Canadian Arrow (2006)

Scale: 1/72
Initial Release: 2006
Medium: Resin
Kit Rarity: 3

About the Design

The Canadian Arrow was a two-stage liquid-fuel rocket designed for the burgeoning space tourist industry. Based on WWII-era V-2 technology, but significantly enhanced with modern materials and computerized control systems, the ship was designed to take three people -- one pilot and two passengers -- on sub-orbital flights to the edge of space.

Canada's Planet Space contender for the $10 million Ansari X-Prize the Canadian Arrow promised to be a simple, economical and dependable option for tomorrow's amateur astronauts. Like all Ansari X-Prize contenders, the craft -- including its booster -- was designed to be reusable.

The Ansari X-Prize was eventually won by Scale Composite's Space Ship One on October 4, 2004. The Canadian Arrow mock-up spent some time on display at the Chris Hatfield Airport in Sarnia, Ontario, but was eventually destroyed. Planet Space itself went defunct in February 2013.

About the Kit

BLAP!'s Canadian Arrow model consisted of a one-piece rocket and four graphite control vanes, making it an easy "build."  The greatest challenge involved the painting of the "red maple leaf" pattern on the lower stage, a task facilitated by several paper "masks" included with the kit.
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Also included in the kit were a circle base (pictured) and a "modern milking stool" launch platform (not pictured).
This model was built from an original release.