Pegasus Hobbies 1/350 Cosmostrator Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | December 2018 | Manufacturer | Pegasus Hobbies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Cosmostrator | Scale | 1/350 |
| Kit Number | 9114 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | First kit of this classic spacecraft | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $27.95 |
First Look
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Unless you're a hardcore science fiction buff who also enjoys international films, you might have missed the 1960 movie "First Spaceship on Venus" that was produced in East Germany and Poland, and a few years later released in English. Over the years, this movie had been all-but-forgotten, but you can see it on a variety of platforms (for free) like this one. In short, a 'black box' is uncovered in the Gobi desert that came from a crashed spacecraft not from Earth. Scientists trace its origin to Venus, and a spaceflight that was scheduled for Mars is instead directed to investigate. Their spacecraft, the Cosmostrator, is ready to fly at the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the story goes from there. The story is interesting and the special effects weren't bad for the 1960s.
Pegasus Hobbies has been turning out a variety of kits from classic science fiction movies like When Worlds Collide, War of the Worlds (old and new versions), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and more. With recent releases including the Luna (Destination Moon) and Rocketship X-M (movie with the same name), it is no surprise to see this classic design also released as an injection-molded kit. Molded in gray plastic, this kit is presented on three parts trees plus the main fuselage halves, and one small clear part for the top of the rocket. Assembly is relatively straightforward and you'll want to take your time on the seams as this bird is metallic in finish.
It isn't surprising that this kit isn't very detailed given that the movie rocket was seen only at a distance, and it isn't a good candidate for lighting since the only visible light seen from this craft is the lighthouse rotating beacon near the top of the nose. Given that we don't have such a lighting effect available that can fit inside that small area in the nose, this one is best left dark.
If you're looking for a fast and fun project, these classic movie rocketships are just what you're looking for! I purchased mine from CultTVman Hobby Shop.