lay down a thin primer on the smooth pre-colored plastic first, and only then the paint in light coats.

Who the model is for

• for collectors who build a whole range of versions
• for modelers with no facilities for working with chemicals
• for beginners: a build without glue and without painting
• for a display case where a collection should look uniform

The model is built by snapping the parts together; glue is not needed for assembly. Paints, varnishes and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.