Polar Lights Robby the Robot
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KIT # |
5025 |
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PRICE: |
$18.99 |
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DECALS: |
None |
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REVIEW & |
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NOTES: |
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THE MOVIE |
Forbidden Planet is without a doubt, the premier sci-fi movie for those who like to think. Initially shown around 1956 and starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Frances, and Leslie Nielsen. It is the story of a scientist whose investigations of a race of beings called the Krell lead to some very interesting events, the majority of which involve some very sophisticated animation for the time, all done by animation wizards from the Disney Studios.
Every non-monster sci-fi movie ever made after that has elements of Forbidden Planet woven into the storyline, whether the author realizes it or not. The props for the movie appear in many different places including a large number of Twilight Zone episodes. Probably the most amazing and remembered character from the movie (aside from the then daringly dressed Miss Frances), is the robot named Robby. Capable of lifting tons of weight and prevented from harming sentient beings thanks to Isaac Azimov's three rules for robots, Robby isn't the vicious beast depicted on the box art (which is a poster from the movie itself). Now, if some enterprising company would make a suitable figure for draping across Robby's arms........ (and someone has. It was Dr. Flintstone and may still be around if you hunt long enough for it.)
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THE KIT |
Polar Lights kits are made in China and so come in a box strong
enough to drive a truck over without damaging the parts. Once you manage to
wrestle the top off it, you find two bags of parts. One contains the chrome
plated and clear bits and the other the main parts of the robot in tan
plastic.
Unlike the Lost In Space robot, this one appears to be a new mold and not reverse engineered. All the parts look clean and crisp with no visible flash and the mold marks where they can be hidden. The chrome parts are well done, with mold seams small enough to be left on the parts if you are so inclined. The clear parts are sort of bluish in cast with the large dome scratched. There are four clear 'voice simulator tubes' (part 15) of which they are not all the same shape. It will be interesting to see if this affects construction.
The rest of the parts are very nicely done as well. All the bits were still on the sprues. There are a few parts that were loose in the bag along with the base. These have been removed from the sprues at the factory. A result of this is that the attachment points need to be cleaned up and in some cases, filled as there are small gouges in the part at the attachment point. There is also a large base on which to display your Robby.
Kit instructions are similar to those with the LIS robot with one side of the sheet as image, ads and warnings, with the other side including an assembly sequence, painting guide and exploded view of the kit. All the parts are noted as to if they are chrome or transparent and all of them are named.
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CONSTRUCTION |
After checking out the kit, I found which parts could be built as subassemblies
and started there. 
This included
Robby's feet, arms and torso. The fit is quite good, but there is need for
filler on almost all the joints, especially where the parts are cut away from
the sprues. I also determined that it would be nearly impossible to clean up the
chrome parts and keep the chrome plating so I started removing the chrome. I use
Strip-A-Kit
for this as it works like magic in just a few minutes. Using a cotton bud (or
Q-tip), Strip-A-Kit was coated on all the parts that were to be stripped. After
letting it sit for just a few minutes, the chrome dissolved and it was then
washed off with regular tap water. Total time: about 5 minutes and no need to
use toxic materials like oven cleaner to remove the chrome.
Once the feet were sanded smooth and the gaps filled, they were attached to the legs and the leg sections were then glued together. Getting all the seams for the insides of the legs will be a real challenge, but with the help of of a flexifile and various grades of sanding tape, it can be done. At this time, the hands were also glued together for attachment to the arms. Be advised that there is a rather large ejector pin mark on the hands that needs filled before gluing as it will be visible. At this time the trapezoidal instrument face was attached to the top section and when dry, was blended into the surrounding area with filler. The chest instrument panel was also glued in place. You have a choice of two that can be used. I chose the one from the movie. All these parts fit pretty well, but all have gaps that need to be filled.
Next, the arms were attached to the torso. The fit here was equally ok. The area was flooded with glue and then the arms were squeezed into place to allow glue to ooze out. This ooze was then smoothed out with more glue. The result is that there are fewer gaps that needed filler, though those gaps left are substantial.
