From the Editor: The following is submitted by fellow IPMS Member Clyde Jones regarding addition of mentioned lighting set to model:

"LEDs ARE polarized, just like batteries. Connect them ”backward” and they not only don’t light, they slowly go dead. Or not so slowly. The light strip is not polarized." (Added May 2011)

I built my first Moon Bus in 1969 and that model still resides in my display case. Because of my fascination and interest with models rooted in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, it was with great anticipation that I awaited the arrival of the recently released Moebius Moon Bus and I purchased a copy from the local hobby shop as soon as it arrived. When Moebius offered a kit to IPMS for review purposes I was pleased when it found its way onto my workbench and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of building a 2^nd Moon Bus some 41 years after having completed the first one.

Moebius continues to deliver some very interesting products, and the Viper Mk. II is another in the growing list of Moebius kits. This model is in 1/32 scale and includes several features. The Viper can be displayed with gear down or mounted on a base with gear up. A resin pilot figure is included. The decals are of the traditional waterslide variety. The instructions are rather unique in that they are presented to the builder as a “briefing paper”, complete with the Colonial Headquarters Seal at the top of each page. The “briefing paper” approach is fun and it encourages the builder to “get into character” during the assembly process. The instructions contain some excellent color images as well as some accurate and well done line drawings. These images and drawings will help the “crew” to avoid some mistakes that can be made during the assembly process.

Let’s take a journey, a journey into the mind of a scratchbuilder. Not just any scratchbuilder, not one who takes an actual object that existed and builds a replica from scratch. But one who gives three dimensional shape and form to an idea in a novel or a picture in his head. Author Andy Pearson is just such a modeler. He is regularly featured in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Modeller magazine.

In this book’s eleven chapters; Andy will show you how to take an image in your mind or a book and give it form and substance. Each chapter is a walk through the building of project. From futuristic construction equipment, cybernetic whale, a cross sectional far away planet’s seascape, space ships and much more, Andy takes you on the journey from idea to model.

If you are old enough, you may remember a great science fiction movie in 1952 called “When Worlds Collide”. The story line was that astronomers have discovered a sun and a planet on a collision course with the planet Earth.

After a great deal of discussion it is decided to build an “Ark”, a large rocket, capable of evacuating the best minds of science, engineering, animal husbandry, farming and other “best and brightest” citizens of the planet Earth to a new planet, and there to start a new race in peace and harmony. As would be expected, chaos erupts at the last hour, caused by the unfortunate people who are to be left behind. The Ark is launched just in time to avoid the collision and proceeds to the new Earth, finding it a paradise.

Description

This is my second review of Sci-fi & fantasy modeller and I am a bit disappointed. I like to challenge myself to present a balanced review of the Good, Bad and Ugly and at the same time keep it very objective. However, as in my first review, I can not find any Bad or Ugly to report on. Once again, the fine editorial staff and writers have produced a magazine filled with a variety of high quality articles produced on high quality materials and definitely worth the purchase price.

The publication consists of 100 pages, about 7 X 10 inches on heavy stock semi-glossy paper. The isssue is very article dense with only a few advertisements with over 98% of the page space being given over to relevant content.