AOSHIMA H-IIB SPACE LAUNCHER KIT

ROCKET REVIEW BY MAT IRVINE

Give that the H-IIB launch rocket is the mainstay of Japan’s satellite launch industry it’s somewhat surprising that there has been no kit of it before - this kit from Aoshima is a first.

Small scale

The H-IIB is number four in the Aoshima ‘Space Craft Series’, and is produced in a small 1:350 scale. Even so, the kit still makes up into a comprehensive model with several interesting features. The pic above shows H-IIB with clear sections. Inside these are the rocket stage and H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV).

Clear and white runners, as supplied in bags. Note the small decal sheet in the clear bag on the right. Only two components - the third stage and payload shroud - are moulded in both white and clear plastic. 

What’s in the box?

You get two runners, one in white styrene with 34 parts, the other in clear with 22, and you can build up the rocket to be displayed in four ways. The H-IIB is not a difficult kit to build, and it’s likely you’ll have more difficulty deciding which way it will be displayed than actually building it. 

Paint choices

However, the paint scheme is slightly more taxing. Aoshima recommends Gunze Sangyo paint, which although available in the West, are less common than Humbrol, Testors, Revell-Germany, or even Aoshima’s Japanese stablemate, Tamiya. Because of this some compromises were made, and in the end I used colours from the Testors range, including Competition Orange and Metallic Platinum. Humbrol was used for Satin Black.

The box side panel (below) shows some of the display options.

Multi-finish launcher

The rocket is finished in mainly white, orange and gold, though two other shades are needed - black, and a dark coppery-orange. This affects mostly the main rocket structure, while the four strap-on boosters are fortunately plain white - it’s easiest to leave these off and paint them separately. The H-IIB’s third stage and payload components are supplied in clear plastic as well as white, so you can build these up without paint.

Another display option (below) holds the rocket at an angle, traditionally the sort of attitude you see used for model aircraft stands.

H-II Transfer Vehicle

The clear parts can then take the HTV, used Japan’s JAXA Space Agency to resupply the International Space Station. The illustrations also indicate that the HTV and its orbital rocket stage can be displayed separately - so maybe making for a fifth option!

Exhaust flame stand

So the Aoshima H-IIB model can be displayed in three basic ways, plus variations.  It can be set on the supplied base, standing vertically. Or it can be mounted on the additional stand that displays the rocket at approximately 10 percent from the horizontal. And  thirdly, and perhaps the most interestingly, the H-IIB can be displayed atop a simulated lift-off rocket blast exhaust liftoff (above), and this option is built up from many of the supplied clear parts. These obviously need colouring with suitable ‘rocket exhaust’ effects, and clear paints are the best here, with both Humbrol and Tamiya making examples in their respective tinlets and bottles. Some colours are also available in Testors clear ranges, including aerosols.

Bigger kit please

In all, this is an intriguing model, and my only comment really is that it’s a pity that Aoshima couldn’t have made the kit bigger - it measures just 160 mm (6.25 in) long. It would be so impressive in the far more common 1:144 space launcher scale.

Thanks to Hobby Link Japan for the review kit.

More rocketry available here.

  

SPACEX LAUNCHES DRAGON TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

SMN REPORT:

News that the US company SpaceX successfully launched its Dragon space capsule, which is now on course for a test rendezvous with the ISS International Space Station makes us smile. And of course, it opens the door to the model-making wish-list.

Elon Musk of SpaceX with the Falcon 9 launcher that carried Dragon to orbit.

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST

We’re waiting for an injection kit of the Dragon capsule, or even a ready-built will do. Both preferably in two scales: 1:72 and 1:48. The smaller scale can include the Falcon 9 booster, the bigger one with detailed inside features - in both cargo and future crewed versions please, complete with a lineup of seven scale astronauts, in seated positions and a standing set too. There's more - let's be honest and say we’d also like to see a superdetail 1:24 cutaway kit. Come on, Revell - or more logically kit-maker Dragon, as the real thing’s your namesake.

QUESTION OF SIZE

Wish list over, we think these scale comparisons are absolutely fascinating, especially the one (above) that includes the Federation Starship Enterprise. Oh yes, and there's the Skylon, an ongoing UK project that's based not too far from the newly-relocated SMN Towers. Excellent graphics here, courtesy astrochemist Markus Hammonds, link below.

