Moebius Models

1/8 "The Invisible Man"

Kit Number: MW00903

Reviewed by  Ned Ricks, IPMS# 36013

MSRP: $34.99 Website: www.moebiusmodels.com Rarely do I build movie-based figures unless they are historical characters. But I admit I jumped at the chance to do this kit of H.G. Well's "The Invisible Man." My favorite portrayal of the book was by Claude Rains in the 1930s versions, so I wanted to try this out. Also, there are no flesh tones to worry about because he is invisible!

Based on the H G Wells character, the kit creates a vignette of the scientist wearing an overcoat, a suit and tie (don't see that level of sartorial style in your movie monsters so much anymore!) posed clutching goggles and unraveling his bandages. There were several sprues in the box: gray ones, lots of clear ones for all the lab glassware, and brown ones for the floor and the furniture. Unlike many movie kits, this one is made of styrene, not vinyl, making for easy work with your usual glues and paints. One of the first impressions I had was that the parts were BIG. After lots of 1/72 scale aircraft and 54 mm scale figures, this 1/8 scale kit seems almost life-size by comparison. While this is decidedly good news for my aging eyesight, you do need room to work and sufficient supplies. As an example, painting the trench coat took two bottles of Testor's Model Master just to lay down the base coat of paint. An airbrush is a really handy tool when working on this big boy. Where the parts did not mesh exactly, such as the arms of the trench coat, you realize how long the seams are. Here's a chance for you to try out all those techniques you read about. I found Mr. Surfacer worked best for me. The instructions have the IM wearing a sport coat and trousers. Keeping the vintage films in mind, I decided that a suit would be better with a tan raincoat. You could even make the raincoat into a white lab smock if you wanted to. Pay attention to the build because the clever arrangement of the bandages and the gloved hands allow for realistically empty sleeves. Be sure you clip the pour plugs from the parts that become the invisible bandage wrapped head. They are devilish hard to get at once the parts are together (and you realize they can be seen!). The kit provides several lab-related extras including many books, rats, beakers, retorts and other apparatus I haven't seen since my college freshman chemistry class. While I used some to give the general feel of those drawing room movie days, after several examples I stopped the clutter. In this scale, there are lots of opportunities to add detail and have fun with the many parts provided. With a little imagination, one could put colored "liquids" into the containers and create vapor wisps of boiling "eye of newt" or whatever. The instructions are laid out differently than Trump-Hasag-Tam aircraft. First of all, the brochure is on semi-gloss paper and shows color photos of the finished item. There are exploded views of the vignette indicating part numbers as well as painting suggestions. The color painting guide and paint index include information for Testor's Enamels, Model Master Enamels and Model Master Acrylics. There are written assembly instructions, step by step. All in all, the sheet was helpful, even for someone who usually skips the directions until I am in trouble. I recommend this kit to other IPMS members for some fun hours of modeling. Thanks to Moebius Models, USA for providing the kit for this review.