The first model kit I reviewed was Polar Lights' reproduction of a much-desired Aurora model kit from the 1960s. It consisted of about 20 parts, and was a simple kit to build, intended for younger model kit builders, who were fans of the series.

Aurora (and more recently Polar Lights) also released model kits of the Flying Submarine as well, which were successful kits, very popular among fans. (I had one myself when I was a child, and it built beautifully, even in my inexpert hands.)

Taking up the mantle now is Moebius Models (whose logo looks very similar to both Aurora and Polar Lights, and by no coincidence), which has released a model kit as great in scope as Polar Lights' own C-57D Starcruiser from The Forbidden Planet.

This kit contains more than 120 parts, some of them very small, but many quite large, as this model kit builds out at an impressive and spacious 39 inches in length! This model kit can be built in two ways, one to closely resemble the 17-foot miniature which was used for surface running shots, or the other, an 8.5-foot miniature used for the submerged scenes. The differences are minor, but important to Frank Winspur, proprietor of Moebius Models, whose love of his craft is obvious in this kit, and on his Web page. After Polar Lights discontinued most of its model line in 2004, Winspur decided to fill the void, and we fans are all the more fortunate for it.

Packaged in a kit box about 20 inches by 13, with a lovely painting of the Seaview on it, several poly bags contain the 120-plus parts, some of which are molded in clear plastic.

The kit includes parts to build either version of the Seaview, and also includes a fully detailed bridge interior, a flying sub bay, the flying sub itself, a small mini-sub and a diving bell.

As a very interesting piece of history, the kit includes an 8-page booklet detailing the restoration of the 17-foot shooting model of the Seaview, complete with black-and-white photos of the process.

Love of the craft shows in the final product

First, I have to be clear—this is not a kit for the faint of heart. Like the fantastic C-57D I referred to earlier, this kit has a detailed interior and many parts, both large and minuscule. The model kit is labeled as Level 3 (Advanced). The paint scheme itself would be daunting to most modelers. Get this—the paint sheet refers to 24 different colors, and 12 of them are shades of gray, silver, white or black. (Photo credit: Lefty Makri)

And if looking at this kit with all its parts isn't daunting enough, the instructions fill only three pages (not including the cover, which has no actual instructions) and are wordy and low on detailed visuals. Seriously, this kit is intended for people who know what they are doing.

But if you do, you will be rewarded. This kit, as I said, builds out to more than 39 inches in length, and once you begin to build the outer hull you get an idea of the scale of what you are attempting to build. Once you see the hull, made of a small number of large parts, your brain has to adapt to the tiny details of the interior sections. With parts the size of a poppy seed (no exaggeration), you really do get the idea that this kit was built by people who love what they are doing, and that's rarely a bad thing.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the gorgeously designed Flying Submarine, and it's nice to see the 3-inch version of it included in this kit, itself with a visible interior complete with pilot seats visible through the clear front windows.

The Flying Submarine, when built, can be stored within the sub bay below the Seaview's winged bridge section.

As bonus extras, a small eight-part mini-sub, a six-part diving bell and eight crewmembers add those extra details that most model kits would never dare include. However, beware, the instructions may not be entirely accurate. The diagram shows the crewmembers are parts numbered 60 and 61, yet instructions tell you to cement the periscope (#60) to the control room walls. Oops.

Still, an advanced modeler would be able to work around minor discrepancies like this and build what may be the definitive model kit of the marvelous Seaview submarine.