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Description
Definitely better than the MPC R2D2 that came out in the late 70s, this 2015 gem from Bandai is on the small side, but a superior kit all around. But due to legal argle-bargle, Bandai kits like this can't be shipped in mass quantities outside Japan. My local hobby shop has connections and I was lucky enough to get this droid back in June.

Did I say complicated? His dome alone is comprised of at least 23 parts sans decals. A delicate touch, particularly when it comes to snipping parts from sprues, removing nibs and sanding to fit is a must. Here you see with only a few large blue decals behind the silver grilles low on the body.

Designed to look okay without a paint job, this version of R2 is cast in white, gold, silver, blue, and smoke colored lens for his radar eye.
A central leg retracts into the body and when it can't be pried out from the underside, his head can pop off and the leg can be pushed down from above. Convenient.

Miniscule decals add detail, but require tweezers and a loupe to apply properly.

I had a tough time with the other droid that came in this kit: R5D4. Currently, the latter is out for decal application.

Description
Definitely better than the MPC R2D2 that came out in the late 70s, this 2015 gem from Bandai is on the small side, but a superior kit all around. But due to legal argle-bargle, Bandai kits like this can't be shipped in mass quantities outside Japan. My local hobby shop has connections and I was lucky enough to get this droid back in June.

Did I say complicated? His dome alone is comprised of at least 23 parts sans decals. A delicate touch, particularly when it comes to snipping parts from sprues, removing nibs and sanding to fit is a must. Here you see with only a few large blue decals behind the silver grilles low on the body.

Designed to look okay without a paint job, this version of R2 is cast in white, gold, silver, blue, and smoke colored lens for his radar eye.
A central leg retracts into the body and when it can't be pried out from the underside, his head can pop off and the leg can be pushed down from above. Convenient.

Miniscule decals add detail, but require tweezers and a loupe to apply properly.

I had a tough time with the other droid that came in this kit: R5D4. Currently, the latter is out for decal application.