I have always been interesting in space and astronomy, and have been wanting to build a Saturn V rocket since I was a kid. The two options in 1/144 scale (which is still huge, creating a model around a metre in length!) are by Revell and Airfix. Both kits are old, and lacking on detail and have issues that will need correcting to create an accurate representation of the the Saturn V rockets, especially if you are wanting to building the Apollo 11 rocket – or any of the other Apollo missions that took man to the moon.
Buy the Revell Saturn V 1/144 scale model kit on Amazon
The kit I have reviewed and built is the Revell 1/144 Saturn V, reference 04909.
The model is made in such a way that each of the various stages can be separated, including opening the petals to reveal the Lunar Lander itself. What’s more, this can then connect to the nose of the Command Module. This is great for not only adding “play value” to the model, but really excels if the rocket is to be used as an educational tool, as the whole process of launch to splash-down can be illustrated.
Unfortunately this has reduced the realism of the model – especially on the internal detail where fixings have been added and alterations made to allow for this. Shockingly, one stage has a large hole in the top of the oxidiser tank to allow for the rocket nozzle of the stage above to fit. The internal detail, especially of the rocket nozzles themselves is massively lacking – some of the rocket engines are just plain plastic cones attached to a flat plate with no attempt at detail made what so ever!
This really means that the modeller has to make some choices in their build:
- Build “out of the box” and keep the functionality, perhaps adding some additional detail
- Build as a single unit, ignoring the internal detail and focusing on the main external detail, and permanently join (including filling and sanding the gaps) of the sections together.
- Build as separate sections that are permanent displayed apart (like the Saturn V on display at Cape Canaveral) , allowing the modeller to really go to town on the detailing of all parts
The ridges round the stages are more steps (almost like a circle cross-section was drawn on an 8-bit computer), this was obviously done to make tooling quicker and easier, but does mean the angles, shapes and sizes of the ridges changes around the circumference. A modeller going for maximum detail may wish to remove the moulded ridges and replace with plastic strip. (That would be a long and tedious task though!) And it goes without saying that the rocket engines will need a lot of work (hardly any detail, large seem lines and even kit part numbers moulded into the internal cone.
The reason for the limitations and corrections needed is because the mouldings of the kit are mid-60’s, pre-dating the actual Apollo 11 moon launch – no doubt to be in the shops prior to the launch itself to cash in on the space race. This means that the actual rocket is based on the Saturn V prototypes, and not the actual moon rockets. In reality this doesn’t make too much difference (only minor tweaks would be on the Command Module part).
However, the main issue comes when painting. Despite the model being in production for over 50 years Revell haven’t bothered to update the painting and decal instructions. The paint guide is for the prototype Saturn V’s, NOT the ones that actually carried man to the moon. The main difference is the black lines and band on the first stage. It was found that under the Florida sun the black painted areas were heating too much, so the scheme was modified to reduce the amount of black and increase the white.
There are also minor differences between the Saturn V’s of all the Apollo missions (both externally and internally – such as colours of bulkheads and tanks) so it is worth checking photographs of the rocket you intent to build, and ignoring Revell’s paint guide. This applies to the decal too.
Whatever way you choose to model the kit you will end up with an impressive model, but it’s a shame that Revell haven’t updated the kit over the years. It would be quite simple for them to tool a sprue of more detailed F1 main engines, and I’m surprised they haven’t. It is frankly shocking that they haven’t bothered to update the painting guide, as surely that would be a very quick (and cheap!) fix that would enable them to market it as the Apollo 11 Saturn V.
Link to Amazon (UK): Revell Saturn V 1/144 Model Kit 04909
Kit Review
Build Video – Part 1
Build Video – Part 2 – Building & Priming
Build Video – Part 3 – Painting, Correcting the Paint & Completing the Model
Following from part 2 (lots of filling, sanding, priming and more filling, sanding, priming!) this part focuses on the painting. Main paints were MRP, though Tamiya was used to correct the errors in the instructions. Decals on, and almost ready for the custom stand and final presentation.
Build Video – Part 4 – Building a Custom Stand and After Build Summary/Review
Buy the Revell Saturn V 1/144 scale model kit on Amazon
This is a summary following my build of Revell’s Apollo Saturn V (ref 04909) Moon Rocket in 1/144 scale.
I started this project back in 2017, and have already made a few videos documenting this build. Admittedly the videos weren’t great quality with me voicing over pictures I took, so I thought it was a good time to do a video where I actually discuss the build. I don’t go into huge detail, so if you are considering building this Revell Saturn V (or the very similar Airfix offering) I would recommend giving those a watch.
The first thing to note about this kit is even though it is in 1/144 scale, it is huge – measuring about a metre in length. Being tooled in 1968 (before the Apollo XI trip to the moons!) it isn’t up to modern standards – and was based on the pre-manned Saturn V vehicles. This is very apparent when looking at he instructions as the paint scheme is for the pre-manned Saturn V rockets – this would have been so easy for Revell to correct over the last 50 years!!! (Just an afternoon’s work!) Therefore make sure you check reference photographs, and not rely on the instructions.
The model is great for an education tool as it can be separated into the individual stages to explain how man not only got to the moon, but returned safely. Unfortunately this is also the worst part from a modeller’s point of view at is brings compromises to the design.
The modeller really has three choices when building this model:
A) Build the model as a single complete Saturn V, ignoring the internal details and sealing the parts together to fill the seams.
B) Build the model in a permanently separated state (like the Saturn V on display at Cape Canaveral) – which will require A LOT (seriously, a lot) of scratch building to correct and add the internal details required. This will also involve a lot of research too. The result good be amazing though.
C) Build as I have. The compromises will mean that you won’t have a perfect model, but this can be outweighed by the hands on ‘playability’ and use as an educational tool.
Whatever option you will have an imposing model, and a definite talking point to any model display.
The world is crying out for an updated Saturn V in 1/144 scale – but that is unlikely to happen as many people are still happy to build this version. Manufacturers have missed the boat on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XI moon landing, so if you are wanting to build Neil and Buzz’s rocket you need to use this as the base model and do the research, modifications and scratch building yourself.