MOONBASE MODEL BY AOSHIMA

With only three weeks to go to SHADO Con, here’s another UFO related toy which I have posted about previously.

The Aoshima UFO Moonbase which appeared in October 2002, is a re-issue of an earlier Imai kit called the UFO Secret Doom Centre, which I imagine first appeared in the early seventies.

It’s a lovely detailed model, but like many Japanese kits sacrifices accuracy for gimmicks, like spring-loaded missiles in the linking corridors, and a spring loaded launcher for the tiny Shado Lunar Module.

Each sphere also has a hinged door to house the assorted small model vehicles that come with it, including a trio of tiny Interceptors.

I know some people have attempted to alter the kit to make it more screen accurate with varying success. Personally, I was happy to build it more or less as the manufacturer intended.

STOP PRESS:  The latest guest to sign up for SHADO Con is actress, Suzanne Neve who appeared as Comr. Straker’s wife, Mary  in ‘Confetti Check –A OK, and Straker’s ex-wife, Mary Rutland in ‘Question of Priorities’.