Its unique airframe shape makes it popular in the plastic model community! The 2021 remodeled version of the US-developed unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, Global Hawk, is brought to life in 1/72 scale!

When people hear of plastic airplane models, many might think of general aircraft equipped with a cockpit and canopy. However, this RQ-4B Global Hawk easily leaps over such common sense. Even before opening the box, what you can feel is a unique presence as if symbolizing future aviation technology. The smooth, elegant lines extending from the nose to the main wings are clearly different from manned aircraft, and the form unique to an unmanned aerial vehicle without a canopy radiates a powerful individuality. Looking at it after completion, you will instinctively gaze into it, wondering, “Is this really an airplane?” and it is bound to become a standout presence that radiates a unique brilliance within any aircraft model collection.

The RQ-4B Global Hawk, which became the subject of this model, is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed by the United States. Equipped with satellite communication systems and advanced surveillance equipment, it is known as a crucial existence in modern airpower that handles wide-area information gathering. Its excellence can be seen from its track record of operating in various countries around the world with the capability to continue flying in the sky for long periods. In recent years, it has also been deployed to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and there are likely more than a few people who have seen its name in news and media reports. The point that you can deepen your understanding while assembling an airframe symbolizing the very forefront of modern aviation technology with your own hands is a major charm unique to this kit.

Many people might be surprised upon learning the completed size. Looking only at the total length of approximately 200mm, it seems like a general aircraft model, but what deserves true attention is its wingspan. The wingspan after completion reaches approximately 550mm, creating an intensity that gathers gazes instantly when placed in a display space. The long, slender, and greatly extended main wings beautifully express the characteristics of the actual aircraft, and simply gazing at the completed form from the front or an angle conveys the design philosophy aimed at high-altitude flight. Even those who own numerous aircraft models will surely experience a fresh sense of impression from its unique proportions.

Unlike manned fighter jets or passenger planes, unmanned aircraft possess a unique aesthetic. Rational designs and form-prioritizing functions that can only be realized precisely because a pilot does not board create charms not found in conventional aircraft. In this kit, its characteristic appearance is reproduced meticulously, and interest toward the very existence of unmanned aerial vehicles deepens while assembling. It can be said to be a model that makes you naturally want to know even the background, such as “Why is it this shape?” or “What kind of missions does it conduct?” rather than just displaying it after completion. One of the elements that greatly influences the impression of a model is markings, and this kit offers high-quality decals that can reproduce the airframe operated by the United States Air Force as of 2021. Through the addition of the marks applied to the airframe, the expression changes from a mere model into an aircraft with a sense of reality, rapidly elevating the degree of completion. The moment you finish applying the decals to the airframe finished down to the fine details is truly a time to experience the real pleasure of model making. After completion, you can enjoy an atmosphere as if the actual airframe operated at a base has been scaled down.

Within the world of aircraft models, numerous famous planes exist, but the RQ-4B Global Hawk possesses a slightly different charm among them. Unlike the flashiness of fighter jets or the familiarity of passenger planes, its presence as a crystal of cutting-edge technology stands out prominently. Therefore, even for those who did not have much interest in unmanned aircraft until now, it should serve as an opportunity to experience a new world of aircraft through assembly. Gazing at the completed airframe allows you to truly realize how far modern aviation technology has evolved, making it an item that satisfies both the fun as a model and intellectual curiosity.