This kit looks nice and simply and it is until you get to the painting stage and it then gets really interesting. Airfix supply a set of acrylic paints and for the younger or inexperienced modeller who will buy this kit it will do the job, but if like me who is never satisfied the challenge is just starting.
The kit went together really well except for getting rid of the long seam lines and the fit between the command module and the main tank. I found that the truss sections in stages 58, to 66 fouled the locating pins in the top of the main tank section part A6. Now I don't know if it's a fault with my building or I missed putting the domed part in the right place. I may have placed the dome (part D23)on the command module too close to the top and this caused a problem after I had fitted the bracing for the rocket motor, the result being I now had to trim the bracing to get the stages to fit if I wanted them to be able to be separate them.
After putting the parts together, I gave them an undercoat of Halfords white. The main tank was then given a coat of Halfords VW Bright Orange that I had as a base to start getting the tank coloured. I gave the tank a coat of the Humbrol 100 acrylic that is suppled in the starter kit but was not happy as it looked far to red/orange, so I mixed my own concoction using Vallejo red & yellow for the main colour base to then add detail painting with oil paints. I tried to match photos from the internet to get what I wanted. After adding the decals and the piping I was quite happy with the result.
The boosters, command module and the base of the main tank that had been base coated in Halford white primer were then given detail painting with Vallejo white with a tiny touch of yellow as after studying the internet photos certain sections appear a slightly cream colour. Instead of using the black band decals for the boosters I painted the appropriate bands before adding the rest of the booster decals. (it's a good idea to cut the booster NASA decal into smaller pieces as it's quite tricky to fit as one piece)
The rocket motors and certain other little detail parts were then painted and everything brought together.
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Thunderbirds are ready to go!
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And the fun continues.