Nostalgic Build, a Fun Trip Back in Time
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- 1. Finished Model, decals from "Real Space Models".
I saw this model in a friend's stash and waxed a bit nostalgic, and he let me buy it off him. I had built this model in grade school, but lacked the skills, and I believe it ended up packed with fire crackers in the backyard. Fun kit, super simple, only 80 parts. If someone is away from the hobby for a while, this is a good one to return to, to practice seam filling, simple masking and airbrush control, especially large surfaces. So much white! I had to wash my hands before every modeling session to prevent marking it up!
I grew up with the space program. Who didn't want to be an astronaut?! I definitely "drank the Tang". I wanted the build to be as accurate as possible to the Apollo 11 launch vehicle. I watched several YouTube videos countless times to make sure I got the roll markings correct and the stages aligned properly.
It was simple, it was fun. Moving on to build a Space Shuttle next!
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- 1. The S-IV-B or 3rd stage. The upper half of this stage in the kit is not accurate to scale, and the doors that open to reveal the LM are very sloppy. Here I used the conversion kit from "Real Space Models" including the escape tower.
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- 1. 1st stage F-1 engine cluster had a combined 7.8 million pounds of thrust. The center engine was fixed whereas the outer four were gimbled to help steer the rocket.
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- 1. Finished stand with figures. The decal is original to the kit, and for the life of me would not lay down flat no matter WHAT I did! Micro Sol and Set, needling, NOTHING helped so it is what it is...
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- 1. Original CSM and LM from the kit. Will display separately on the base.
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- 1. Original kit box.
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- 1. Preshade of stand. This part comes in the kit molded in a hideous "cheese head" yellow/orange.
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- 1. 1/144 figures. Oh how I HATE this scale!
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- 1. Ready to head to the "Vehicle Assembly Building"!
That's a wonderful result, Joe @jboyla
The base with the minuscule figures, which are beautifully painted, do show how big that rocket was.
Great result! I'm building this now with my daughter.