Long before modern Gunpla, four kids flew Round Vernians into space
Galactic Drifter Vifam (Ginga Hyoryu Vifam) is a 1983 Sunrise mecha anime, made a decade before Gundam Wing and two decades before the snap-fit Gunpla most builders know today. It follows a group of stranded children who survive by piloting small mecha called Round Vernians, or RVs, while drifting through space looking for home.
This is Set 2 of Bandai's reissue of that original run of kits. It's for the collector who wants a genuine piece of 1980s Japanese model kit history on the shelf, not another modern high-articulation build. If snap-fit Gunpla is all you've built, this one asks more of you, and rewards you with something none of your other kits can claim.
Build difficulty
This is a traditional injection-plastic kit from the era before Gunpla went snap-fit. Cement is needed to assemble it and paint is needed to get the finish shown on the box, since the parts are moulded mostly in a single colour per kit. There's no official part count or step count published for this reissue, so we won't guess at one. What we can say honestly: this is four separate builds in one box (three 1/144 mecha plus the 1/24 Twinkle Head), each needing basic modelling skills, cement, and paint to finish properly. If you've never used plastic cement or built up a paint job before, this isn't the easiest place to start, but it's a genuine, honest way to learn the fundamentals the hobby was built on.
Technical highlights
These four kits use Bandai's original 1983-1984 tooling for Galactic Drifter Vifam, reissued rather than redesigned. Expect period-correct engineering: simple joints rather than today's poly-cap articulation, and colour achieved through paint rather than multi-colour injection moulding. The moulding colours on this reissue may differ slightly from the original 1980s releases. We haven't been able to verify posability, paint scheme, or part count beyond what's shown in the box photos, so we're not going to invent detail we can't stand behind.
What makes this kit special
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Four kits, one box: Torunfam, Neofam, the recon type, and the 1/24 Twinkle Head all ship together, so you get a genuine slice of the Vifam cast in a single set.
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Original 1983-1984 tooling: this isn't a modern reinterpretation, it's the actual mould Bandai used when the anime first aired, reissued for a new generation of collectors.
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A different era of kit entirely: cement-and-paint construction the way the hobby started, before poly-caps and snap-fit became the standard.
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The 1/24 Twinkle Head: a larger-scale bust piece that stands apart from the three 1/144 mecha, giving the set some display variety.
What's in the box
- 1/144 Torunfam with sling pannier
- 1/144 Neofam with sling pannier
- 1/144 recon type
- 1/24 Twinkle Head
These four kits are confirmed from Bandai's own product listing. We haven't been able to independently verify the runner count, sticker sheet contents, or included accessories inside each individual kit, so we're not listing detail we can't stand behind.
Compatible accessories
We don't have confirmed compatibility data for this kit with any current Bandai accessory line. These are 1983-1984 era mecha with their own period mounting hardware, not the 3mm standard used on modern Gunpla, so we're not going to assume a modern Action Base will fit without confirming it first. If you're chasing a display stand for these, check the physical mounting point on the parts once the kit is in hand before buying one.
Build your Galactic Drifter Vifam collection
Set 2 pairs naturally with Bandai Ginga Hyoryu Vifam (Galactic Drifter Vifam) Set 1, the companion reissue covering the other half of the original Vifam mecha lineup. Between the two sets you get the fuller original Round Vernian cast on the shelf together.
Build specifications
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Series: Galactic Drifter Vifam (Round Vernian Vifam), 1983 Sunrise anime
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Manufacturer: Bandai
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Scale: 1/144 (Torunfam, Neofam, recon type) and 1/24 (Twinkle Head)
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Kit set: four individual model kits
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Kit packaged weight: approximately 620g, box approximately 39 x 31 x 8cm
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Barcode: 4573102642615
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Skill level: Advanced
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Assembly method: cement required
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Paint: required for box-accurate finish
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Tooling: original 1983-1984 release, this set reissued 2023
Perfect for
- Collectors who want a genuine piece of early 1980s Japanese model kit history
- Vifam and classic Sunrise mecha anime fans building out a display
- Builders who enjoy traditional cement-and-paint construction, not just snap-fit
- Anyone pairing this with Set 1 for a fuller Round Vernian collection
- Experienced modellers looking for something different from modern Gunpla
Fast Australian shipping
Dispatched same day from our Brisbane warehouse if ordered before 2pm AEST on weekdays. Genuine Australian stock in hand, not ordered through an overseas proxy. Packed securely in a sturdy outer box with water-soluble cornstarch void fill that dissolves cleanly in the sink. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $199.
What to watch for
This is a reissue of 40-plus-year-old tooling, not a new-generation kit. Fit and panel lines won't match what you're used to on a modern HG or RG. Painting is required to get the finish shown in the box photos, since the plastic is moulded mostly in a single colour per part. We haven't found any independent builder reviews for this kit to draw on, so we can't tell you what specific issues other builders have run into.
Builder tips: have your cement and paint ready before you start, this isn't a kit you build with nippers alone. Test-fit parts before gluing anything, older tooling can have tighter or looser tolerances than you're used to on current kits.
Build notes
Plastic cement and paint are both required to finish this kit properly. Recommended tools: nippers, a hobby knife, sandpaper or sanding sticks, files, and tweezers. This is four separate builds in one box, so you can tackle them one at a time rather than all at once. No official build time is published for this reissue and we're not going to invent one. No age recommendation is printed on this reissue that we could verify; given the cement and paint requirement, it suits teen and adult builders rather than young children.
Last updated: 15 July 2026 (AEST)