RD-107 Vostok Russian Launch Vehicle (1961)

Scale: 1/100
Initial Release: 1969
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 2

About the Design

Sergei Korolev's all-purpose R-7 multi-stage booster -- the same rocket that had launched Sputnik into orbit in 1957 --  once again made history when, on April 12, 1961, it rocketed Col. Yuri Gagarin, then only 27 years old, into orbit aboard Vostok 1. The first human in space, Gagarin spent 108 minutes in earth orbit. The Vostok RD-107 consisted of the traditional center stage, four strap-on boosters, an adapter collar, the Vostok 1 spacecraft itself, and a protective shroud that was jettisoned as soon as the spacecraft achieved orbit.

About the Kit

This was an unusual kit for MPC in that the modeler could build it as either a static display model or an actual flying rocket.

The kit was eventually re-released in a static-only version with new box art in 2014.

The model shown here is an original issue.