ScopeDog Turbo Custom is one of the more complicated DStyle model kit line from Kotobukiya. The ScopeDog is based on the anime series Armored Trooper VOTOMS which was first aired in 1983. The series was created, to jump on the real robot genre in the early 1980s. Despite aged hand drawn animation, the story has a charm of its own, battle in the animation is brutal and it is in the league of its own.
Simulation battle in the OVA is brutal yet interesting.
This model kit despite being Deformed, manage the catch the aesthetics of the VOTOM real robot.
There are at least 12 runners in the kit to build the Turbo Custom Scopedog.
Runner A feature, the head unit, body, part of the waist unit.Runner B in pair having parts for the foot, lower arm and rocket booster to make the VOTOM as custom turboRunner C are the knee and lower leg that form the calves of the robotRunner D, has part to form the upper arms, with options, thigh of the robots, side armors or the body, spike for the foot.Runner E features, the head visor unit with its communication antenna, and backpack weaponsRunner F are needed to form the iconic triple lense unit for VOTOM head unitRunner G, has the seat unit for the body, mainly rifle parts, and ammo magazines.Runner H are the lenses, which are individually colored.Runner I are the red shoulder armors, which is a symbol of terror in the VOTOM fictional universeRunner J, is the body and pilot figure, Chirico Cuvie, the protagonist of the fiction
Lastly, PVC or soft plastics are needed as joints.
Runner PC1 and PC2, are the compulsory runner to make the figure posable.
To assemble the model kit, do start by painting Chirico Cuvie and the tri-lense parts.
Painting Chirico in the runnersPainting the lense before assembly.Use necessary tools such as clip to help touch up and add details to the pilot bodyCloser inspection 1Closer inspection 2Closer inspection 3Closer inspection 4
Optional head, painted just in case 😀
The blue hair stoic protagonistSide inspectionBack inspection
Assembling VOTOM once the obligatory painting are done on Chirico.
Chosen Chirico in pilot helmet.The reason why pilot needs to be painted first, the pilot is not removable upon building of the kit, which is a shameMounted to the seat and its plastic prison foreverFirst few steps would require to imprison Chirico in its plastic prison foreverAssembling the side of the VOTOMSimulating cross section details of VOTOMReady body unitReady parts for the assembling the bodyBody almost completeLense unit complete
Lense mounted on head cover
Head unit assembledHead unit back viewHand unit has the iconic kinetic punch actionRight and Left arm, exposed piston upper arm are chosen for “cool” asymmetric factor of ruggednessAssembling the legsAssembling lower legsAssembling of lower legs continuedCorrect way to fit the legs unit, mechanical details allow the down form to be possibleVOTOM standard issue machine gunReady for assemblyTest shot of assembling VOTOMTest shot of simulating battle damaged and last attempt of offense using the kinetic punchRed shoulder custom ScopeDogBack view of the Red shoulder ScopedogOpen visor for VOTOM Red Shoulder Scopedog customAnother view of the scopedog from the backAdding backpack and more firepower to the scopedogAdded more magazine, enlarge the backpack, and foot featuring rocket boostersFront view of the Scopedog Turbo Custom fully loaded
More photoshots below with most of the background removed
Scopedog Turbo Custom front view 1Scopedog Turbo Custom side viewScopedog Turbo Custom backviewTurbo Custom for added rocket booster to the heels, and smoke grenade at the left shoulder armor for tactical advantageVOTOM Red shoulder Scopedog Turbo custom front view 2
The kit was too complicated for the DStyle line, due to its complexity, the legs like to pop off from the waist. That is a critical weakness of this model kit. Would highly recommend this kit for fan of VOTOM series. Caution that it is not play friendly.
