Paul Draper
Waterlooville, Hampshire, England
Paul writes: “Primarily based on the (1/100 scale) MPC Pilgrim Observer Space Station kit, with additions from two Airfix 1/72 Tiger tanks and a few other kits, I built a ‘Panzer Raumkreuzer’ (Armored Space Cruiser) launched around 1970 in an alternative post-World War II history scenario. This is my first kitbash or custom kit build. I thought the original MPC kit looked dated, but I wondered, ‘What if Wernher von Braun had developed space weapons for the Reich?’ The kit looked perfect for this.
“The model has a completely reworked front, with two 122mm space guns (and recoil-compensating rocket motors), tracking radar, and an internal control cabin with large circular viewing port. The nuclear power plant is remodeled as four docking ports for cargo supply ships and fighters.
“The tracking radar was inspired by various weapons-control systems available during the 1970s and ’80s. I used two dishes that came with the kit, stripping their chrome finish with bleach. The dish covers are chimney caps from a model railway trackside kit by Ratio Plastic Models. I did a little research on space warfare and included small, powerful rocket motors that would be directed in the opposite direction of projectiles being fired, preventing recoil problems.
“The Panzer Raumkreuzer also has two sets of crew quarters, some of which would be available to space marines in case a ship needed to be boarded.”