U.S. Navy Sealab III (1969)

Scale: 1:72
Initial Release: 1970
Medium: Polystyrene
Kit Rarity: 5

About the Design

The last of the U.S. Navy's experimental undersea habitats, Sealab III accommodated five teams of 10 men each for 15-day stints 600 below the Pacific off San Diego.   Ostensibly created for underwater scientific research, it was later revealed that the base was also used for Top Secret military experiments involving deep water EVAs..  There was one fatality during these experiments, and the program was eventually scrapped.

About the Kit

Aurora's flagship kit for 1970, the Sealab III featured a clear plastic shell through which one could see the habitat's complex interior.  Although highly publicized, the kit was not profitable for Aurora and it enjoyed only a single release.

In 2017, Masterpiece Models created a resin version of the Sealab III kit, using an original Aurora kit as the master.