Sputnik 1 1:12 Scale RealSpace Models Kit Review

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Sputnik 1 1:12 Scale RealSpace Models Kit Review

Review and Photos by Robert Byrnes

On October 4th 1957, the space age began in earnest, when the USSR launched Sputnik 1, a 184 pound artificial satellite. The satellite orbited the Earth and could be seen from backyards over much of the world and the radio signal could be heard on radio sets.

The Sputnik 1 satellite was a 58.0 cm-diameter aluminum sphere that carried four whip-like antennas that were 2.4-2.9 m long. The antennas looked like long “whiskers” pointing to one side. The spacecraft obtained data pertaining to the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere and the propagation of radio signals in the ionosphere. The instruments and electric power sources were housed in a sealed capsule and included transmitters operated at 20.005 and 40.002 MHz (about 15 and 7.5 m in wavelength), the emissions taking place in alternating groups of 0.3 s in duration. The downlink telemetry included data on temperatures inside and on the surface of the sphere.

This kit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first man-made object to orbit Earth.

The Kit:

Kit includes 6 resin parts and Aluminum Tubes. I built this in 3 evenings using Tamiya Primer, sanding with 600 grit sand paper, followed by Alclad Gloss Black and a top coat of Alclad Chrome. Fairly simple, easy to work with resin parts that are cleanly molded and required little work prior to painting. Everything was super glued together. The antenna bases were painted black and ceramic area painted with Testor’s acryl tan.

I made the display base from a wood plaque that I filled with lightweight spackle and primed with Tamiya Primer followed by a coat of Alclad Gloss Black. The label was printed on my printer.

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