NASA in Plastic

I have gone on at some length about how the 1960's were a great time for space related products, and I have shared a few such items here. I think I will do it again! Today we have the AMT model kit, "Men in Space."

To be totally fair, this kit isn't really as much about "men" in space as it is about "red blooded American men" in space. You won't find any commies in this bunch! So, take that, Vostok!

This 1/200 scale kit is actually five kits that celebrate the U.S. manned space program of the 1960's. It features the Mercury Redstone, The Mercury Titan, The Gemini Atlas, The Saturn IB, and The Saturn V.

 The actual models are fairly small in 1/200 scale (which puts the Mercury Redstone standing at 4.75 inches and the Saturn V standing at 23 inches) but it is very interesting to see all five rockets in the correct scale relation to each other. I have used this kit to teach kids about the space program and they are always impressed as to how small our first manned rocket was and how tiny the Apollo capsule was.

Speaking of the Apollo capsule, it helps that all the rockets are actually stacks that come apart into individual stages. In addition, the Saturn IB and the Saturn V come with itty-bitty LEM's and the capsules open to show three teeny-tiny astronauts. The size of the men in relation to the rockets never fails to impress the kids.

Just as a side note, I want to point out that the plastic base didn't come with the kit. I also added 1/32" wire to the base that passes up through the models to keep everything from falling apart. 

The detail on the kits is pretty good for 1/200 scale. The paint schemes on my models are "non mission specific" so they really don't represent any particular mission. They can be painted however you like, of course.

This kit was out of production for a while (in fact, I had to get mine on eBay about 12 years ago) but it has been recently re-released by AMT/ Second Round as a "retro" kit. Its nice that you can walk in to Hobby Lobby and find it back on the shelf! 

So get to your local hobby shop and get yourself some plastic NASA history! 

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!