The « Maschinen Krieger »(Ma.K) universe of characters and machines is a science fiction genre in print and model making that was created by Japanese artist and sculptor Kow Yokoyama in the 1980s, with the first appearance of the subjects appearing in the popular magazine Hobby Japan called SF3D. The series focuses on the aftermath of the earth (and the moon) after World War IV. So you all know it is supposed to happen (mark your calendars & perhaps take that Monday off work) in 2807 when up to 80% of the Earth’s population was killed in the nuclear holocaust.
The destruction was so great that human life could no longer survive on the barren remains of the planet. There is a very cool history of this series in this link stating just what happened and when, and it details the war that followed between the Mercenary Army in machines piloted by Colonists and the Strahl National Defence Army Police & Foreign Legion machines.
Together with Hiroshi Ichimura as story editor and Kunitaka Imai as graphic designer Kow Yokoyama’s series drew visual inspiration from their combined interest in World War I and World War II armour and aircraft, seventies Sci-Fi like Star Wars, Blade Runner and The Road Warrior’s Post-Apocalyptic vision of the future and improvised technologies. Seeing the Sci-Fi models from companies like ILM that combined many different kits to create their own universe, these three made their own universe that concentrated on powered armour suits, and robotic bipedal walking tanks and aircraft with anti-gravity systems.
After a dispute with Hobby Japan over the copyright of the series, SF3D was dropped from its line-up from of articles and Nitto ceased production of various kits of the series. After several legal stoushes, Yokoyama was awarded the full copyright to the series in the 1990s. Yokoyama and Hobby Japan eventually reconciled and restarted their working relationship, ditching the old SF3D name in favour of Maschinen Krieger ZbV3000, otherwise known as Ma.K.
Although there are some toys and books also credited to the MAK universe, we are here to look at the models, Nitto was the first model company to secure the license to make the kits of these machines, they made twenty one injection moulded kits from the series during its entire run in the magazine. Most of the Nitto model kits are in 1:20th scale, while others were made in 1:76th and 1:6th scale.
Production of the kits stopped with the end of the Hobby Japan features in 1986, but Nitto reissued many of the original kits under the Maschinen Krieger name, albeit with new decals and box art. Some of the original Nitto kits go for a pretty penny on several internet sale groups and sites.
After the success and cult following developed by these models, there were several other companies from Japan who followed into the MAK world. Various model companies make accessories to the MAK kits, companies Love love Garden, Brick Works, Modelkasten and of course Rainbow-Egg as well as of course full kits. These are often resin, and often pretty amazing but daunting to a lot of modellers because of their complexity and high standard of artistry.
Hasegawa’s venture into the franchise came with the release of the Pkf 85 Falke attack craft in March 2009. The company’s Ma.K line has since expanded to at least ten kits either 1:35 or 1:20th scale, including a 1:35th Scale Nutcracker tank.These new kits have taken this niche hobby genre to a larger audience. Hasegawa’s other kits caught my eye, the Pkf 85 « Falke » attack craft and the Lunar Camel being two of note.
Recently Hasegawa has taken some of the original S.F.3D kits and made new injection moulded versions of them, often with updated or alternate colours and markings, guns, weapons and other features in their designs.
Since the success of this venture, and the much wider exposure in audience Hasegawa’s distribution has given the line, the series has expanded to at least ten kits either 1:35th or 1:20th scale.
