H.A.F.S. F.2 Super Jerry (and Gigant Floh)
Allegiance: Mercenary Army (and Strahl Demokratische Republik)

Kit currently in production from Wave Corporation, available from HobbyLink Japan.

I am pleased to offer a review of the Maschinen Krieger HAFS Super Jerry, as currently produced by Wave Model Corporation and obtainable from HobbyLink Japan (click the link above). This kit is a hybrid of Nitto and newly tooled Wave sprues, packaged in a box showcasing Kow Yokoyama's splendid art. This particular HAFS (Heavy Armored Fighting Suit) is an up-armored version of the Jerry, and interestingly has been "retconned" as a Strahl and Mercenary Army machine, with story in ENGLISH courtesy of Lincoln Wright. It differs from the traditional Jerry in a few ways, and the sprue breakdown seems very logical, hinting at possible other mechs planned (like the Gladiator! Let's hope). This is clever on Wave's part, by offering a parts breakdown that allows for more variant sprues, the company can offer more varied designs, and Ma.K. fans get more suits into their collection!

So let's start with the box art. Yokoyama-san's painting depicts the new Strahl "Gigant Floh" version of the Super Jerry.

On the reverse, we have Lincoln's story, explaining the origin of the design, and how it was sold to both sides of the conflict (with differences in configuration).

Inner box has the wonderful side art, showcasing Yokoyama-san's Super Jerry and Gigant Floh builds.

All of the sprues are individually bagged - there is a LOT of plastic in this kit!

The left set of sprues contains all of the Nitto sprues - in essence, the old Nitto "Jerry" kit. Sprues on the right are the new Wave sprues - everything necessary to make a Jerry into a Super Jerry, and a Floh into a Gigant Floh. Each vendor's input is separately bagged.

Ohhh baby, here's something everyone likes to see in a Ma.K. kit - camo card, big decal sheet, and bags of wires and springs!

Major differences in the kit include the newer larger nose plate:

New canopy glass (with bubbled side windows and for the first time ever, a front clear canopy! Old Jerry sprue at the bottom:

You can see how far the side windows bubble out now.

Wave's sprues include the new feet, armor, and missile tube pieces:

The new foot piece is stubbier - the older ones will be pressed into service as armor plating if you make the Strahl Gigant Floh.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle for the modeler will be the new hip joint, which requires the older center hub to be drilled OUT of the Jerry's body pieces. I recommend a Dremel and patience.

More Wave armor plating and detailing:

The missile tubes are in halves - a lot of clean up is required to hide those seams.

New footpads and leg components:

You can see how the newer feet are slightly stubbier:

The new leg component has a peg to socket into the polycap that seats in the new hip piece.

I highly recommend this kit, both for quality and quantity of parts!

ASSEMBLY:

The pilot sports new headgear - a strange blend of "cruddy" old Nitto and cutting edge Wave plastic. Also pictured below, components for the missile tubes and front sensor (?).

Armor plating, assembled missile pods, and assembled nose piece.

As you can imagine, it flew together in a matter of a few evenings!

Primed in black as an undercoat.

I chose to tint the clear parts with Tamiya smoke.

Final pieces attached - antennas and wiring!

Next up - paint/decals!

Maschinen Krieger © Kow Yokoyama