Fujimi 1/24 Spinner

"Spinner" is the generic term for the fictional flying cars used in the film Blade Runner. A Spinner can be driven as a ground-based vehicle, and take off vertically, hover, and cruise using jet propulsion much like Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. They are used extensively by the police to patrol and survey the population, and it is clear that despite restrictions wealthy people can acquire spinner licenses. The vehicle was conceived and designed by Syd Mead who described the spinner as an "aerodyne" – a vehicle which directs air downward to create lift, though press kits for the film stated that the spinner was propelled by three engines: "conventional internal combustion, jet, and anti-gravity". Mead's conceptual drawings were transformed into 25 working vehicles by automobile customizer Gene Winfield. A Spinner is on permanent exhibit at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington.

Molded mostly in white plastic, the kit also includes an extensive clear sprue as well as a red and blue clear plastic sprue for the various lights. The major body assembly is made with a large upper and lower section onto which all the various bits and pieces are attached. For the lower section there are jet nozzles and the large anti-gravity plates with a pair of clear view windows so the occupants can see to land. THe upper section has the full interior that includes aft bulkhead, seats and instrument panels. A very large clear 'bubble' fits atop this and there are additional clear areas on the front and rear to give the occupants a good view.

For the top of the body is an extensive array of police lights and this is pretty much where all the red and blue clear bits are used. The vehicle does have wheels front and aft as they will be needed to depict the vehicle in the 'car' mode. The other way you can build this is in the flying mode, and this is what is shown on the box art. It seems the outer front covers can be snap fit into either mode so you can change this if you so wish. I should mention that Spinner logos are supplied as photo etch pieces.

Instructions are pretty much in Japanese with Gunze paint references. The drawings are well done and quite clear so you will have no issues figuring out what goes where when building the kit. Apparently these are supposed to be a dark blue and the nicely printed, though a bit thick decal sheet offers all the markings you need, including instrument panel ones.

In all, it is a most complete and nicely detailed model. This is the sort of things the sci-fi crowd loves to see and since this is so nicely done, I can anticipate it doing very well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

June 2012

Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours today at your local store or have them order it for you.

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