Moebius Models 1/6 Robot B9 Kit First Look

by Michael Benolkin

First Look

Lost in Space was a television series that first aired in 1965 and ran three seasons. Based upon the old comic book series 'Space Family Robinson', this series centered around a family of scientists who launched into space in 1997 to find a new planet to colonize as relief for an overpopulated Earth. The Jupiter 2 spacecraft runs into trouble during its pilot episode marooning its occupants in uncharted space.

Moebius Models has been taking all of us that grew up on the original TV series (plus those who experienced them as reruns) back to that time with the release of a number of iconic kits including the Jupiter 2, the Chariot, and the Space Pod. Here's their latest work of art, the B9 robot. 'Danger Will Robinson!'

The box is large as you might expect from a 1/6 scale figure but as you can see, the kit isn't really complex. Molded in light gray styrene, this kit is presented on eight parts trees (duplicates not shown) plus six separate parts for the torso, three trees of clear parts, eight nicely gray-molded vinyl parts, and three photo-etched grilles.

The designers made this kit so younger modelers can build it (with some supervision) though I mark the skill level at 'experienced' because of the need for cyano to mount the photo-etched grilles and the care needed to glue together the clear parts without ruining them. The designers also made this kit with some nice features to make assembly and display fun:

• Detailed interior of head inside head dome
• Head can be rotated independent of body
• Choice of retracted or extended arms
• Claws snap onto arms and arms snap onto torso which means you can change arms at a later date
• Soil sampler can be positioned extended or stowed
• Torso can be rotated independent of legs

If ever there was a model that was made to be lit up, this kit is it. The designers made it easy to run wires and fiber-optics throughout the body as well as plenty of room inside the torso or tracked feet to stow circuit cards. Since there is a lighting kit on the market for the smaller Polar Lights Robot kit, this is no-doubt adaptable to this kit though I'm sure we'll see other aftermarket options in our future.

This is a great looking kit that I can't wait to build, but in the meantime, check out Steve Causey's build review. Now if only Moebius Models will produce a matching 1/6 scale Robby to go with this B9.

My sincere thanks to Moebius Models for this review sample!