Convair Manned Observational Satellite (1958)

SCALE: 1/200

INITIAL RELEASE: 1958

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY - Original: (5)

RARITY - Glencoe: (3)

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

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.

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 along with an stand from the original kit that was once part of this collection.

Original Box Art

Glencoe Box Art