DRAGON FLIGHT PROFILE

Meantime, the Dragon capsule (below) has its electricity-generating solar panels spread, and is slowly overhauling the ISS, with close encounter scheduled for May 24. If all goes well with test manoeuvres, Dragon will be captured by the Space Station’s robotic arm, and brought in for docking - then the ISS crew will be able to unload half a tonne of cargo onboard the Dragon. Two weeks after that, Dragon will detach, targeting a parachute splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. 

More on SpaceX and Dragon here.

Flying scale rockets here.

Non-flying rocket kits here.

Markus Hammonds here.

LEGO IN SPACE - ASTRONAUT BUILDS MODEL ISS IN ORBIT

SMN report:

After posting news on LEGO’s upcoming R2D2 last week, we were sent a link to LEGO in space, for real this time. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) recently assembled a one-off model as part of an education linkup between the space agency NASA and the Danish LEGO company.

Japanese space builder

Building a Lego model in the weightless conditions of the ISS wasn’t exactly child’s play, as untended bricks would float around, free to clog up vital vents and hatches. Also, plastics can be a fire-risk, especially if they drift close to warm machinery. So, the solution adopted by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa was to build the biggish - 600 mm (24 in) - Lego ISS using a scientific glovebox. Inside the transparent walls of the box went the Lego bricks, while Furukawa built his model using special manipulator gloves, a bit like the Marigolds used for kitchen sink washing-up duties.

Floating away

Furukawa managed to complete the Lego build in only two hours or so - a far cry from the dozen years the real thing took to assemble. Mind you, the ISS is nearly 110 m (360 ft) long and took the combined efforts of a dozen countries to put together! When the model was built, Furukawa took it out of the glovebox and used it in a series of educational videos, beamed down to school classrooms back on Earth. 

Fragile model

The finished model floated about nicely in the micro-gravity environment of the ISS, but was a fragile thing that would have not have survived a return to Earth, where it would most likely have collapsed under the gravity pull here. After the show was over, Furukawa took the ISS model apart, and stored the pieces safely away.

More models

The ISS was just one of a number that Furukawa built in orbit. He also built Lego models of Moon and Mars rovers, the Hubble Space telescope, and a GPS satellite. Lego has a strong presence with its Space range, and it’s worth having a look, especially if you know some younger space enthusiasts.

Summation

The mini-ISS was a one-off model, designed for the NASA-Lego linkup, and it’s a pity that Lego don’t do an Earth-gravity version. The best bet if you want a decent model of the ISS comes from Revell, which makes a 1:144 scale version, shown below. 

Visit the Lego space collection here.

Heaps of Lego space stuff here.

Revell 1:144 scale ISS here.

Heads-up on LEGO in space courtesy Martin Postranecky, University College, London.

SPACE-X IS TEN YEARS OLD - AND NOW TAKING US BEYOND THE SHUTTLE ERA

SMN report from David Jefferis:

SpaceX is the sort of company that brings a smile to the face of many a space buff. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, who set the company up a decade ago in 2002, SpaceX has gone from strength to strength. Right now, SpaceX is aiming to make the first commercial flight to the International Space Station, using its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule combo. And guess what? There’s a model rocket available from SpaceX that you can build and fly.

Amazon supply details

First things first: the only supplier we know of at the moment is Amazon, and they don’t mail the SpaceX rocket  to all countries, so x-fingers you live in an approved locale. Even so, it’s an interesting item, and at about $30 USD, pretty fairly priced, too. When assembled, the kit measures 580 mm (22.8 in) high, equating to 1:88 scale. 

Building the beast

Assembly is very simple, and it’s compatible with Estes model rocketry products, which is a high recommendation, as this writer has flown many an Estes rocket off the pad, and it’s huge fun, even if you do stand to lose the occasional model. 

What a choice

I recall one successful launch, moments after which my partner of the time decided that she was about to have our baby! Suffice to say, the last I knew of that camera-equipped beauty was the sight of it drifting under its parachute, far away into the January mist, never to be seen again. I didn't have to time to fret about it though - after a speedy dash to hospital, I helped the midwife deliver a beautiful baby daughter!

Static or flight mode

Back to the SpaceX kit. You can build it static or flying - it’s your choice, and a parachute is included for flight recovery. Non-scale, but necessary for model flying are the transparent tailfins, which you can leave off if you decide on a static display model.

Summation

A great idea from a pioneering company, and good news for us that SpaceX is into the model spacecraft game. If the SpaceX Falcon-Dragon kit raises some cash to help US astronauts return to the space race, so much the better. 

