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Project Omega "Patrol Hopper" (1985)

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 1

Hasegawa Hobby Kits Logo

SCALE: 1/48

INITIAL RELEASE: 1985

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY: (3)

 

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 2

 

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 3

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 4

  Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 5

 

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - 6

Patrol Hopper over Ganymede

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

At the height of the 1980's "Transformer" craze, Japan's Hasegawa company decided to come out with its own line of transformable model kits.  But instead of creating airplanes or rockets that transformed into fighting robots, its first "Project Omega" kit, the "Patrol Hopper," was a highly detailed air/space transport that transformed into a 1:144 scale U.S. Space Shuttle and a transport/launching vehicle.  As it turned out, the "Patrol Hopper" design was far more interesting that the shuttle/launcher combination -- which actually resembled the launching system used in Airplane II -- and it is rarely shown or displayed in that alternate configuration. Like AMT's Strategic Space Command series, Hasegawa's "Project Omega" turned out to be a one-shot deal.  No follow-ups to the Patrol Hopper were ever produced.  Oddly enough, the kit was picked up by Monogram later in the 1980s and re-released under the title  "Eagle Lunar Explorer" as part of that company's Young Astronauts series.

This model was built from the original Hasegawa issue.

 

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - Hasegawa Box Art Cover

Project Omega Patrol Hopper - Hasegawa Box Art Rear

Original Box Art

Rear Box Art

 

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