Polar Lights 1/144 C-57D Space Cruiser Forbidden Planet Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | May 2013 | Manufacturer | Polar Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | C-57D Space Cruiser Forbidden Planet | Scale | 1/144 |
| Kit Number | 0895 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Nice kit | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $41.99 |
First Look
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In 1956, a ground-breaking new movie was released - Forbidden Planet. Unlike science fiction movies that preceeded it, Forbidden Planet was filmed in color and was set on a distant planet. The movie featured famous actors as well as some that would do well in the future. The special effects and sound track were also new and would inspire other science fiction films that would follow in the decades to come. The spacecraft that carried its Earth crew to the planet of Altair IV was the C-57D, a space cruiser that could travel in deep space at high speed and still take off and land on its own.
I remember Polar Lights' first C-57D kit that was released around 2001 as approximately 1/72 scale and even so, the kit was large. The saucer had a diameter of around 28 inches and the main cabin had details that could be viewed through the optionally clear overhead dome. I have that original kit around here somewhere but I couldn't bring myself to build it since it would take up a great deal of space (no pun intended) to park the ship on my shelf.
Here is Polar Lights' latest C-57D, this time in 1/144 scale. The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on one parts tree plus the main saucer upper and lower hull halves. One tree of clear parts completes the kit. The saucer in this scale is 12 inches in diameter. Among the features and options in this kit:
- Simple construction
- Can be built in flight or landing configuration
- Movable (retractable) landing gear
- Choice of retracted or extended central landing column
The engine core lighting and three-legged landing gear arrangement would be seen again a decade later on another saucer-shaped spacecraft, the Jupiter 2, but that's another story. The kit provides framed dome that goes inside the lower clear dome that will provide some interesting lighting options with a little work (or wait for an aftermarket solution).
This kit is a welcome sight as it is a simple build but still provides some interesting features which will take up little room on my display shelf. Thank you Polar Lights!
My sincere thanks to Round 2 Models for this review sample!