William Watkins’ Nausicaa and kai

Nausicaa and kai
Tsukuda kit N001-400, 1:20 scale

This kit is a mix of good and bad. Some parts fit fine; others, not at all. There is a lot of seam-cleaning and puttying needed. There was a huge gob of plastic that had to be Dremeled off the tail feathers.

Nausicaa did not ride a kai in the movie, and her clothing here is a combination of different outfits. The body parts have no positive alignment, so there is considerable freedom in how they can be placed.

A mix of blue-grays were used for the kai’s feathers, following the box art. Nausicaa’s clothing was painted in the blues from most of the movie. Paints were a mix of enamels and craft acrylics. Reins and rifle sling were made from masking tape and painted.

Despite some aggravations, this was a rewarding build. It sits in my daughter’s room, as she is a big fan of Miyazaki’s movies.

William E. Watkins