bEXM-14T CIELNOVA [DARK GRAY]

bEXM-14T Cielnova (dark gray) - a plastic kit, Bandai

A plastic kit of a robot from the Japanese company Bandai. The designation in the name corresponds to the 30 Minutes Missions range, which other machines of the same design family belong to as well. The figure in square brackets gives the color release - this one is dark gray, that is, the variant that works well as a basis for modifications of your own as well as for modelers who want a technical rather than a colorful look. The model is supplied unassembled.

The real subject

This is not a real vehicle, but an original mecha design by the maker - that is, a robot with a pilot's cockpit as Japanese science fiction knows it. The range is conceived as a modular system: the individual machines share design principles and the parts tend to be interchangeable between sets, so combining weapons, limbs and accessories from several models suggests itself. The contents of the package and the number of parts are given on the packaging.

Building and painting tips

Nip the parts off with nippers a little away from the part and clean the rest of the gate up with a knife - on dark gray plastic a white mark left by rough nipping shows particularly well. Try the movable joints as you go; if they are too loose after assembly, a drop of clear in the pin will help, firming it up once it has dried. On dark plastic the engraved lines stand out once they are filled with a lighter paneliner, the other way round from light models. If you want to paint the model, use primer and expect the paint on the moving surfaces of the joints to rub off sooner or later. A final flat coat evens the surface out and suppresses the shine of the plastic.

Who the kit is for

• Fans of mecha models and Japanese science fiction
• Modelers who like combining parts between sets
• Beginners looking for a build with no filling of a whole airframe
• Collectors who build several machines of one range

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