Moebius Models 1/128 Seaview Kit First Look

by Michael Benolkin

First Look

Four years ago, Moebius Models released their much-anticipated kit of the submarine Seaview in 1/128 scale (which translates to a model length of 37 inches). That kit represented the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea television series version from season two and beyond ( look here). In short-hand, that submarine was the 'four-window version' that also had the bay for the flying sub in the underside of the bow.

Well Moebius Models is back with the movie (or eight window version) of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea submarine Seaview featuring lots of new tooling. This was also the configuration for the first television season of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Molded in light gray styrene, this kit is presented on 13 parts trees plus the forward and rear hull halves and the underside of the bow provided separately.

So what's different about this kit? Quite a bit actually. Where the TV version had the four windows in the bow, this one has eight as seen in the movie. The TV version had the flying submarine bay under the bow, the movie version doesn't. The TV version had single deck observation area and flying sub access followed by a visible control room inside the bow. The movie version has a more elaborate observation lounge with a balcony from the upper deck and the spiral ladder. The control room wasn't open to the lounge area in the movie configuration. The two bulges on either side of the bow in the TV version didn't exist in the movie version. Where the additional action on the TV version revolved around the flying sub and the diving bell, the movie version fired a Polaris nuclear missile. All of this is captured in this new release and more.

Assembly of this kit will be easier than the first release as Moebius has engineered an interesting alignment system into the hull halves to make the kit literally drop together. When I dry-fit the forward hull halves, the system was quickly apparent and I used some masking tape to show how well the hull goes together. Without the extra steps of the flying sub and its launch bay, this kit goes together rather quickly with most of the painting details focused on the observation lounge that will be visible through those eight windows. I imagine some lighting kits will come available for this version though you can adapt the ones produced for the first Seaview as well.

One additional option provided in this kit is the Polaris missile. One launch tube hatch is molded separately and can be posed open or closed. If open, the kit provides the missile with a set of clear parts representing the air trail from the cold launch out of the tube and the ignition of the motor as it rises to the surface.

As usual, Moebius provides painting instructions for the various parts of the kit in a master table that provides the color and the associated Testors Model Master and Testors Acryl paints. It wouldn't hurt to do some 'research' and watch the movie to get a better idea of the colors and details of the Seaview before embarking on the build.

This is another outstanding release from Moebius Models and their continued creativity continues to amaze me as they bring more of our favorite movies and television series to life in model kits. Thank you Moebius Models!

For a look at this kit built-up, look here.

My sincere thanks to Moebius Models for this review sample!