Thunderbird 3 is the space vehicle used by International Rescue to transport the Thunderbird team to Thunderbird 5 and for space rescues. TB3 has always been one of my favorite Thunderbird vehicles, and this updated version is too. This is the version featured in the 2004 Thunderbirds movie. While updated, the new version of TB3 keeps the classic lines and bullet rocket shape of the original design. Nothing says speed and power like a 120 foot tall bright red rocket. This was a quick easy build that was a lot of fun.

The kit is from Bandai and comes pre-painted. It's small at just under 5 inches long, but is well detailed for its size. I do have to mention that this kit went together with no fit problems. Although this is a snap kit, the parts fit together tightly and I did not end up using any glue. Dry fitting was not required because once you press the parts together, they stay together and very well.

The kit was built out of the box with no modifications. It really doesn’t need any in my opinion. It could probably use a black wash to bring out details of the engine exhausts, but I have not done that yet.

I shot it with some Testors Dull Coat to take some of the sheen off the bright red plastic in an attempt to make it look like bright red metal. Decals were a sticker type, but I trimmed them closely and applied them to the model.

I had hoped that the model would be a little larger, but this kit is a very good representation of the subject. While the new Thunderbird film was not a box office hit and a lot of fans were disappointed, the vehicles were very cool.

Image: Coming atcha!

Image: Headed away