Back to the head area, all of the parts that are not clear can be glued into place as they are all the same color. A real problem arises with the clear bits that stick out the side of Robby's head. Only the discs are actually clear with the other parts painted the same color as the rest of Robby. It is further complicated by having a seam right in the middle of the part.
There are two things that can be done. One is to fill the seam with superglue, sand it down, mask it off, and paint the rest of the part along with the rest of the robot. The other is to remove the clear disc sections and then replace them with something else. A real quandary and one that will definitely make a difference in the finished kit. Not being able to come up with clear sections of that size, I took the first option, one that does require quite a bit of work.
Just a note, the finned sections just below that on the side of the head are also supposed to have clear disc sections in them. I watched the movie several times and this is how it appeared to me. An item that is missing from the upper part of Robby's 'face' is the upside down 'L' shaped widget that moves back and forth when he is talking (shown red on the box art). This was easily represented with a couple of pieces of Evergreen plastic strut material.
Getting
back to the clear bits. I decided to sand the heck out of them to thin them
down. Once that was done, superglue was used in the joints to make them
smoother. Next they were progressively sanded with finer grades. Upon completion
of that task, they were coated with Future floor wax. Result is not that bad,
but the really talented will want to replace these parts. The clear bits were
finally blended into the head with some filler and then it was off to the paint
shop.
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PAINT |
First parts painted were those bits whose chrome was removed. I used Floquil's Old Silver for this. It really gives a great finish that is quite shiny. Naturally, it revealed some molding glitches that needed cleaned up and then those parts were resprayed.
I had thought about undercoating Robby, but decided that since I am painting it Model Master Gloss Metallic Black, that there wouldn't be any real need. I was right. The painting went very well. I applied several coats one right after the other and was left with a nice, glossy metallic black finish.
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CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES |
Next, it was time to fit some of the repainted bits on. First in
were the two gizmos in the chest. Those were basically press fit, they were so
tight. Next the base for the rotating thingies on the top of the 'head'. When
dry, the rotating thingies were glued in place (hope the jargon isn't too
confusing). While this was drying, the clear head piece was cleaned up and
polished. This piece is a bit too tall and leaves small, wedge-shaped gaps on
the top. I felt that any attempt to fix this gap would lead to disaster so left
it alone.
The front 'voice panel' was test fit at this time. It fits well, but does not look at all good leaving it clear as one can see the various mold marks and attachments in the background. RATS! I had so wanted this bit to remain clear. I'll have to think of an appropriate color for it. In the movie, this panel is clear and a few 'bars' light up blue when Robby is speaking. Unfortunately, the best I could think of was to paint it semi-gloss black. It looks OK, but I'd have rather had it clear with a black background.
To finish him up, the rest of the 'face' was completed. The little clear accordion looking gizmos were left clear while the tubes leading into and out of them were painted gunmetal. On top of his head, the 'L' shaped gadget was painted a pale yellow/green. The four 'zappers' on the side of his head were glued in place and the tips painted blue-grey. The circular thingies were glued in place on the side at angles. Finally, the clear faceplate was glued using non-fogging superglue.
As a final note. I did not use the base as I thought it was rather hokey. Some may like it, but it isn't to my tastes. I can see why it was included as Robby is a tad topheavy!
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CONCLUSIONS |
The end result is really a very cool looking robot. It won't win contests as built, but those with mucho patience and greater abilities than I can make Robby into a real winner. This kit was not difficult to built, and while I wouldn't give it to a bare beginner, those with some experience shouldn't have any real trouble with the kit.
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REFERENCES |
Forbidden Planet by MGM, 1956
Late Entry (2005). This kit has been out of production for many years. It has virtually disappeared from shelves and I haven't a clue where you can get one so don't ask.
Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet!! If any of you manufacturers or shop owners want to send products for review, please contact me.