Bruce's Scale Modeling Domain: Space 1999 - The Eagle Transporter

Saturday, 24 January 2015

Space 1999 - The Eagle Transporter - Upgrading your Kit

The Eagle Transporter was the hero ship seen in the 1970s British television series Space: 1999, and remains a strong iconic vessel for the Sci-Fi genre till today. The Eagles served as the primary spacecraft of Moonbase Alpha, which has a fleet of them, and are often used to explore alien planets, defend the Moonbase from attack, and to transport supplies and other items to and from the Moon. The Eagle was designed by Brian Johnson who had worked with Gerry Anderson on Thunderbirds in the mid-60s, which influenced the spaceship designs of Star Wars and other science fiction films in the later years.

These Eagles must have been constructed by the engineering and technical section of Moonbase Alpha using materials and components either shipped from Earth or manufactured on the Moon itself. It is the only viable explanation for the seemingly endless supply of Eagles despite seeing them frequently crashing or exploding.

Completely modular, the craft are divided into three basic sections: the command module, the passenger module/service pod, and the superstructure (containing the landing gear, access corridor/galley, aft compartment, fuel tanks and main propulsion system). The command module also has an escape hatch as revealed in the episode "Devil's Planet", although it is unknown whether this is an original design feature or an adaptation that was designed by Moonbase Alpha. The command module of the Eagle can detach from the main body as seen in the episode "Dragon's Domain" enabling it to dock with another compatible craft or for use as an emergency escape capsule. All Eagles are equipped with artificial gravity.

The model of the Eagle used in filming was built in four scales: by the end of the series, there were three 44-inch (110 cm) Eagle models, two 22-inch (56 cm) Eagles, one 11-inch (28 cm) Eagle, and a 5-inch (13 cm) Eagle. The superstructure framework was composed of copper tubing on the larger-scale models and the command module was vacuum-formed plastic. Compressed Freon streams were used to portray the vertical jets used in lift-off and landing sequences and, in Year Two, the exhaust from the main rockets. The special effects team worked in Bray Studios, a separate studio away from where the live action filming took place

Model Kits

Since 1979 when Airfix first released the Eagle Transporter kit until the re-issue today by Round 2 MPC, all the parts have virtually remained the same with the only difference being the kind of plastic used, and a more comperhensive decal sheet with the latest re-issue. Only the packaging style underwent massive changes thus until today, a lot of work is required to get this kit to look like it's studio model. This entails a lot of drilling, cutting and part replacements. But who is complaining? I for one am really glad Round 2 decided to re-issue her. This was basically my very first Sci-fi kit, build by my father and uncle (they even put the moonbase decal upside down) and survived up to three years.

I'm not going to go into any details on how you should detail your eagle transporter in this post (saving that one for later) but I am going to share with you on where you can get some of the aftermarket parts for her. While a few would opt to scratch build their own details, for the rest of us who are not good at scratch building, I hope these would provide some relief. Do take note that all of these are for the 12" 1/72 scale kit only

More after the jump.

1/72 Eagle Transporter Detail Set (for MPC/Airfix) from Just An Illusion

Set comes with four landing pads with metal struts. Also includes the upper command module with open windows, and a cockpit with two figures.

Paragrafix's Space: 1999 Eagle Photo etch Set

Photo etch set that includes :

End caps for the transport pod with accurate raised and recessed details. Doors now line up with those on the framework support modules.
Replacement airlock doors with the correct size and shape.
Rocket engine diffusers.
Raised panel blast deflectors for the RCS (reaction control thruster) packs.
Window frames for the Command Module.
Landing gear updates with cages, pad hardware and “scissors” in both landed and in-flight positions.
Scratchbuilding experience required to update the landing gear.
Provisions included to allow builder to make their own working gear.
Instructions are not included for making working landing gear. These details are left to the builder, who should have advanced scratch building experience, especially with creating moving linkages.

From Shapeways comes these after market parts produced by FringeMechanica. They can be used alongside Paragrafix's photo etch set to reinforce her detailing. Thanks to Giulio for sharing this with me.

Moongear set of 4 for 12" Eagle!

A set of 4 landing gear for your 12" Eagle model to replace the kit parts. Here is how they'll look once fitted unto the kit - build by Giulio, the "nuclear waste pod" is from Warp Models designed to fit with the 12 inch eagle

12" Eagle engine cage upgrade

Eagle engine cage update. Closer accuracy to the studio model with smaller pipings.

Coming soon - 12" Eagle Model Cage Inserts!

More simplification in accurizing your 12" Eagle model kit- front and back inserts for the cages. Recommended for modelers with moderate experience- you will need to drill out and open up the cage pieces of the kit, and you may need to open up or remove the area designed to insert the side pods into. The "door" access areas are left open to reduce costs, but you can cover them with the kit's part.

Coming soon - 12" Eagle Cage Framework

Not looking forward to all that drilling and filing? Check this one out then. Still in her testing stage at the moment.

ACCESSORIES

Sci-High Models - Space 1999 Accessories

The following can be obtained from the Sci-High site.