Airfix Apollo Saturn V & Airfix 1:72 Hawker Hurricane

[Guest]

Wasn't sure where to put this being a moon rocket but I guess it can be moved if necessary.

This is not a kit i'd normally go for, Motorbikes, Cars and WWII aircraft are more my cup of tea, (WWII aeroplanes being what started me in the hobby with my good old dad introducing me to Britains finest, the Spitfire, Hurricane, Wellington and Lancaster, after a break i've returned to the hobby and i've since defected a little and found a liking for the BF109 series, FW190 and a cracking Revell Ju52 kit which I look forward to building, shame on me eh)

Anyhow, I digress, My wife got me this kit as a gift to adorn my wee boys room, (it's decorated in a space theme and will likely be suspended from the ceiling until he's old enough to understand that Models are for presentation not playing with, at that point it has a nice display base)

So, I started it feeling a bit unsure as I expected it to be quite dull, i mean after all it's a rocket, long white and pointy with a few black and silver bits, however once i'd started I found I was quite enjoying it.

It's pretty big, (taken almost a full Humbrol tinlet of Satin white to cover stage1, interstage, 2, 3 and the top cone and about 4 refills of my airbrush, that was a good two coats overall with an extra coat on a couple of areas needing it)

Have now just masked off for the matt black.

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The picture of the multiple parts shows L to R

Stage 2 - Service pod - Cone and Tower - Moon Lander pod - Stage 3, in the foreground are the main thrusters just after being masked and sprayed with silver over an Aluminium base.

You may note as well an odd looking moon landing pod, oh OK, it's a 1:72 scale Hurricane, below is the box art and the cockpit.

I got this vintage it from eBay and remembered it being a kit I built when i was a nipper, (I hope to make a neater job of it this time), the cockpit was very very basic consisting of the floor and a seat, no flight yoke or other mouldings, I made the headrest from a piece of sprue and flight yoke, and the harness from masking tape.

Now be nice please, It's the first cockpit i've ever detailed and I know it's not scale accurate but i'm quite pleased with it.

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[John]

Ive been going to get the Apollo rocket for a long time I know what you mean it looks a bit dull but I remember as a kid my brother building one and I thought it looked great I will get one one day and the space shuttle to go with it look forward to seeing yours complete

[Guest]

Just how big is it when finished? Even at 1:144 it must be a fair height.

[Guest]

The scale photo with my hand visible sows the base, Stage 1, without thrusters, on top of that is the interstage, then stage 2 (wide with the conical top), then stage 3 (thin straight one), then a tapered ring, then the tapered landing pod housing, then the silver pod, then the nose cone with the scaffolding tower, so all in all it's very tall, i'll try and get a rough measurement for you later.

It's quite striking when you see the size of the 1:144 astronauts next to the model really makes you realise how awesome this thing must have been to people fortunate enough to see it in the flesh and up close.

(Note the correct useage of the word Awesome there)

[Guest]

Hi all.The Airfix kit is 768 mm and the Revell is 1.14 mm.Big !.Though the Revell is bigger,in my opinion the Airfix is the better kit for detail and accuracy.I am currently building the Revell kit and was a little dissapointed compared to the Airfix.Especially for what it cost !.I will be building a scratch build once i have finished this so that should be fun !.The Lunar Module and Command Module kits by Revell are excellent though.Will post some photos asap.Pleased im not alone in building space models !.Ive posted a photo of myself underneath the Saturn 5 at The Kennedy Space Centre to give you an idea of how big it actually is.MASSIVE !.Hope this has been of some help,all the best.:astronaut:[ATTACH]15545.vB[/ATTACH]

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[Gern]

Brian,

Those are even more scary than the Lightning outlets we were looking at a couple of weeks ago!

Gotta ask 'cos I didn't get an answer from the Lightning guys. Do you know where the flint goes in that thing?

Gern

[Guest]

ha ha dont know about the flint Gern but i wouldnt fancy being underneath it when it fires up !.was meant to see the shuttle go up recently but couldnt go at last minute.Gutted.Fantastic place to visit.

[Guest]

A pic of the current status giving an idea of size.

The aeroplane in the foreground is an Airfix 1:72 scale Hurricane.

The rocket is not finished yet, various small fiddly bits to affix, and paint, thrusters to fit then clear coat, decals and top coat(s) then the moon lander which sits in the split tapered section just below the silver maintenance pod.

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It occurred this morning that if the plane in the foreground was half the size that would be an accurate scale comparison, that's some rocket.

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[Guest]

Nice model - I've got the Revell 1/96th one to build. I bought the decal set from Cultman's site in America as the ones supplied by Revell are totally wrong. Perhaps we should have a forum for "Real Space". I've also got one of the large 1/72nd Shuttles to build, as well as the recent re-issued 1/32 Apollo capsule and Command Module and the 1/48th Lunar Module..