Moebius Models 1/9 Grandpa Munster Kit Build Review
by Steve Causey
| Date of Review | February 2014 | Manufacturer | Moebius Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grandpa Munster | Scale | 1/9 |
| Kit Number | 934 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | New-tool kit | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $34.99 |
Build Review
Being born in 1960, I grew up watching the Munsters and I loved the show. The interplay between Al Lewis (grandpa) and Fred Gwynne as Herman was very funny.
This new figure kit from Moebius captures some of the silly comedy between the two characters. It comes in six sprues of gray well-detailed styrene, a clear sprue of spider webs, and a length of vinyl tubing to connect this kit to the Herman Munster kit (sold separately).
Assembly begins with the figure and as I was dry fitting parts together, I was impressed by the very precise fit of the parts. Seam lines fall along hidden areas or in some cases, along clothing seams, making for a very good-looking image of grandpa. The only places I used any filler (Mr. Surfacer) was along the head of the figure's hairline, and in two spots on the hands. A larger easy to fill seam is where the swallowtails of the coat meet the coat itself. While fitting the figure together, I was struck by the way the figure's face really looks like actor Al Lewis. It adds a very nice precision to the kit, and it continually put a grin on my face.
I assembled the figure in sub assemblies and those assemblies fit well enough without glue that the figure can be put together and taken apart as needed to aid in painting. The instructions give a very good guide to the colors needed.
The kit includes a detailed base and a control panel with all kinds of dials to add to the display. The base fits together with the base included in the Herman kit. Painting the various dials and doo-dads on the control panel will test your masking/hand painting skills, but aside from the figure's face it is the only difficult part of the kit to paint. I ended up painting the face and hair of the figure twice before I was happy with the look. Having a very good likeness of the actual actor is both a blessing and a curse. I makes for a great looking finished kit, but getting the look just right can be a test of the painter's skills.
I really enjoyed building this kit, the fit was excellent and added to the ease of assembly. Highly Recommended!
My sincere thanks to Moebius Models for this review sample!