Polar Lights Jetsons' Spaceship Build Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | March 2004 | Manufacturer | Polar Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Jetson's Spaceship | Scale | 1/25 |
| Kit Number | 6810 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Simple construction, fast build, pre-painted figures | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
The Kit
When I saw this kit at one of the hobby shows, I was fascinated with how well done the pre-painted figures looked. When I spotted the kit in my local hobby shop and saw how inexpensive it was, it came home with me. This project came in handy as a way to break the periodic modeling log jam that comes from wondering what to build next or recovering from a last project.
The exterior of the vehicle was sprayed with Alclad aluminum to see how it would look as more of a UFO. While the Alclad looked great, I decided to push the envelope a bit and spray the Alclad Prismatic color (red/green) over the aluminum. The instructions would have you use a dark color to get better contrast (and they are correct) but in sunlight, the subtle color shade changes from moving around the model were cool.
Aside from the figures, the kit is molded in bright green with the exception of the clear dome that encloses the vehicle and a clear "puff" of exhaust for the rear of the vehicle. Comprising of around 20 parts (and five figures), this kit will go together nicely with no paint in just a few minutes. Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone.
Assembly literally did go very quickly as the model is well-designed and is simplicity at its finest. I did paint the clear base and the clear puff of smoke with Tamiya Smoke. I then applied a black wash to the lunar surface of the base to improve the contrast, then completed the process by using a red paint stick to paint the Jetsons' logo.
I painted the interior floor a darker green and the seats light brown. I applied a black wash to the seat seams to bring out more contrast. The control yoke was painted blue per the instructions (Why? I have no idea).
Conclusion
This was a fun build that would actually be far more fun with a young aspiring modeler or two. If ever there was a nice looking entry-level model that is fun for kids (and for those of us who grew up on the Jetsons), you can't beat the quality and price!