BU by Russ Hooten
Robot B-9
ORIGINALKIT #418

I remember a friend in junior
high school showing me this kit. It was already vintage when
he had it, and I recall being very envious of his having a chance to build it. Well now thanks to the wonderful folks at Polar Lights, Robot B-9 is available to the general public once again!
This is a great kit, although it will require painting techniques more akin to vehicles than figures. I've gotten a lot ideas from Mark McGovern's B-9 Page. He's got some groovy skills, check 'em out.

I remember when this robot seemed the epitome of "futurecool" design. I thought the show was a bit strange, but the robot rocked!

Actually, as a kid I loved robots almost as much as skeletons!

Polar Lights box
  

Jupiter 2
POLAR LIGHTS KIT #5033

A good friend of mine has contracted me to build his Jupiter 2 kit. As he is a huge LIS fan and a visual artist to boot, I know I've got my work cut out for me.

I want to make the kit as accurate as possible, so I've been looking very closely at Jim Piszars Jupiter 2 Modeling Tips @ CultTVMan.Com and also at CultTVMan's Jupiter 2 Modeling Guide. They've got terrific fixes for various flaws in the kit. If I can get my kit to look just one tenth as good as Mr. Piszar's, I'll be satisfied.

I'm nervous about this one, as I haven't built any vehicle kits for some time now. I've been doing figure kits and only figure kits, I hope I've still got my chops!
BU by Jim Piszar
  
Polar Lights box
  

The Cyclops Battle
ORIGINAL KIT #420

This is another kit my artist friend has asked me to build for him. I feel far more confident about this one as it is essentially a figure kit, with some other goodies thrown in for fun.

I'm disappointed that the chariot is a solid cast. I don't think it would have taken that much to create clear glass and an interior. The decals are pretty cheap. I'll have to see what the owner wants, but something like this BU at left, with silvered-out windows, may be the way to go.
Polar Lights factory BU
  

I've recently learned of a third party chariot upgrade with clear windows. Apparently, I wasn't the only disappointed builder! I'll have to look into this.
Polar Lights box
  

ORIGINAL KIT #419

This is the original issue kit. It lacks the chariot and cliff extending pieces, which were added later. Because it was less elaborate, it was less popular, and hence is now harder to find, making it the more valuable kit of the two! Polar Lights has reissued both kits.
Original kit BU
  
Polar Lights box
Here's a display idea from master modeler Marc Gross. Note: His J2 is scratch built.