On April 12, 1961, the first human to sail into space, Flight Major Yuri Gagarin, was launched into orbit from Baikonur, Russia. His Vostok I (Russian for “East”) shocked the world, and provided even more of a kick-in-the-pants to the space program of the United States. This was the second time the Russians had beaten the Americans in the Space Race.

The Revell kit was first issued in 1969, and has been reissued a number of times over the years. The kit components are molded in silver styrene that appears to have swirls in it. I’ve seen this before with other kits molded in silver. The parts have a mixture of raised and recessed panel details, depending on the part. The halves of the final stage rocket housing have recessed detail, but the piping on the equipment module is all raised. The capsule sphere is roughly 3.75 inches in diameter, about the size of a softball.

This is a larger-scale kit, but it does lack detail, allowing the builder the opportunity to add in extra bits. Also, no markings are included with the kit, and I don’t have enough reference information about the Russian space program yet to know whether or not markings would have been present on the components portrayed by the kit. Basic painting instructions are included.

If you have an interest in real space kits, this is definitely one to get your hands on. Also, it makes a nice companion piece to the 1:24 scale Gemini kit issued by Revell a number of years ago.

The completed kit will be about 10.25 inches in overall length.

Review by: Rich “Lonewolf” Dula

Entry created: 08-27-11