Paul's AIP Thunderbird 1 Kit

Hi Woodsy

         On my most recent visit to a model shop, I spotted two of the new AIP (Adventures in Plastic)/Aoshima Thunderbirds kits. Thunderbird 1 and FAB 1.

I recall seeing the Lincoln International motorised kits in the shops way back in the 1960s, but Mum would not get them – they needed to be assembled she explained. Yes, I knew that, they were kits.

So I missed out, but now two of the AIP kits were before me. A bit expensive, but I could not resist.

Thunderbird 1 came home with me, and FAB 1 has been put aside. The shop only had one example of each, so it was a case of grab it now, or miss out.

The kit is moulded in silver-grey plastic, and fully assembled it will probably stand around nine inches tall. It can be assembled in flight mode, or on its landing gear. Wheels or skis are provided.

There is a decal sheet, for the markings. All the parts come packed in re-sealable plastic bags, which is a nice touch.

All the AIP kits come in great boxes, done like a 1960s TV set, with the subject in the centre of the TV screen. I am really looking forward to finally getting to work on a Thunderbirds model, once some other projects have been finished off.

Four photographs

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Aerial Jeeps by Paul Adams

Hi Woodsy

The ITC, later Glencoe, kit of the Piasecki VZ-8P Aerial-Jeep has been mentioned before on Moonbase Central. I recently came across some photos of the kit, and noticed a few odd things about the box art.

First up, the artist managed to get the colours of the US national insignia on the fin wrong. How do you do that - working only from a black and white photo, and knowing nothing about aircraft markings ?

The Star and Bar (post 1947 version) is shown as blue and white only. The central stripe in the side bars should be red, not blue, matching the stripes of the US flag.

However, the decal sheet in the kit is correct.

Next, the tank supporting the group of US infantrymen is a British Centurion. Six road wheels per side, the shape of the side plates over the tracks, and the angular stowage box on the side of the turret, all confirm it is a Centurion.

Why a British tank like this?

The artwork was later changed. The actual Aerial-Jeep image stays the same – and the national insignia is still the wrong colour – but the crew figures have been revised.

The crewman who was previously firing a rifle, is now looking through a pair of binoculars, and the others have also been slightly changed. The background painting is also different, and those now look to be US tanks in action.

This version is a lot rarer than the 'Centurion' box, at least judging from the listings for the Aerial Jeep on Worthpoint. Both box styles were numbered No.3674-98, and sold for 98 cents.

The address on the box is ITC, Hollis, New York. It does not appear the Aerial Jeep was re-issued by Ringo Toys in the 1960s, although they released many other ex-ITC kits.

The VZ-8P was later re-issued by Glencoe Models, but the name had been changed to Piasecki VZ-8P Airgeep. I assume so they did not have to pay to use the Jeep name ?

There were two styles of box art, with either a large or small version of the Airgeep in flight. Oddly, these have different kit numbers.

The large image is 05202, while the small image is 05203. In addition to the three original crewmen, at least some versions of this kit included a small bag of six one-piece US Army figures.

Eight Photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Monogram's Final Countdown Model Set by Paul A

Hi Woodsy,

On Max's Models Livestream 199, the film The Final Countdown (1980) came up. Which reminded me of the Monogram Final Countdown set.

'On maneuvers in the Pacific in 1980, the nuclear carrier USS Nimitz disappears...and reappears December 7, 1941...off Pearl Harbor'. The Nimitz, and her Air Wing, travel back in time to the day before the Pearl Harbor attack...and prepare to launch a strike against the Japanese fleet.

Modern Tomcat jets do battle with WW2 Zero fighters (guess who wins that one), but the ship returns to the present day before she can change history. Actually filmed aboard the Nimitz, there is plenty of air action in the film.

As a tie-in to the movie, Monogram Models put two of their existing kits in to a box, and labelled it as 'From the movie The Final Countdown'. The kits were the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in 1/825th scale; and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat naval fighter in 1/72nd.

The box art is based on the movie poster, and shows a Tomcat launching from one of the bow catapults. According to Monogram Models by Thomas Graham, the original poster was by Revell artist Jack Leynnwood.

Stills from the movie run down the right side of the box, in a film strip. In the lower left-hand corner is a photograph of the two models.

The set was Monogram kit number 6032. It was released in 1980, but it was not available for very long.

Two photographs from Worthpoint.

Do you like it?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Terranova47's Auto Gyro

Hello Woodsy

Having finished the Flying Jeep I realized that I now had three auto gyros, a somewhat eccentric form of aircraft.

Here they are:

On the left; The Flying Jeep/Hafner Rotarbuggy which didn't get beyond experimental stage. 1940's built in 1/32 scale.

In the foreground; The Cierva C.30 Rota. 1930's. A licensed built version appeared in Doc Savage stories. Over 100 built. Model 1/72 scale

On the right: The McDonald XV-1 Convertiplane 1950's. Two built, this updated the auto gyro idea by also powering the rotor to lift the craft eliminating a long run before the pusher propeller created enough speed for the rotor to provide lift. 

