OPTION ARMOR FOR COMMANDER [RABIOT / NAVY]

Option Armor for Commander (Rabiot / Navy), armor parts from Bandai

Optional armor is a way of turning an ordinary machine into a commander version without having to build the model again. The set is an accessory, not a kit: you fit the parts to a model you already have. The name states directly that the armor is cut for the Rabiot type, and it labels the color finish as navy, that is, dark blue. The material is plastic colored right through, and the parts snap into place without glue.

The commander look is mainly about silhouette

In Japanese robot subjects, commander versions are distinguished by more prominent shoulder pieces, sensors and head features. Accessories like these change the impression of a model fastest, because the silhouette is the first thing the eye recognizes. Check the actual shapes and the number of parts on the box of the set.

Fitting and painting

Nip the parts off, sand the sprue nub down and fit them to the appropriate mounts. The dark blue shade can be left as it is, or unified with the model: a wash in the recesses, light highlighting of the edges with a lighter tone and a final matte varnish will help. If you are combining the armor with a machine of a different color, it pays to keep one common shade on the small parts, so that the whole comes across as a unit.

Who the set makes sense for

• Owners of the Rabiot model who want a commander version
• Builders assembling a group of machines with distinct roles
• Modelers who like combining parts across kits
• Beginners: fitting is quick and reversible

The package contains the armor parts only. The model itself is not part of it.