Humans in space

The Dragon capsule has been designed from the start as a human-rated spacecraft. If all goes well, after a number of trial cargo flights, it’ll take over from the old Space Shuttles, to ferry US astronauts to the International Space Station.

Target: new worlds

There’s more - Elon Musk is thinking long, with eventual aims to shoot for the Moon and Mars. And a developed version of today’s Dragon capsule could make that first touchdown on the distant Red Planet. 

SpaceX at Amazon here.

Estes rockets here.

Assorted space stuff here.

Visit the Lower Hudson Valley E-Gift Shop for a feast of paper model rocketry here.

Good stuff at The Rocketry Blog here.

This pic shows the planned Falcon landing system in use. Art courtesy the talented Stanley Von Medvey, whose blog is here.

1:10 SCALE ISS SPACESUIT KIT FROM BANDAI

Mat Irvine reports:

Factual space modelmakers are having a rather good time of it at the moment, with reissued Apollo kits from Revell, updated launchers from Airfix, brand new kits from Aoshima and Dragon - and now Bandai have released this fascinating 1:10 scale ISS Spacesuit kit, featuring the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU).

Acronym heaven

Made to 1:10 scale, the Bandai ‘Exploring Lab’ kit provides the EMU suit, occupied by an International Space Station (ISS)  astronaut, plus the end-section of the robotic Canadarm with foot restraint, named in typical NASA acronym fashion, the Articulated Portable Foot Restraint (APFR). Most of the near-200 parts in the kit are moulded in white, with some in silver, some flesh, and some grey. There is also a black runner of vinyl parts that are mostly push-connectors, to allow limb movements. Clear parts make up the base, and helmet glass, and lastly, there’s a single gold-plated helmet sunvisor component.

LEDs add a glow

A nice touch is that the EMU lights up, as Bandai supplies two LEDs to fit in the lamp units either side of the astronaut’s head. These need three button batteries for power, and fit in the suit’s backpack. So, snap off the lights off in your display zone for an atmospheric model display. Fitting at the base of the backpack is the Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER) unit (another acronym!) which is in effect a cut-down Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU) that can be used to steer a safe return if the astronaut loses grip with the foot restraint. Two sheets of decals are provided, though these are the peel-off/stick-on type, not the more conventional waterslide variety.

Excellent instructions

The Bandai assembly booklet runs to 20 pages, and although the majority of written instructions are in Japanese, it uses detailed illustrations, so assembly should be straightforward. Colour photographs show the finished model, and the real EMU for extra detailing. The only slight compromise is the fact that the limbs articulate, which leaves somewhat non-scale areas around knees and elbows, but this is a small price to pay, and if you were really worried, the joints could be blended in for a fixed figure position.

Bandai background - kits or ready-builts?

This is an interesting departure of Bandai, as, although the company has been a major player in model kits since the early days of the Japanese kit industry, in recent years it has cut back on traditional construction kits, bar a multitude of robots. Instead, Bandai has gone into producing ready-made scale models, excellently done, but obviously no good for those of us who actually want to build something. This change has become so ingrained, that when the EMU was first announced, we assumed it was a ready-built model. But it isn’t - it’s a kit and a very detailed kit at that! 

Summation

All in all, a very intriguing model that I will build in the hopefully not too distant future. Watch this space for future reports.

Thanks to Hobby Link Japan for the sample kit.

More space kits here.

Trip back in time

And how about this for an old-vs-new comparison? It's a detailed drawing made more than half a century ago by Frank Hampson, creator of the classic British comic strip Dan Dare 'Pilot of the Future'. Hampson still stands among the all-time greats for his prescient work.

SPACE - CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT

Mat Irvine reports on a magabook for space fans

Space is a colourful new release from Key Publishing, the outfit behind the recently-launched Airfix Model World magazine. Space is written by David Baker, a well-known space writer, as well as once being a NASA space scientist.

Chronicle of the high frontier

Space has 134 full-colour detail-packed pages, so there is much to pore over. Information includes details of space exploration - early American rocket plane flights, the launch of Sputnik 1 and the Space Race, if it ever was one, between the US and Soviet Union. The latter certainly took an early lead, with Yuri Gagarin’s historic orbital flight of 12 April 1961, even if the Americans were not far behind with the Mercury capsule program. 

