Hello everyone, my name is Aaron, and here is a record of my experience with this kit. I have basically already completed assembly, (minus issue #96 which has not arrived yet. Instead I got 2 issue #93, so if anyone needs spare parts, please ask!). Now, it's just layer upon layer of painting, which I will update as we go.
First, let's chat about the "Pros" of the kit, then we can have a look at the "Cons".
Pros:
1) Detail is superb
2) scale, this thing is huge!
3) S-foil operation
4) Medium level modeling skill
5) straight forward painting plan
Cons:
1) fiddly electrical, many cases of malfunctioning components.
2) not enough sufficient spacing between Droid motor, dc power supply and power switch.
3) R2-D2 paint is horrible
4) body panel gaps and spacing
5) hidden components such as engine and laser bits (never seen, like ever!)
One of the best things about this kit, is the detail. Through and through, amazing! Seeing Red 5 with the gear down on my table, makes me pause to admire. Deagostini/model-space has delivered once again. The scale, although much larger than the original studio scale kits, draws attention, almost demanding you to have a look. My youngest son, who hasn't seen any of the 6 Star Wars films, almost always stops to gaze at it, (myself included).
The Pros greatly outweigh the Cons. I hardly see the huge gaps anymore, and the wiring through the bottom has been rectified with my own personal fix. I resolved the issue by replacing the power switch and removing the Droid motor completely. This gave me the space to run my own peripherals to where it made more sense. (Photos attached).