CPM MPC MPC825 Space:1999 Eagle Transporter 22 Long Plastic Model

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The three are readily distinguishable by the panel detailing on their leg pods. In particular, note the upper outward facing sloping face of the pod, decorated on Eagle 1 by a round Saturn V part, on Eagle 2 by a square Gemini part, and on Eagle 3 by concentric rings. The Airfix Eagle 1 and Geoffrey Mandel Starlog blueprints are based on Eagle 2; the Tokuma Shoten blueprints are of Eagle 3. Although the recon pods look similar to the transporter pods on the outside, they are equipped with various types of sensory devices for exploratory missions. The recon pods also contain a computer that can either be tied into Alpha's master computer or work self-sufficiently. Rescue Eagles Although the model is –mostly- pre-assembled and it is completely decorated. The deco look is a relatively clean looking Eagle reminiscent of mid-season one appearance of the filming miniature. All of the logos and technical markings are present as is a modest amount of surface paneling and the weathering on the boxes inside the cages. Engine bells come unattached. This was done so that collectors could opt to upgrade to the aluminum engine bells included in our Deluxe Accessory Set. The original miniatures were 1/24 scale, chosen for the availability of scale items such as ladders and because it worked well for filming. MPC’s model is half that size, so it scales to 1/48 and is about 22" long. There were actually 7 models: one 5 1/2", one 11", two 22", three 44". The landing pads are sprung, not hydraulic.

In Step 7, make sure the short end of parts 14 and 15 are attached. I painted the tubular frames then glued them in place around the walkways, setting the parts aside to dry completely. Eagles are serviced in the mammoth hangar complexes directly beneath the four main launch pads. A crew of Eagle engineers is responsible for repairing or replacing damaged components, and maintaining the Eagles in flight-ready condition. Alpha supports a fleet of twelve Transporter Eagles, twenty-six Recon Freighters, and two Rescue Eagles on 24-hour alert status. Building the landing-leg modules presented no issues and I marked each one when finished to be clear about their locations. After painting, I added them and the propulsion unit. The surface detail is first-rate with sharp edges and clean lines, but the framing that links the major sections is marked by obvious mold seams. They aren’t difficult to remove — a few scrapes with a knife and sanding are all that's needed — but there are a lot of struts in the model. I filled ejector-pin marks on many of the struts, too, so initial construction is slow. I built and painted the long spine frame, then added the fore and aft connectors. Next, I attached the module with the supplied screws, which make for a secure connection but they are visible on the model. I filled the heads with superglue and painted the screw white to blend them with the model.

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The 160cm Superswift is another superb design, and took Bower three weeks to build. The model has sadly been very battered and many parts have been ripped from it. It is undergoing extensive rebuilding. For many years, the only models were MPC’s 1/72 scale kit — re-issued several times by Airfix and AMT/Ertl — and an Imai offering in 1/110 scale. There has been at least one resin 1/48 scale Eagle. The cargo pod, identical to the passenger pod in configuration, is used for transporting supplies and equipment to exploration teams on a planet's surface, and for the return of native elements essential to Alpha's environmental and reprocessing systems. Freighters can also be used for refuelling Eagles as space-borne tankers, transporting additional fuel to Eagles with insufficient reserves to return to Alpha. Following up its big 1/48 scale Space: 1999 Eagle transporter released in 2015, MPC has scaled the ship to 1/72 scale which makes it about 14 inches long. The kit includes a stand, optional compressed and extended landing gear to pose it on the ground or in flight, and markings for three spacecraft. I also used MPC’s aftermarket metal engine bell set.

Fans of Gerry Anderson’s only live-action TV series Space: 1999 have long desired a big-scale kit of the iconic Eagle transporter. The utilitarian craft, clearly inspired by the Apollo program, were arguably one of the short-lived sci-fi show’s highlights. Attention, all sections Alpha. This is Commander John Koenig. As you know, our Moon has been blasted out of Earth orbit. We have been completely cut off from planet Earth. The iconic Eagle Transporter spacecraft from "Space: 1999" is launching for sale in summer 2021. (Image credit: Hero Collector) Bower built the two scales of Mentor's Psychon ship, 122cm and 66cm. The larger model was built around the tank of a vacuum cleaner. The graveyard includes the following ships: I spent 24 hours building MPC’s Eagle and recommend it to intermediate modelers and above looking to add one or more transports to their collection.The model was not displayed at the Space City exhibition but was held in storage. When the exhibition closed in 1981, collector Phil Rae was helping Gerry Anderson create a new exhibition in the Pleasure Beach for one season. The Moonbase base was too big to move or store, and was due to be destroyed. Rae removed the buildings and some of the travel tube spokes; the launch pads and plaster base were fixed to the base, which was too big for Rae to transport or store. The individual buildings were stored for many years, until collector Andy Hopkinson bought them in the 1990s. They were then bought by collector James Winch, who has cleaned and restored many of the buildings. It is now on permanent loan to the National Film and Sci-Fi Museum, Milton Keynes, UK. The Satazius was 130cm and originally green. It was repainted yellow and publicity photographs were taken before it was decided to paint it green again for filming. It was designed to resemble the Sidewinder vehicle from the Thunderbirds episode Pit of Peril. The Archanon cruiser is 215cm long, and was built by Bower between Year One and Year Two. Again, the design is obviously inspired by the Discovery in 2001. The original nose section was not in good condition when last seen. Space Warp The Eagle is the innovation of special-effects master Brian Johnson, who designs and executes all the models and special-effects sequences used on the series. Johnson's other credits include Thunderbirds and UFO (also Gerry Anderson productions), and MGM's 2001: A Space Odyssey, although his name did not appear on the screen credits. According to an interview in the British publication T.V. SciFi Monthly, the inspiration for the squat, insect-like Eagle did in fact come from an insect- a grasshopper:

