Overview
Cavico (known also on some sites as Cavico Models) is actually better known for non-girlpla activities. Founded in 2018 with a name derived from the words cavity and core (referring to the concave and convex sides of plastic molds), Cavico’s intent was to allow professional and amateur designers to make their designs into plastic model kits. The larger part of their output is mecha of various types, ranging from Gundam (with Cavico’s first ever model designed by Kunio Okawara of Gundam fame and, coincidentally, one of the first recorded creators of girlpla through Lady Gouf) to VOTOMS to Evangelion to original designs.
However, in 2021, under their super-deformed ChoiPla line, Cavico did put out a fembot model kit, Smart Daughter Eos, in two variants, Moon White and Pitch Black. Two other variants, Orange and Light Blue, would be released in 2024. This would not be Cavico’s only foray into mecha musume, however; their Heroine Style Buster Maiden would be released in late 2026.
While there are technically four Smart Daughter kits, they are all exactly identical except for color, so we will count them as a standalone.
Construction and Engineering
The Smart Daughters are billed as 1:2.5 kits; that is correct, 1:2.5 kits. We have no idea if that was meant to be 1:25 instead; height comparison to our Number 57 kits had them slightly dwarfed by the likes of Yui, Mr. J and Sakura Edge, which would make sense if our assumption is correct as the kits stand at a measly 6.5 cm tall.
Anyway, these kits, being incredibly small, are surprisingly detailed, but fairly difficult to assemble due to how small the parts are. You may even want a bit of glue for this one, and we can’t recommend them for a beginner – especially since the detailing on all the promotional images requires paint on top of glue. Articulation is what you’d expect for a kit that is, again, 6.5 cm tall; not great, certainly not to the same level as Number 57, but it’ll do.
Aesthetics:
The Smart Daughters kits are cute, sleek and petite especially when painted well. Fairly cute and unique-looking, the Smart Daughters live up to their name. The varying colors also help, though their final look will depend on your ability to wield a paintbrush (yes, a paintbrush, trying to airbrush this thing is probably possible but good luck because the parts are thinner than your finger).
Ease of Acquisition:
These are probably some of the cheapest kits we’ve ever covered. At a catastrophic, bank-breaking, homelessness-inducing price of ¥900 (roughly £4/ $6), you could probably sweep up all four Smart Daughters for pennies on the dime and still have enough to afford McDonalds. Hobby Search and HLJ are your main ports of call for them. This is actually a slight disadvantage, since the shipping will actually probably be more expensive than the actual kit itself, meaning you’re probably incentivised to get more of them just to make the shipping worth it. And also bigger.
Personal Verdict?
Although she does require a fair bit of work to get going, the Smart Daughter’s low, low price and cute appearance more than makes up for it, making her incredible value for money.
Official Site: https://cavico.mystrikingly.com/ (in Japanese)
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