Review

From the 1960s TV series Lost in Space, the Chariot was a bubble-topped, tracked vehicle deployed by the stranded "space family" Robinson to explore their desert planet.

The Moebius kit includes 175-plus injection-molded plastic pieces and vinyl tracks. Also included is a 23-piece "B9" robot from the show; it can be built in its entirety, or you can build the upper half and mount it on a pedestal inside the vehicle. Instructions are a glossy 6-panel trifold with color photos, text instructions, a lengthy history and a paint guide for Testors enamels.

I like campy subjects as much as the next guy, but the Chariot's plastic is no joke. All of the styrene pieces are comprised of the same material as the clear top (with some parts impregnated with pigment) and it acts like it - brittle, prone to stress marks and resistant to paint and glue.

It is important to thoroughly wash all the parts and let them air dry, as the plastic itself seems oily. I also found that enamel paint adhered better than acrylic paint.

Text instructions are accompanied by a picture of the completed step. However, the photo often does not show placement of pieces covered in the step, which requires consultation of pictures from other steps, the box art, or by surfing images on the Web. I found myself flipping back and forth through the instructions. The most reliable reference for the numbers and placement of parts is the exploded diagram on Panel 2.

On the same panel are assembly tips. Heed them, especially in regards to removing parts from the sprue with a saw rather than clippers. Clip too close to a part and it will show a stress mark, even through paint.

The vinyl tracks and plastic parts are incompatible, with the vinyl "eating" the plastic. I separated the two immediately after opening the box, sanded the marred parts smooth and filled dents with super glue. Primer and paint on the road wheels should insulate the plastic from the vinyl tracks and prevent further degradation.

There are no instructions for joining the flexible vinyl track. I joined each track with super glue and, when I was satisfied it had cured, stretched it over the assembled running gear.

To paint the frame of the bubbletop, I used an aircraft modeling trick: mask the outside, paint the frame international orange, let dry, then overcoat it with bright silver. This leaves the orange visible from the inside and the silver on the outside. There is a masking set for this kit available from Aztec Dummy that makes this easier.

Considering the size of the clear plastic tub of the bubbletop, it fit the hull well. The instructions would have you tack the doors in place with masking tape, then trap the door pins in locator holes in the clear top and the hull bottom. However, growing frustrated with flapping doors, I tacked them in place with white glue and had an easier time joining the upper and lower halves.

I airbrushed the bubbletop with Pledge Future floor polish, a clear acrylic that enhances the clarity and brilliance of clear parts. I'm not sure why, but the polish did not look right on my bubbletop. I don't recommend it for this kit; just polish the clear plastic.

I recommend Moebius' Chariot for intermediate and advanced modelers, since it requires patience, refined modeling skills and some problem solving. However, these challenges can be overcome and shouldn't be a deterrent. What's more, Moebius has the market locked up on this kit, and it builds into a good representation of the original vehicle in all its campy glory.