As a child, I "never" missed an episode of Fireball XL5 and the associated acting-out while at play afterward. I wanted a Fireball XL5 model or toy so bad, but for one reason or another, we never came together. Fast forward 53 years to the evening I happened across a 1/200th scale vacuform model of it by Comet Miniatures on ebay, in pristine condition (except the transparencies had yellowed badly and partially crushed). It was expensive (in my book) and a bidding war had ensued, but I didn't care; I saw this as my last opportunity to have one and was determined not to let it get past... and it didn't! ;)
I used the flat sandpaper/masking tape method to individualize the pieces, and cut interior supports from sheet plastic. Besides that, I thermoformed new transparencies and scratched a cockpit, with figures. (hey, I was going for it because the long lost "kid" in me had reemerged!!) ;) I painted it with Testors Enamel and sealed it with Pledge; amazingly, the old kit decals worked perfectly after a coat of glosscoat, and now it hangs in the cave; my favorite amongst them all! I told my family if there's ever an emergency when we have to get out, grab the XL5!! ;)
Eat, drink, and be merry, but this very night your soul will be required of you.
