When I first saw the pictures of this kit, I thought it was a fake. When I saw it at the local hobby shop, I had to get one. It does not fit into my collection of models, but the novelty was too good to pass.

The decision was made easier by its relatively affordable price tag (RM88) and the recent availability of halal versions of the Cup Noodles at the local grocery store. They make a delicious instant meal and increased my appreciation for the brand.

Building the kit was an experience unlike any that I have had before. The colour separation and parts separation are comically detailed. Large sheets of stickers go over the engraved ingredients and nutritional facts.

So much attention is spent on the details in this kit. Included on one of the sprues are bits in the shape and colour of mystery meat (yup, that’s what they called it), dehydrated scrambled egg, and shrimp. There are even stickers to complete the look of the dried seafood.

For the leek (green onion looking things), they included a long-ribbed piece of green plastic which I had to cut into small bits as garnishing.

Most of the assembly process is focused on the cup itself. It may look simple, but the details are amazing. Next comes the noodle cake, before the ingredients are just thrown in. To complete the look, a large foil sticker is used to seal the cup.

There even a few options on how to display the finished kit. You could leave it sealed looking brand new, open the top halfway as if it is ready for boiling water, or use the included sealing sticker to make it look as if the top has been released while the noodle steep.

But that’s not all. The kit is also educational. The front panel of the cup can be removed to show how inside a Cup Noodles cup look like and the build instructions are full of trivia and bits of history about the Cup Noodles. It’s fascinating.

Because this is a push-fit kit, no glue is required. There’s no need for paint, files, or sandpaper, for us average hobbyists either. All that’s needed is a pair of nippers. My advice is to be careful with the stickers, especially the large ones. They are tricky to align because the surface is curved. Also, I feel that the stickers for the shrimp is optional and don’t go overboard by using all of the plastic strip for garnishing. A few bits is enough to complete the look.