Here shown in Spacefleet colours as per a Frank Hampson reference sketch for Dan Dare. Model approximately 1/48 scale.

Terranova47

USA

Kevin's Moebius Seaview Build

Hi,

I've recently completed this Moebius kit of Seaview. Great model but stupidly big!

Dive, dive!

Kevin

UK

Rob's Boeing Bomarc Missile Model

Woodsy,

Here is my most recent model kit build, Boeing’s Bomarc IM-99 surface-to-air guided missile, first tested in 1952, put into production in 1957, and made obsolete shortly thereafter by the new threat of high-speed ICBM missiles.

Originally a 1958 Revell kit, this is the 2023 Atlantis Models reissue.

The launch platform was the fun part!

Hope you like it.

Rob C

USA

Aurora Sealab III Re-issue

Hi Woodsy

Doll and Hobby Georgia is another small company reproducing vintage Aurora plastic kits, which have been unavailable for decades.

 Their latest project is the U.S. Navy Sealab III kit - the real Sealab being an underwater base for divers and undersea exploration.

Aurora kit number 721 was only available 1970-71. It was to 1/93rd scale, and was moulded in orange plastic, with a green base.

It had interior detail, and optional clear or opaque hull halves. There were also two scuba divers.

According to Scalemates, the only releases have been by Aurora in 1970; a resin copy by Masterpiece Models (J & S Technologies LLC) in 2017; and now a plastic version from Doll and Hobby Georgia in 2025. 

This video by CultTVman, the man behind D&HG, takes a detailed look at the kit, and its production from new moulds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRFzEYunE-Y

The new version comes moulded entirely in yellow plastic, and has over 150 parts, including four divers. Really interesting.

If you want one, it is a pretty expensive kit at $80 or $90 US, but that is still going to be a lot cheaper than a vintage Aurora model. 

The box art is the same as the original Aurora model, except that the U.S. Navy title has been removed.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Pick Up Pencils

Here is a modelling tool which might be of interest to Moonbasers. I discovered it after seeing a video by Max, from Max's Models.

His local model shop, Hurricane Hobbies in Jacksonville, Floria, had got some in, and the owner showed Max how it worked. It is only suitable for very small and light items, which are normally very difficult to pick up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX-EpIw-NDY

It looks like a normal pencil, but instead of a hard lead, it contains a slightly sticky substance, such as paraffin wax. Just touch this to the item, and it sticks, until it is released with a slight twist.

It is used in modelling, crafts, watch making, bead art, and nail art (gluing various small items to fingernails), and possibly in electronics ? Variously called a pick and hold pencil; pick-up pencil, sticky pencil, or grabber.

I thought this looked useful, but even with both Rob Craig and I looking, it was not easy to find. Model and craft shops proved fruitless.

I finally found a pack of these pencils in a chain of Japanese-goods shops called Daiso. They were in the nail decoration section, and went under the name Stone Catch Pen – Easy to catch even small stones.

Unlike the full-length pencil shown in Max's video, these came in a pack of three short pencils, 85mm long. Made in China, for Daiso of Japan.

After getting home I tried them out on various small items, making sure that I had the right thing. These look as though they will be very useful on future projects.

A big thanks to Max, for mentioning these pencils. Just be aware that finding them may be the hard part.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Kevin's AMT Klingon and Romulan Ships Biuld

Bought this recently just to give myself something to do for a few days! It is the old amt kit of the Enterprise, Klingon and Romulan ships from proper Star Trek. This is the reissue and that was in 1989!

Anyway, here it is, small, inaccurate but cute!

Cheers,

Kevin

Rob's Nitto Jet-Raizer Biuld

Woodsy,

Here is yet another classic Mogura Drill Tank I managed to get off eBay recently.

It’s the Jet-Raizer Rock Drill Tank from Nitto. Originally issued in 1967, this is the 1983 reissue.

Nitto produced a trio of SF Mecha models in 1967, and this is one of them. All three models were designed by Shusei Nagaoka, a famed illustrator better known for his Rock LP Covers.

The Jet-Raizer is an ill-fitting and clunky thing, but that is often what you got with this “first wave” of Japan SF model kits. Still, I tried to paint it up as pretty as I could.

Due to the crummy fit of the armor side-plates, even the clockwork-powered treads don’t work! I feel sorry for any Japanese youth who tried to build an operating version of this lemon back in the day!

Rob C

USA

Kevin's MPC Space 1999 Moonbuggy

Hi,

Just finished this MPC kit of the Moonbase alpha moonbuggy.

Cheers,

Kevin

Rob's Kibri HO Tank Truck Station

Woodsy,

Here is a Kibri HO scale Tank Truck Station I recently snagged off eBay. 

It was partially assembled and missing a few parts, but I wanted to resurrect it to go with the Kibri Esso Fuel Tanks I got many years ago. 

This kit was imported into the US by Polks Hobbies, under their Aristo-Craft brand. Circa 1960.

Hope you all like it.

Rob Craig

USA