Space Shuttle Endeavour

Ok, i know i should cut down on the toys i buy.. i HAVE! It's one of my resolutions for this year. :) Hardly buy any Gundam/Macross/Anime stuff now (which is darned expensive cos of the inflated yen), of course, 1 or 2 girly figs here and there (how can i resist?).

I've got quite a fair bit of LEGO (too much already if you ask me!), but thankfully i only collect certain series from LEGO only... :p

But THIS... the moment i saw it revealed on the website, i knew i had to have it! This is wifey's present to me, so yes, i am a bit guilty about the price. :p

This beaut is the 1/144 scale Space Shuttle Endeavour :

Package comes in a marked cardboard box; the actual package comes wrapped in tracing paper to prevent scratches. Removing the slipcover, you'll see the inner packaging; there's no tape so you need no worry about tearing anything. Once you open the inner box, you'll be greeted by the instruction manual and some note on the cargo bay. In the bag containing the manual, there's an acrylic plate with a picture of the surface of the earth, so you can replicate a spacewalk diorama. :)

Next up are the actual items, all are packed very nicely in foam cutouts, you see the ext fuel tank, boosters, shuttle and astronauts. Detail on the shuttle is good!

Even the heat tiles are moulded into the underside! :) The fuel tank literally weighs a ton.. think it's 1kg all on it's own, god knows what they put into the thing! Looks and feels like a DU round haha! :p

So there it is, a preview of the Shuttle from Bandai.... worth it? Definately. :) Once i get a proper display case for it, i'll probably set it up!