Type of kit: Limited Edition resin kit comprising 35 parts, also including the LED Lighting kit, available separately
1:24 scale
Price around £59.95
Review by Dave Smith (June 2014)
Our thanks to Wild House Models for our review sample. Get this impressive kit here now.
See the Wild House Models SMN Page for more information…
Product info
In 2078, the Moneta Engineering Consortium of Earth, with the benefit of the then readily available Flexani medical expertise, developed the first commercial Stasis Pod for crew hibernation and over the next 17 years, perfected the design and functionality of the unit for use on commercial starships. By 2095, the latest bio-pod model was used extensively by most of the main starship operators for deep space incursions. Special Military versions manufactured under contract and strictly controlled, were used for long range vessels patrolling the border with Flexani space and could be adapted if required for Flexani anatomy.
The MEC S70-B Stasis Pod model was typically used for healthy participants in deep space travel and was the standard model of choice in most starships, whereas the MEC S70-Hx Stasis Pod model, with advanced medical monitoring equipment and attendant MEC trained doctor, was used to preserve the life of critically-injured or terminally-ill patients, until such time that their conditions could be stabilized in a fully-equipped medical facility.
Both models of the Stasis Pod units suspend all cellular activity and disease processes, keeping the patient from succumbing to their illness or injury for an indefinite period. In 2092, a law was passed to ensure that Stasis units became standard equipment on human deep space starship vessels, but was considered optional for short range ships within the Asteroid Belt and near Sol activities.
The MEC S70-B Stasis Pod typically consumes 0.9 MW of power and is equipped with a fuel cell that provides up to 56 hours of backup power before terminal life support failure. The S70-Hx however, with its advanced features does have greater power consumption and is hence only fitted to advanced Carrier vessels with the permanent medical staff to support its use and maintenance. Backup power on the S70-Hx is rated to 170 hours before terminal failure of the life support systems.
Initial Impressions
Well first of all, if someone had told me that I would be building something Sci-Fi, which I had never heard of before, I would have been surprised! I like to think that, although not a complete geek, I do keep abreast of ‘other-worldly’ kits and creatures.
That said, when Geoff asked me to review and build this, he mentioned that this was a completely new company, boldly going where I think very few have gone before, in that they are not producing spaceships, (well not yet anyway), but the equipment that goes into them, in this case, a Stasis Pod.
The stasis pod, basically keeps injured people alive, until they can be transferred to a medical facility for treatment.
The Pod arrived in an ordinary brown box as the retail boxes were not quite ready, so this is hot off the press and on opening it revealed a very well protected number of small bags of components, some consisting of delicate resin parts, and some the electronic items, which will give this build an extra bit of excitement on assembly.
I have only just received the kit, and have not yet had a ‘play’ with the electronics, (the instructions recommend trying them out before fitting to ensure that they work). On the subject of instructions, they are a very well-produced set of A5 booklets, showing very precisely the assembly process. That said, I may go off ‘track’ a little on assembly having looked at them briefly.
As stated, this is a totally resin kit, and although I have had experienced using resin parts with injection moulded kits, this being totally resin is a new one for me.
The main thing to consider here, other than the obvious differences in materials is the health and safety issue using resin. When sanding or removing material, it is important that the resin particles are not breathed in, as they are carcinogenic, and so all my cleaning up operations are going to be done outside for ventilation, with a mask on too!
A very comprehensive leaflet on working with resin is included, advising how to work safely with resin, and what tools to use, and how to paint too. Advice on different adhesives is also included, as cyano cannot be used when mounting the electronic sensors, something like Araldite should be used.
One omission seems to be what colour to paint the Pod, as no instructions are included on this subject, to quote: “it’s then simply a case of choosing your colour scheme and painting your model with your paint of choice”…..ok then! I think mine is going to be a Viceroy lathe grey!
There seems to be a little more reference on their WHM website as to what colours to use, as there are more images of the pod there, so it’s worth visiting this.
There is a plastic card included, with the electronic lighting set, which, when passed over the area of the electronic sensor, switches lighting modes, very swish! Can’t wait to have a go at this.
Decals
A nice decal sheet is included and all items are well printed, in register and good quality.
Summary
Well this all seems very good and nice, and I’m looking forward to the build. As far as I can see, the small components don’t need a lot of cleaning up, but the main halves of the unit may need a little more time spent on them to achieve a good seamless fit. It could be a little fiddly, but lots of fun.
The only thing to pick at really is that this was obviously created initially using a 3D printing process, as the evidence of the scan lines around the main body are a little too obvious for my liking, but, hey!, I’ve never seen one in the flesh, and neither have you. It may be an important feature of the operation of the Pod so wind your neck in, and enjoy what is a very different and interesting kit.
Well done for Wild House Models for coming up with something completely different, I hope that the fact that these kits are reasonably expensive, doesn’t put off the Space Cadets out there.
Dave S.
SMN Quick Summary Star rating out of 5
| FEATURE | STAR RATING (out of five) |
|---|---|
| Quality of moulding | **** |
| Accuracy | N/A |
| Instructions | ***** |
| Decals | **** |
| Subject choice | ***** |
| Overall | ***** |