During WW2 Germany developed and
advanced the science of rocketry. With the defeat of Germany, the Soviet
and American military brought back some German V-2 rockets and even some German
scientists to study the design and further the development of rockets.
On October 4,
1957, the Soviets shocked the Americans when they launched the first Satellite
"Sputnik 1" into orbit. Sputnik weighed 184 pounds and
transmitted a Beep-Beep signal back to Earth for 23 days until it's
batteries ran down. Ham radio operators around the world tuned into
the Beep-Beep signal. Sputnik-1 remained in orbit until it was
consumed in the atmosphere upon re-entry on January 4, 1958. Sputnik didn't do much except circle the
planet for 23 days and send a radio signal, but this was more than enough to prove
to the US military that the Russians had the upper hand and had developed
rockets that could eventually strike with nuclear missiles anywhere on the planet.
The Space Race was on. |
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Cutting
Edge Modelworks has recognized a yearning by modelers to create these famous
space rockets and they have released a variety of resin items and decals related
to the USSR and US space program.
This is one of the many 1/144
items from Cutting
Edge Modelworks in their Lift
Off Series
dealing with the race for space. This particular 35 piece resin model kit set is fairly straight forward
but full of rich detail.....study the instructions carefully....especially the
pictures on the instructions and you'll do ok. The masters for this resin
model kit were created by NASA patternmaker Ben Guenther with additional work by
Scott Battistoni.
First up we have the central
rocket. This is a long solid resin part. There is a resin casting
block (see photo below on far right) that will require the use of a saw to cut
off, but that's easy enough. The top of this part has a very nicely done
cone cap.
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Once you
remove the casting block from the bottom of the central
rocket.....you then attach the rocket motor exhaust cones.
Also included are 16 (you only use 12) small nozzles. Four of
these will be used on the bottom of the central rocket. You
will have to cut down the small rocket nozzles and drill holes in
the base of the rocket to slide these 4 small nozzles into.
Detail on these small nozzles is delicate and the nozzles themselves
are hollowed out cones.....just like the larger main
nozzles.
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There are 4 strap-on rocket
boosters......two are in the image below. You need to cut the casting
block off the bottom and attach the rocket exhaust cone base to each booster
rocket. Then you drill 2 tiny holes in the base of each booster and insert
the smaller
nozzles for rocket bases. These strap-on boosters have panel lines
etc that will show up well.
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2 of the 4
strap-on boosters
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1 of the 4
bases for the strap-on boosters
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smaller
nozzles for rocket bases
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The most complicated part of this
model will be the rods that interlink and then get attached to the base of the
rocket motors. You only use 4 rods but 6 are included which is good incase
something goes wrong at this stage. Read the instructions
carefully....study the pictures included and dry fit a few times to make sure
you've got everything figured out for this stage before you get out your CA
glue.
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Rods
to be interlinked to bases of the 5 rockets....and the vents that will
be attached to the. |
There is one page of
instructions and it covers all aspects of the construction of this resin
kit. Painting instructions are not included and there are no
markings included in this kit. The kit is safely packet in a custom
made cardboard box to ensure it's safe transport.
It's refreshing to see Cutting
Edge Modelworks taking on and producing the Early Space related
items. This "Lift Off Series" is sure to be a big hit with
anyone with an interest in the Space Race.
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.
Steve
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