In 1971, when this set was made, the Apollo missions were still new and exciting, and it seemed that mankind was at the start of an exciting age of space travel. Well, it didn't turn out like that, but Airfix were not slow to see a bandwagon and made kits of much of the equipment used, and also this set of astronauts to put with them.

Looking at old photographs of the Apollo space suits, these figures seem to be reasonably accurate. Inevitably some simplification has been required, but the overall look is maintained. The back packs are moulded separately and plug into holes on the backs of the men with a nice firm fit. The poses are also a realistic-looking selection, and include a man with a film camera and another with a flag.

Two models of the lunar rover are also included. Again this is somewhat simplified, but not bad by any means. The parts fit together quite well, though the seated astronaut needs gluing to avoid falling backwards off his chair with the weight of his pack.

There are also two other pieces of equipment which Airfix described as 'experimental'. One is a small platform on which a man is standing, and we have no idea what this is, though it cannot ever have actually seen service on the surface of the moon. The second offers more possibilities. It would seem to be a Lunar Flying Vehicle, a concept developed by Bell Aerosystems in the 1960s to allow astronauts on the moon more range. The idea was abandoned in favour of the Lunar Rover, and never made it to the real world. It also looks a bit like the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle or its successor, the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle, though in either case it is hugely simplified and greatly reduced in size. Since both models are of concepts that never got to the moon, they might also have a role in science fiction, which rescues what are otherwise largely pointless models. Again both models fit together quite well, though they can be of little use.

The detail is reasonable given the subject, and though there is some flash this is not too bad. More of curiosity value these days, especially since Man's activities in space have changed enormously since this set was made, but this set is something of a monument to the excitement about the space age at the end of the 1960s.