When you hear “Macross,” the dramatic tale of love and battle certainly revives in your heart. Among them, the pair of Max and Milia, who appeared in the TV anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, are truly a symbol of “legend.” The VF-1J Super Valkyrie they piloted is now, unexpectedly, being made into a plastic model kit in 1/48 scale. Moreover, it's not just any kit. It's a lavish specification that allows you to reproduce the fully armed state, equipped with the “Reaction Missiles”—that is, large anti-ship missiles—that both units carried during the final battle. For fans who loved their exploits, this is a kit that simply cannot be missed.

The appeal of the 1/48 scale is, above all, its “presence.” Fine details are realistically reproduced, and just by holding it, you can feel its weight and tension. The sight of six Reaction Missiles mounted on the pylons is breathtaking, bringing the power of the fighting “weapon” to the forefront rather than just a fighter jet. The ability to choose between Max's and Milia's respective units is another point that tickles the collector's spirit, and if you collect and line up both, the scene becomes “exactly as in the show.” It offers a sense of realism where the story unfolds just by displaying it.

The greatness of this kit is not limited to its visual reproduction. The cockpit and pilot figures are also meticulously crafted to match the TV version specifications, and the design pursues realism down to the smallest detail, such as the J-type head and the rotating pylons that accommodate the variable wings. The high degree of freedom in transformation and articulation, and the structure that allows for the reproduction of flight forms and combat postures, significantly enhances the joy of assembly. It is a kit with an extremely high degree of completion as a plastic model, one that allows you to feel the excitement of making new discoveries every time you put it together.

The decals include the markings for both units: Max's “202” and Milia's “303.” Which story will you choose? You can recreate the precise fighting style of Max's unit, the strongest ace pilot, or express the “trajectory” of Milia's unit, who went from mortal enemy to lover. Although it's a selection format, the fact that both are so appealing that you can't decide is also one of the joys of this kit.

Finally, I want to mention the packaging. The person in charge of this is Mr. Hidetaka Tenjin, who is well-known for Macross-related visuals. His newly drawn illustration is truly a work of art. You are drawn into the world view even before opening the kit, and the finish is highly satisfying just for display. Not only the contents, but even the outer box has value as a collector's item. You can feel the passion of the development team in this detail as well.