Kit Review:

Gigantis, The Fire Monster

Inhumanly Possible Creations

reviewed by the Mad Skotzman

Appearance of the Kit
pose, expression, details/articulation, accuracy (or originality)

The press materials for the release of this kit, sculpted by Chris Elizardo and cast by Lil' Monsters, say that this kit was "Sculpted in the tradition of Aurora Models Monsters of the Movies kits."  Personally, I can't think of a better way to put it.  These are the now highly prized second generation of monster kits that gave more detail and more interesting poses, but retained a kind of impressionistic image of the monsters.

Anyway, that is just what this kit does.  It has plenty of detail, but the object is to evoke Godzilla (rather than a specific suit design) and it succeeds wonderfully at this.  The pose is dynamic, the kit is nicely contained in a small space and it just "feels" fun. 

Construction and Quality of the Kit
ease of assembly / fit of parts, putty / sanding work, 
quality of cast / ease of painting /painting options

The cast is great.  There are no visible mold lines on my copy and there are very few reasons to pull out your hobby knife.  The seams require a little putty, but very little, and the fins fit perfectly as well as the base parts. 

This is a really light kit--the resin is very sturdy . . . just light weight.  it is also a small kit that will not be hard to fins shelf space for . . . something I appreciate more and more.

Overall it is very nicely done and looks great when complete.

Time/Energy/Money
 how much effort, headache, etc. is there versus the cost

The price in the USA is $69.00, but that includes shipping and handling.  It comes in a nice box and is packed with incredible care.  It is a quality kit, it requires practically no prep work and comes post paid . . . can't beat that!

Other Factors
"wow" factor, suitability for dioramas, flexibility for modification

Certainly you could build a diorama around this kit, but I think it looks good on the base as designed and fits the feeling of Monsters of the Movies line perfectly.  I found the kit fun to do . . . it is not complicated, it looks great when completed and it can be done in a weekend easily.

Overall Recommendation
Level of skill required and general thoughts

I think this would be a perfect kit for someone who is making the move from styrene or vinyl to resin.  The lines between the joints are not difficult to conceal and you can get great results with simple colors.  I recommend the kit for more experienced builders as well, especially if, like so many people, you want the joys of a "project" without the hassles of a big production.

Overall, a great kit.

© CreatureScape 2006