This kit brings me WAY back in time. The original was the first model kit I ever got. I was probably 7 or 8 at the time, and talked my Mom into getting it for me at a little Mom & Pop store - DeVita's Dept. Store.
The model is a re-pop from Round 2, and is in a copy of the original Hawk box. There was a sticker on the plastic I saved saying "Available for the first time since 1966."Knowing what the real Vanguard looked like, I wondered why the kit was done this way. It only too me 50+ years to read the box where it says
" The model represents the first of these larger (20 in. diameter)operational Vanguard satellites that was launched on April 28, 1958. However it failed to achieve orbit..."So what we know of the successful satellite was the "minimal 6.3" satellite. And by doing the math the scale of this model is 1:3 scale.
I started the assembly with the central core, and then not sure of the opening size, I started painting the different parts up separately.
I was trying to put this part off as the center curved section was very flimsy, but had to go for it./ I had to add my own tabs from little bits of styrene ti firm up the joint. Some can be seen inside.
While the glued sections were setting up I started painting the little experiment stripes on the center core.
With the seam glued up, I sanded and sanded to get the smoothest transition I could. I was about 75% successful, so I taped a little border and then added Tamiya putty to get rid of the seam line.
On the bottom you can see I added the clear dome, and glued that in place. I taped over the clear plastic, so I don't scratch it up. It's sitting on its provided base.
In the back I added a few more colors to the core. All I need there are two stripes of yellow. But that's for next time. Thanks for looking.
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