TAMASHII NATIONS Bandai Apollo 13 and Saturn V Launch Vehicle NASA Otona No Chogokin Rocket

I don't want to spoil this for you as it's one of those surprise christmas present to yourself moments when you get it out of the box. So i won't over kill you with details on every bit ... here were my initial impressions ...So you think apple packaged their goods well ? ... well Bandai did a wonderful job of packaging this baby ... you'll know what i mean.I got the Airfix kit out i built back when i was a teenager an still dreaming of being on a shuttle crew one day and there is no real comparison. You pay 10 times more for Bandai's tribute but you get 10 times more for your money.You save time and additional building costs compared to a kit for a start. You get awesome detail and extras like additions service modules and the sea king is fab.If you've got the larger Corgi version they brought out ... then you'll love the detail on the 1:144 dinky version.To clarify just a couple of issues some might have for this review ...1. Each stage is essentially plastic moulded around a metal die cast, hence each of the 2 primary stages has weight to them. Theplastic detail is way way above that of any model kit you've ever built (... google some images if you haven't already)2. To those like myself in the UK ... If buying from japan be prepared to add a third of the price you pay on top for import duty.Yep close to £300 i paid worked out close to £400 ... but i have no regrets given what i got for the money.

Straight from the get go you can tell the Bandai Apollo 13 is not a toy, it is a showpiece, just by looking at the packaging that this model comes in.The Bandai Otona No Chogokin Apollo 13 is an exquisitely detailed model standing around 2.5 feet tall when assembled. In the box you get all the major components of the Saturn V rocket, each separated including the interstages (first model I've had that include these as separates), two service modules (one "undamaged" for launch configuration and also a "damaged" one with the side panel missing and the internals showing as per the famous photograph taken by the crew showing the blown panel after separating from the service module just before re-entry).You also get two command modules, one for flight which sits on top of whichever service module you decide to use and one with the airbags deployed for the diorama that is included which details splashdown. Everything is astonishingly detailed even including the Sea King rescue chopper.Included in the box are multiple stands allowing you to either assemble the Saturn V as a full stack and display upright or you can display each part of the Saturn V as separate modules laying on it's side (like the actual remaining Saturn V's that are now displayed in museums in Florida, Huntsville etc.).The model itself is a mixture of plastic and metal and is very sturdy.If you have Bandai's first Apollo 11 model, is it worth getting this one? For the most part they are really the same, the differences are that with this one you get the extra "damaged" service module and the splashdown diorama replaces the moon landing diorama that came with the Apollo 11 model. Both will ultimately be collector pieces as both are limited supply editions (although Bandai have recently released another batch of the Apollo 11 model). Not too long ago these were going for north of $1000 on ebay.I have lots of models of Saturn V's, some larger, some smaller but none with the detail of this one. A definite showpiece.

It really is very nice, especially when compared to something as wrong as the Lego Saturn V, but... the detail is really lacking on the first stage engines, the command modules(s) fall right off, (a little magnet would have been good) the packaging is good but not great... with tax and shipping it was over $600, I feel pretty silly having blown that much money on this nerd toy. I must have been drunk when I clicked on it.

Expensive, but truly museum quality. Very impressive, if you're a vintage space geek like me. The packaging was superb, and the detail on the model was incredible. Easy to assemble, too. There are three command modules provided (Two clean, and one with post-re-entry color and inflated balloons for the recovery diorama). There are also three service modules provided (one showing the post-explosion damaged SM), but only one Lunar Module is provided. It would have been nice to have two LMs so that you could load one in the Saturn V, and use one for the docked CSM and LM display. Two other small negatives; the instructions and all literature are in Japanese only, and the Command Module does not snap in place to the Service Module, and is only held in place by the umbilical bracket, which acts as a hook on one side. You'll need to glue it if you want it to stay in place on the stand provided for displaying the CM/SM docked to the LM. Overall, very happy with the purchase.

This is the real deal. I'd seen unboxing videos for this product online, but was really not prepared for the experience once it arrived at my door. The precision and details of this model are unbelievable. The scale of it is incredible. It's an expensive model, but for the collector, and space enthusiast (like me) every penny is well spent. I can't say enough about the details. Instant joy as I look at it from across the room.

Only 1 issue I wish it had the spot lights like the shuttle model has other then that outstanding

Worth every penny. A lot of the reviewers criticize some minor errors made in getting the specific NASA engineering revisions for the flight configuration for the Apollo 13 specific stack. Some of these are the result of using the Apollo 11 tooling for the model. However, this is certainly the most detailed and feature-full model that I have ever seen. The various "extra" parts provide the ability of displaying the mission at several different points in the timeline, which makes it a good teaching tool as well as a great museum quality piece.