Hi Woodsy!
Here is my latest model build, the brand-new Atlantis reissue of the 1959 Monogram Willy Ley Orbital Rocket. I had this one as a kid, and it was amazing to be able to build it again.
Monogram originally released two kits using basically the same molds, the Orbital Rocket (PS46), shown here, and a Passenger Rocket (PS47), with a slightly different Shuttlecraft. Both are excellent Sci-Fi designs from the glory days of NASA concept vehicles.
The Orbital Rocket kit came with two large fuel tanks, which I did not add, as they obscured the lower wings and (retracted) landing gear.
This terrific kit also came with four figures, which I declined to paint, as they are so tiny. Painting tiny figures is a young man's game!
Enjoy!
Rob C
USA
A nice build. It's always fun to rebuild a model from the past. Especially when the new build is a better quality!
ReplyDeleteExactly my thoughts on the subject! My first build of this, somewhere in the haze of the 1960s, involved no painting of the main parts, as they were nicely molded in color. Thus, too shiny. Plus, tube cement all over the place. These reissued models are always a pleasure, giving us big kids a second chance to do it better. SFZ
DeleteWhat a great model, and a beautiful paint finish. It is so good to have Atlantis re-issuing all these vintage kits from the 1950s and 1960s, giving us a chance to build them again, or to built many for the first time.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks! Yes, these reissues are a godsend to many of us. Next up, I plan on getting one or more of the Atlantis aircraft, possibly starting with the B-36 Peacemaker, another one I botched - er, I mean BUILT, back in the day. SFZ
DeleteSterling work as ever Rob, a wonderful kit. It's one of those early era kits that passed me by as a kid and I only became aware of in old catalogues. Bill
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly. I was lucky to have grabbed one of these way back when, as alot of the other cool space kits came and went in a flash. I highly recommend you try this one, its a lot of fun and a great time travel too! SFZ
DeleteThat is one cool model Rob! Did the original kit have "USSF" decals or is that a modern bow to the current Space Force?
ReplyDeleteThanks, man! Don't quote me, but I think the new decals are reprints of the original decals, so they did use the US Space Force idea. Also, the cover illustration suggests that it was part of the original model as well. I wonder if this is where they got the idea for the New, Improved US Space Force? SFZ
DeleteI think Space Force has been active for decades according to nerd ufo sites, it's nothing to do with Nasa and funded by the black budget.
DeleteIt's weird how the model kits companies have had little leaks into black budget aviation and have been able to produce kits, look at all the Aurora model kits and SR-72's and SR-73's we've received
Very true! I just finished reading a book on the history of Revell models and apparently the U.S. Military was often baffled - and angered - at how model companies could come up with such accurate portrayals of obscure or secret aircraft. It was apparently a combination of using publicly available information, with a bit of creative license, and occasionally an inside tip! SFZ
Delete1/288?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a Time Machine to show Willy the MPC START Buran—and Starship.