Convair Manned Observational Satellite (1958)

Scale: 1/200
Initial Release: 1958
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity (Original Release): 5
Glencoe Re-Release 3

About the Design

Like many of the Krafft Ehricke concepts found in this section, the Convair Manned Observational Satellite was designed to be constructed from spent fuel tanks and other components cannibalized from used rockets. Intended to carry a crew of less than one-half dozen, the MOSV was little more than a passive high-altitude platform from which Americans could comfortably gaze down at the Earth 150 miles below -- and presumably keep a close eye on those nasty Rooskies.

About the Kit

Released briefly in the late 1950's, this Strombecker kit suffered from sub-standard engineering, resulting in huge gaps between virtually all of its pieces when assembled.  Glencoe Models' 1990's re-release was re-tooled to meet modern hobby standards, resulting in a cleaner, tighter-fitting kit. 

This is a build-up of the Glencoe re-release from the 1990s.