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Having this kit at about 75% built and compairing the sprues to Steffens build of the Academy Kit. Hasagawa has a beauty on there hands. Even the cockpit is superior. The only reason i got a replacement ejection seat is the Hasagawa seat is as usual missing the seat belts. The other thing to note is the 2 sets of doors and option parts for the weapons bays and a better detail for the rails and ejectors in the bays. The final large inprovement is rathe extensive yet simple aray of beams and structural supports through out the fuselage. I'm realy impreseded my self.
I totally agree, as so far the Hasegawa Raptor fit has been better than Academy's, but it's the accuracy and detail that impresses me most. From the cockpit to the wheel wells, I'm simply amazed at how well and accurate Hasegawa captured the detail. Where Academy messed up in the vertical tails, stabs, radome, canopy and entire forward fuselage, Hasegawa excelled and nailed it. Not to mention there are more options like “full” run intakes, open & closed Weps doors, nozzle positions, etc…
The only major issue with the Hasegawa kit, is the exaggerated raised LO surface detail. This is not as bad as it's been made out to be elsewhere, as I've managed to knock down the surface detail with not too much effort. They could have also included AIM-9Ms and Hasegawa's decals aren't always the rave. Still, overall this the best and most accurate Raptor kit on the market.
Mike V