Later missions covered

Space goes on to chart the later missions from both nations, culminating with Apollo and the Moon landings, then goes on to Skylab of 1973, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project of 1975. The Space Shuttle is, not surprisingly, well covered, though somewhat ironically Shuttle flights end later this year, after three decades of missions. Space features separate sections on the Hubble Space Telescope, Mir, and the International Space Station, finishing with a brief look at what the future could bring.

Useful information

For space modellers, the book is definitely worth a look, as the pages are packed from cover to cover with excellent pictures. And these can form an excellent reference file for adding those extra detail and weathering touches. 

Vostok kit in 1:144 scale

The only solid reference to modelling in Space is a passing one, with the back cover advertising five recent Airfix space kits. But as you’ll note from the pic above, the ad’s lead item is Yuri Gagarin’s Vostok, made to 1:144 scale. Watch this space for a closer look at this very interesting kit.

Space makes a solid ‘curl up with a book’ choice. It is available from magazine stores, price £4.99 GBP ($13.95 CAN)

The pictures show, top to bottom:

1  The cover of Space features a suited astronaut with the Moon behind.

2  Double page spreads are packed with pictures and reading matter. This one features the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission.

3  The Mir space station spread highlights the visit by UK astronaut, Helen Sharman.

4  Back cover showing recent Airfix space issues.

REVELL INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TO 1:144 SCALE

David Jefferis reports
Science fiction enthusiasts are pretty well catered for by the toy and model industries - from Star Wars to Iron Man, the choice of available subjects, in both and ready-built form, is nearly endless. But it’s not such good news for ‘real space’ enthusiasts, and especially not from the main manufacturers. Would that the likes of Airfix produced a ‘Man in Space’ set, with a 1:72 scale range of US and Russian capsules, plus a lineup of astronuats and cosmonauts standing by them. Hey ho, there’s a dream that’ll never happen, but Revell’s International Space Station (ISS) kit does at least offer a taster for the real space modeller.

Moving solar panels
Even to the relatively small 1:144 scale, the Revell ISS assembles into an impressive beast, with the huge solar panel arrays giving the model an overall size of 745 mm x 500 mm (29.3 in x 19.7 in). Like those on the real thing, they are moveable, though you probably won’t want to shift them much - the model is more than a little delicate, even when perched on its rectangular stand. This neat component comes in a charcoal shade, but will look even better if you paint the Earth hemisphere in the middle blue and white; then the ISS can float proudly atop the lot, supported on a set of slim aluminium legs.

Miniature astronauts
The Revell ISS kit contains 183 components, which include all the dozens of panels, modules, platforms and robot arms (three of them) that make up the real thing orbiting high overhead as I write this. The Revell ISS also comes with two Russian Soyuz space capsules, and a trio of 13 mm (0.5 inch) spacewalking astronauts.

Space Shuttle add-on
Now, this will represent the ISS in operational configuration after 2011 or so, because the US Space Shuttle’s last few missions are due to be flown during the coming months. But, because the Shuttle has been the main cargo hauler for ISS assembly, it seems a shame not to have one on display, in addition to those far smaller Soyuz spacecraft. It’ll also make an even more impressive space display piece, but for that, you’ll have to obtain another kit, and handily, it’s one that Revell also supplies. The Revell 1:144 scale Space Shuttle comes in ‘full stack’ mode - that is, with external tank and solid boosters, standing atop the huge hauler-transporter used to take it from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad.

The ISS is a must-have kit for space modelmakers, while adding a Shuttle will make for a spectacular piece that shows off what will soon be a page of spaceflight history.


The pictures show, top to bottom:
1 Revell 1:144 scale Iinternational Space Station.
2  Revell 1:144 scale Space Shuttle Full Stack.
3  An ISS book I wrote a while ago, with excellent graphics by Sebastian Quigley. You can buy it here.
      
There's more info at Revell here.

You can buy the ISS here, though it’s worth pointing out that the one review reveals a buyer unhappy with missing parts and a damaged box, so as the review states: ‘Caveat Emptor’.

Buy the Space Shuttle here.

SPACE SHUTTLE PAPER MODELS

With the Space Shuttle docked with the International Space Station (ISS) it’s a record-breaking period for people in orbit at the same time, with both crews able to share the linked spacecraft.

If you are a Space Shuttle model builder then here’s a site to visit - AXM Paper Space Scale Models features downloadable plans to make various paper models. They range from the Shuttle itself to 1:144 scale, various payloads, different versions of the crawler-transporter, and an ISS to 1:100 scale. Even better, many are free.

Visit AXM Paper Space Scale Models here.