I found the old 1975 release of Revell’s 1/96 Apollo-Soyuz kit in an LHS that specializes in old stuff, and picked it up for about $25 USD. I have no idea what this kit goes for these days, or if it’s a collector’s item, but I just had to grab it out of sheer nostalgia! I built that kit exactly 30 years ago, and I intend to build it again.
They had two versions of the kit there: the original Revell packaging, and the Japanese import version from Takara. Both feature basically the same boxes, with the Takara package having smaller original art and Revell logos, with everything printed in Japanese and the Takara logos added.
They were both the same price, so I went the the ol’ familiar Revell boxing from my youth.
Any comments or memories on this old kit? As I recall, it goes together easily…but that was 30 years ago, back when I didn’t give a flyin’ hoot about parting lines, seams, etc., etc. [:D]
I remember that event, I was a kid. I remember my best friend buying and building the kit - he had a much larger model budget/parents willing to spend. George built every space/sci-fi model he could get, and I sat back and just envied him all the models.
Being really “into space” myself, that was such an exciting thing to see on TV, and dream of being able to do.
The kit’s rather dinky, would be so much more fun in a larger scale, but I think the nostalgia and history alone should make it worth having.
And speaking of revisiting your youth, here’s a semi-related item: Space Odyssey. I restored it a couple of years ago. The picture was taken right after I got it running, and now there’s a Revell Apollo-Soyuz box on display on the top.
Ah, Nostalgia! Always best after a few drams of single malt scotch!
Something I found on another website:
I watched the first man on the moon, little did I realize that I also watched the last man on the moon! Brian, enjoy the build regardless of the scale or quality of the kit!
The Apollo Soyuz model is alive and well on Ebay. I’ve built a couple of them, they are not exactly accurate (the Apollo CSM is a block 1 the real one was a block 2) the Soyuz is depicted without any thermal blankets and the solar panels are cheezy.
It is still an interesting model and a must have in a collection, but I think it would be better as a 1/48 scale version…Hmmmmm.
The Revell Soyuz kit is the subject of an extensive build-up on Sven Knudsen’s site. This was the famous Smokin II project. There are extensive notes and amny photos on how to detail the kit.