Not only will we be bringing other variations of this classic ship to life, but it marks our first foray into the rich worlds of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, which occupied so much of my childhood. It's my hope that other people will enjoy these Eagles as much as we do, and that we'll have the opportunity to see other classic ships take flight over the months and years to come." Cut out Eagles, based on photographs of the early 112cm and 56cm Eagle (before Alpha insignia was added), can be seen in several episodes, some more obviously than others. The Eagle hangar scenes in Breakaway and Earthbound are quite good, although the publicity photos of the Kaldorian ship reveal the cut outs rather badly. Cut outs can also be seen in The Full Circle, Guardian of Piri and War Games (in the last, being blown up). Unusual buildings were built by Martin Bower for the planet, featuring leg pods from the Airfix Eagle model (many of these have been broken off the model as it is today). One 112cm tall tower was made from a swing-bin. Another, 84cm tall, features three towers one made with a slide projector carousel. A third building, a landing platform, was 72cm tall. The Immunity Syndrome The impressively detailed Taybor's gun was built by Martin Bower, hence the radically different design (inspired by the science fiction paintings of Chris Foss). It is 55cm diameter with the swivelling turret and adjustable barrel 104cm long. It was made from Perspex shapes fitted together like a jigsaw.The second 112cm Eagle model appears for the first time. This was also built by Space Models. The first 112cm Eagle model also had its first repaint. Fits are mostly good, but I used filler on the boxes, landing-gear pods, feet, and some strut junctions. A second 112cm/ 44inch Eagle first appeared in The Last Sunset (built by Space Models). Although the nose cone was cast from the first (in fibreglass, instead of perspex), the moulding exaggerated slight asymmetries, notably that the lower part of the cone was flatter (it was then mounted upside down on the Eagle, so the upper portion is flattened). Also the "eyes" are not aligned (the plan and profile shots in the Tim Heald " The Making of Space: 1999" book show this clearly). Bower discusses the creation of the model in detail in the magazine "Bowerhouse", issue 1 (August 2008) pp 4-13. Guardian of Piri I followed the instructions and assembled the crew module followed by the fore and aft walkways, painting subassemblies as I went.

Scenes of Eagles exchanging pods were rare: Dragon's Domain, Testament of Arkadia. The nose cone was only separated twice: in Missing Link (a special "damaged" nose cone was made, with aluminium foil and exposed pipework) and Dragon's Domain. The major components are molded in white and the landing gear and engines' bells are gray. In theory, you could build it without painting. Detailed color and decal instructions are given on the sides of the box's lower tray. The rescue pod, a standard pod with red vertical stripes. Seen in Earthbound, Missing Link, Space Brain and Collision Course. It did not appear in Year 2. Only one side had the red stripes (if the pod was turned round, it represented a standard pod). The laboratory pod first appeared in Guardian of Piri. It can also be seen in the end title credits, Voyager's Return, The Last Enemy, The Metamorph, The Exiles (a clip from The Metamorph), All that Glisters, The AB Chrysalis, Seed of Destruction, Space Warp (a pod in the Eagle hangar) and The Immunity Syndrome. In several of these - Guardian of Piri, The Last Enemy, Seed of Destruction, and The Immunity Syndrome - there are glaring continuity errors as the Eagles have standard pods in other scenes. The pod is based on a cargo pod base (hence the large square feet, as opposed to the narrow legs on the standard pods). Note that the detailing on the end doors is convex, rather than indented as on standard pods (and the set interior). I find that if you make spacecraft, and so on, rather insect-like then you are half way there. That seems to be the way our technology is going. Take Concorde as an example.I added the engines and landing gear. The springs for the legs fit precisely and the working suspension performs well. But the fits are close so take care not to foul the mechanism with glue. An article on the Moonbase model appears in Sci-Fi & Fantasy Modeller volume 22, July 2011, p85-92 and volume 23, Oct 2011, p93-98, by Bernie Walsh. Launch pads Includes Full-Colour Decoration Guide- Provides Painting and Decal Placement for Three Passenger Pod Schemes The real alien ship was built by Bower with projecting panels inspired by the alien craft in the series UFO. The ship was a late addition to the script, and Bower had just one day to create a rather crude model with only one side detailed. Dorzak