1:72 Saturn V Plastic Model Kit

From the concept introduction of C-1 rocket (later the Saturn I), to the successful flight test of AS-501 (Future Saturn V). For the purpose of building a powerful rocket to send mankind to the moon, many failures became mother and stepmother of the success of Apollo 11 during the race between the United States and the former USSR. Even at the ultimate cost of 3 precious lives.

Project Ranger, Surveyor, Mercury, Gemini...All for the preparation of the climax of the space race. Humankind prepared everything they can for training the astronauts.

Even when Apollo 11 was lifted off by the million-pound thrust Saturn V and successfully reached the moon orbit, everything was uncertain. For its G-mission being an attempted moon landing, no one would know if the attempt will be successful.

Therefore, countless people on the earth together with, the 2 brave astronauts experienced many profoundly affecting, soul-stirring, thrilling moments. 5 times of 1201 and 1202 alarms caused almost panics inside the Egale module. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had no idea what that was. The Eagle flew passed the designated touchdown area and had to keep flying while descending. The auto-navigation system did not provide much help, so they had to switch to manual to avoid many rough surfaces. 71 seconds before the final touchdown, the LM gave a fuel-low warning...

Finally, with the experienced command from Neil Armstrong, the Eagle landed safely with only 45 seconds of fuel remaining.

"Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed". The rest is written in history.

Everything we've worked so hard has been paid at this moment.

During the last 24 hours, over 650 million people watched the live coverage and experienced the first of mankind together with the Apollo 11 astronauts. Anxiety, nervousness, and happiness were blended altogether in this short 24 hours and sublimated into a new, extra-celestial mankind.

As engraved into the plaque of the landing leg on the Eagle LM:

HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH

FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON

JULY 1969 A. D.

WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.

Dragon Models issued a masterpiece in its Space Collection series: A Saturn V/Apollo 11-combined 1:72 model kit. The 2019 50th Anniversary of the first moon landing had a major improvement on top of the 2013 version.

Instruction of Assembly:

There are not many of pages in this instruction booklet. However, if one is careful enough to notice the difference: The panel labeling is not sequential as the previous products. For example, Panel A occurred 3 times. There are A, a, and light-colored A (maybe red if its in a color). The same applied to other letter series. From the initial analysis, the probably cause is the compatibility issues with other published Apollo model kits, causing a conflict after this issuance of the Saturn V.

Due to the fact explained above, this article will omit all panel numbers and letters but uses the configuration and construction of the rocket instead. We suggest the kit assemblers to follow the same to avoid any confusion. Thus, it can also impress oneself more thoroughly.

Pictures above are the main parts of the rocket fuselage. The smooth surface splits in half to be assembled and the grooved parts are in its entirety.

External panel covering and first stage stabilizers are on this kit.

Third stage engine nozzle has the similar looking but different in size compared to the massive F-1 main engine. The most complex part to be assembled is the S-CI F-1 engine and is the externally visible part after the final assembly. These parts are modeled in burnt iron color.

Kit of the lunar module descent and ascent stage. These kits are also sold separately in another package. This is the only aircraft that is designed without the consideration of aerodynamics because it is never designed to be flown in atmosphere conditions. During Apollo 13 mission, this module served as a "lifeboat" of the 3 crews onboard. Like Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in Motion Picture Apollo 13) said "I don't care what it is designed to do. I only care what it can do.

Finally, let's take a look into its details. Except for some fraying issues, the whole kits are very much down to the details. The rivets are very exaggeratedly expressed according to 1:72 standards. However, because it is a massive rocket, it is acceptable.

Summarization

As a newly modeled kit developed by Dragon Models in 2013, the assembled product stands at 5ft tall. This is not only the product in the market but also comprehensively included everything in the Saturn V vehicle sets. The main structures are on point with fine details ready for the closest examinations. It is a relatively easy assembly, yet also considered some expert kit assemblers.

However, because the kit panels were derived from another kit set, some parts have compatibility issues. Nevertheless, the overall looking of the product is a precious collection of one's home.

Assembly Process

The beginning of all rockets is from the bottom, including this one. As stated previously, Smooth surface fuselage is cut in half so one have to use adhesive glue. The massive size can be mistakenly identified as a 1:72 aircraft hangar.

One thing to notice is that there are several fuel lines lays externally along the fuselage. The instructions stated holes have to be drilled by professional tools. One can drill prematurely but has to identify the correct location (Apollo 11 - 17 all have different configurations. The kits included all variations). Stage I rocket "wielding area" can be protected from this fuel line but for the purpose of smoothing out, professional filing was applied after the application of adhesive glue.

Likewise, the Stage II fuselage are assembled in the same fashion. The stage assemblies gave a very well feeling. The resistance was adequate. The only problem was the grooved connection are mis-aligned. However, it does not affect the overall appearance.

Due to its massive size, a graffiti-style paint method was used. Although the kit came primarily in white, if one wants the final product to appear as realistic as possible, he/she must apply additional paintings to make it more like real paint. A grey primer followed by 2 cans of white was spent in this project.

After the finishing complete on the white paint, a color separation was needed. For the purpose of auto-focusing of the ground camera, the rocket was painted in black and white. One thing to notice here is that there is a discrepancy between Dragon model provided instruction booklet and the real rocket. One shall use real photos to refer the stabilizers at the bottom of the rocket (e.g. A, B, C, D corresponds to 4 stabilizers. The gaps between these 4 stabilizers corresponds to 1, 2, 3, and 4). Everything above the bottom is to be referenced by these numbers and letters (especially 2nd and 3rd stage orientation). Tape covering must be applied in a waterproof fashion. Otherwise, paint will be slipped away.

The black paint still took a good quantity of the paint and is no less work than the white one.

The assembly of the 3rd stage and Apollo 11. Black and silver paint were applied multiple times to prevent light escaping. However, did you know that there is one that is still in orbit? That one is the Apollo 12 S-IVB third stage. The stage was intended to be injected into a permanent heliocentric orbit in November 1969 but is now believed instead to have gone into an unstable high Earth orbit which left Earth's proximity in 1971 and again in June 2003, with an approximately 40-year cycle between heliocentric and geocentric orbit. J002E3 is an object in space which is thought to be the S-IVB third stage of the Apollo 12 Saturn V rocket.

So far, the massive chunk of the whole thing can be put aside for a while. Now is the assembly of the Apollo 11. There is a small bug in the instruction booklet. The color of the command module and service module were mixed mistakenly. Command module is more mirror-reflective (perhaps the prevention of the radiation from Van Allen belt). The service module has less chromium looking.

Carto's water decal has a high quality, as always. All stencils were given with the highest imprint details. Try to use real pictures because instruction booklet has some minor errors. It took almost no time to apply all decals.

Finally, the most excited part of the project, the F-1 engine assembly. The real engine has much more detail but will be a disaster for amateur assemblers. Some efforts will be needed to assemble due to its irregular shape, so some filing is needed.

Overall summarization:

This is one-of-a-kind model kit. Collectors must have one in his/her display closet.

Pros: The exterior shape, details and the omittance of details are adequate. A very moderate assembly difficulty. The most challenging part is the massive size and overall workload. Most of the piece assembly are well designed and illustrated clearly.

Cons: Instruction booklets are not ideal for easily spacial-disorientated assemblers. Some historical details could be further verified.

Thanks for reading.