I just got one of these a few days ago. I was born in 1959, and I remember seeing the issue of "Life" magazine that it was featured in. I also had the "Major Matt Mason" version of this suit. Those accessories look fun, but they'll require a bit of "willing suspension of disbelief" to include. The Luna 2 was an actual Soviet satellite that became the first manmade object to reach the moon on September 13, 1959. But it didn't "soft land" as depicted in this model. It collected data on the way down, and was deliberately slammed into the Moon to create a dust cloud that could be seen by observatories on Earth to prove that it actually made it to the Moon. (I'll probably go with this option since it is a nice piece; even though the real one is in thousands of pieces . . . .) As a sidebar, I have vague memories of when this kit was first announced about 15 years ago showing it with the Soviet Luna 9 which did soft land on February 3, 1966. (Maybe Monarch thought that the earlier probe would fit better with the kit, since by 1966 the actual Lunar Suit hardware looked nothing like this Allyn B. Hazard proposal.) I agree that the little critter included for fun looks like a small version of the "mooncalf" featured in the 1964 movie, "First Men in the Moon," based on the H. G. Wells novel. This creature, along with the Selenites who were native to the Moon, were designed and stop-motion animated by Ray Harryhausen. (The fact that Monarch went to the trouble of doing the math to make this might suggest that they have a larger one planned for a upcoming model diorama based on the movie. But I guess we'll have to wait and see . . . .) Thanks for sharing this with us. 96th like.
Thank you for the unboxing and review, having been born in ‘64 I recall seeing this suit as part of the “Major Matt Mason” figures, and also appearing in the Time Life books about Spaceflight
Very cool 😎 modeling kit Ken. It would be a perfect addition to my Revell Apollo Moon Lander with astronauts and also with the Russian moon lander by Fantastic Plastic. This kit might be a bit pricey around $60 or $70 but it’s worth to save some money and hopefully I will get this kit very soon.
Great unboxing Ken. Always appreciate the superior work you do on your projects. There are many NASA films on you tube from the 60s chronicling the moon program buildup. I ran across one from around 1963 I believe that shows this suit as a working concept. Also anyone who remembers Major Matt Mason will also recognize this suit as one of the play sets.
Very interesting review Ken. Interesting about the use 3 on the box but the 8 decal. I suppose it gives you a choice. You can easily cut the 8 to make a 3
This reminds me of a video I seen about the British planning of a suit for when they where thinking of going to the moon. The British space suit looks like a Knight from medieval times. Maybe you can pitch to Monarch to make a kit of that awesome space suit
Thanks. Very interesting. A moon slug??? Feels like Kubrick was inspired by the shape of the suit. Have you seen the first Mattel Major Matt Mason Moon Suit?
I just got one of these a few days ago. I was born in 1959, and I remember seeing the issue of "Life" magazine that it was featured in. I also had the "Major Matt Mason" version of this suit. Those accessories look fun, but they'll require a bit of "willing suspension of disbelief" to include.
The Luna 2 was an actual Soviet satellite that became the first manmade object to reach the moon on September 13, 1959. But it didn't "soft land" as depicted in this model. It collected data on the way down, and was deliberately slammed into the Moon to create a dust cloud that could be seen by observatories on Earth to prove that it actually made it to the Moon. (I'll probably go with this option since it is a nice piece; even though the real one is in thousands of pieces . . . .)
As a sidebar, I have vague memories of when this kit was first announced about 15 years ago showing it with the Soviet Luna 9 which did soft land on February 3, 1966. (Maybe Monarch thought that the earlier probe would fit better with the kit, since by 1966 the actual Lunar Suit hardware looked nothing like this Allyn B. Hazard proposal.)
I agree that the little critter included for fun looks like a small version of the "mooncalf" featured in the 1964 movie, "First Men in the Moon," based on the H. G. Wells novel. This creature, along with the Selenites who were native to the Moon, were designed and stop-motion animated by Ray Harryhausen. (The fact that Monarch went to the trouble of doing the math to make this might suggest that they have a larger one planned for a upcoming model diorama based on the movie. But I guess we'll have to wait and see . . . .)
Thanks for sharing this with us. 96th like.
Thank you for the unboxing and review, having been born in ‘64 I recall seeing this suit as part of the “Major Matt Mason” figures, and also appearing in the Time Life books about Spaceflight
This reminds me of Major Matt mason. Thank you for sharing. Awesome review
Very cool 😎 modeling kit Ken. It would be a perfect addition to my Revell Apollo Moon Lander with astronauts and also with the Russian moon lander by Fantastic Plastic. This kit might be a bit pricey around $60 or $70 but it’s worth to save some money and hopefully I will get this kit very soon.
I’ve been looking forward to this one! Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the early look, Ken. Mine is on the way from culttvman! Such a quirky and impractical design, but that was the 60s!
Great unboxing Ken. Always appreciate the superior work you do on your projects. There are many NASA films on you tube from the 60s chronicling the moon program buildup. I ran across one from around 1963 I believe that shows this suit as a working concept. Also anyone who remembers Major Matt Mason will also recognize this suit as one of the play sets.
That kit is pretty cool not something you see everyday. Thanks for the review Ken.
I seem to remember Glenco Models having a Moon Suit kit way back in the '90s but it was hard to find. I gotta get this kit now.
Very interesting review Ken. Interesting about the use 3 on the box but the 8 decal. I suppose it gives you a choice. You can easily cut the 8 to make a 3
This reminds me of a video I seen about the British planning of a suit for when they where thinking of going to the moon. The British space suit looks like a Knight from medieval times. Maybe you can pitch to Monarch to make a kit of that awesome space suit
Thanks. Very interesting. A moon slug??? Feels like Kubrick was inspired by the shape of the suit.
Have you seen the first Mattel Major Matt Mason Moon Suit?
And, if I had watched all the way through before posting, I would've seen that you showed that picture! 🤣
Looks fun.
I see a new little bitty guy on the wall there!
Cut the 8 in half & you'll have two 3's though the white background may look unequivocal.
He is B-I-G! 1/8? 1/6?
1/10 scale