Minerva from "Crusher Joe" (1983)

SCALE: 1/500

INITIAL RELEASE: 1985

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY: (4)

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

Of all the spacecraft to emerge from Japan’s “Crusher Joe” animated series, the Minerva – the hero’s personal starship – was by far the most credible.  With a lifting body-like airframe, the ship looked like it could actually fly in an atmosphere.  Those big-ass engines looked capable of boosting the Minerva into deep space as well.

Takara of Japan produced a whole slew of “Crusher Joe” models in the mid-1980s, many of which are still available on the collector’s market.  The Minerva was produced in both a small scale and a large scale; this is the large-scale version, and its engineering is excellent.  The model also comes with a tiny Type 2 fighter escort. 

The model was built from an original issue.

Original Box Art

SPFX Photo