Godzilla
. The name evokes a plethora of images - a guy in a rubber suit, breathing radioactive fire and stomping on
models of the Japanese countryside while a terrified populace seeks shelter and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces try ineffectually
to destroy the monster. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to watch the King of the Monsters strut his stuff?
Polar Lights' latest kit has captured the essence of Godzilla marvelously. Based on the original 1954 version of the monster
(there have been 24 Godzilla films to date, not counting the 1998 American abomination), this model comes in a large box,
filled with very large pieces of white plastic. And I do mean large - when done, the Big Guy stands over 40 cm (16") tall.
As soon as my kids saw this model, they wanted to help me build it right away. They also volunteered their 1/72 scale armour
and aircraft to help fight it (bless their souls). This is a kit that is guaranteed to interest children, and it would be
well within most kids' ability to build this into something perfectly acceptable - and durable enough to go for a stroll on
the floor, kicking over legions of Airfix soldiers.
I have done a lot of test-fitting, and by and large things seem to go together well. The kit is well-engineered in that
there is no way to put the wrong limb into the wrong socket, and you shouldn't lose a lot of tough to replace surface detail
with filling. In that respect, again, this kit would be ideal for a newcomer to the hobby.
You get more in the box than just a monster. A portion of Tokyo streetway is included, as well as a train car for the Big
Guy to chow down on. Several buildings are attached to the base, all of which show signs of Godzilla's attention. One of them,
my oldest son tells me, is a replica of Japan's Parliament Building.
Although no running, screaming civilians are included (pick up AMT's giant insects for some of those), a tank is. The tank
is somewhat out of scale with the rest of the base, as well as Godzilla himself, but is nevertheless a welcome opponent. One
accuracy problem, though: throughout his film career, Godzilla has been opposed by the armour of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence
Forces, including M4A3(76)HVSS Shermans, M24 Chaffees, and Type 61, Type 74, and Type 90 MBTs. The tank included is a curious
hybrid: the turret and glacis are those of an M47 Patton tank, while the engine deck, lower hull, and running gear appear
to be from a StuG IIIG! Perhaps, like Godzilla himself, the tank was caught in a radioactive blast and a strange mutation
resulted.
All in all, I think this is a great kit, and well worth the money. This kit will cure any modeler's block you might have,
and you don't have to worry about hunting down the Monster Mechanic, Detail & Scare, Achtung Lizard, or Scaro Detail to
accurize your monster: just slip in a movie and enjoy as you whittle plastic. A great escape from the sometimes anal world
of planes and panzers, and a wonderful way to get your kids hooked on modeling.
