SF3D Original Reprint Edition
The classic Hobby Japan softcover book, 2010 reprint

The 1983 SF3D book from Hobby Japan, available from HobbyLink Japan.

I am pleased to offer a review of the reprinted SF3D softcover book originally released in 1983, which collected much of the SF3D materials featured in Hobby Japan Magazine. This book is purely in Japanese but still is a must-buy for any fan of the model and genre (and I speak as a fan who cannot yet read the language well) - it is packed with photographs, illustrations, an illustrated comic-like serial, and diagrams!

I am offering a comparison to the original, as seen on the left (you can see how ratty my original copy has become, heh).

As seen on the front as well as the reverse, the main difference on the covers in the reprint is a circular graphic element announcing the reprint.

Interestingly, the reprint is literally assembled from a super high quality scan of an original printing.

On the orginal, you can see the (usually dessicated) glue marks from the perfect binding process.

On the reprint, you can literally see a scan of that particular scanned book's glue marks! It's a fun detail.

There are also unique artifacts from the original printing (two blue dots in the "B" for example) that have also been reproduced.

The chief difference in content is the change in advertising content. The older unrelated ads have been replaced with Ma.K.-centric content - a welcome change!

Another example.

Black and white content is somehow sharper and cleaner in the reprint - I cannot stress enough how wonderful these photos are.

A HIGHLY recommended book - this material is historically vital to fans of the models and the genre.

Maschinen Krieger © Kow Yokoyama