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Moonbase Alpha status report.....

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  • Member since
    March 2011
Moonbase Alpha status report.....
Posted by Eagle-1 on Saturday, March 19, 2011 5:04 PM

Good evening everyone.

Just joined and my second attempt at a post since introducing myself.  Please forgive the content to anyone not interested in my particular object of obsession.

 

Many here build Gerry Anderson related subjects?  I mainly concentrate on Space:1999 and UFO hardware myself and was just kinda wondering if there will be many here to converse with?

 

How do y'all post images and I'll post a picture or two of what I spend much too much time doing.

 

Thanks for the privilege folks,

Rob.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Central CA
Posted by Division 6 on Saturday, March 19, 2011 5:48 PM

You wouldn't by chance be the same person that posts builds on RPF are you?

There have been a few Eagles built, one recently.

The search our community function to the right of the screen will lead you to threads on posting images.Wink

 

Welcome to the forum, having grown up watching UFO and Space 1999 I'll be looking forward to seeing your builds.

I'm guessing you already know about the Eagle Transporter forum.

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Saturday, March 19, 2011 7:01 PM

Thank you!

I think that question about posting images at the RPF is a fairly broad statement?

LOL!

I am a member of the RPF, I'm Eagle-1 there as well.  Actually, Eagle-1 everywhere I can recall!  My main hang out is the Resin Illuminati though.  I have certainly heard of the Eagle Transporter forum and have absolutely NO desire to frequent there.  As strange as that may sound, given my time worn screen name, there is absolutely nothing of interest at that particular venue.  There was a time it held great promise, sadly, no more, I'm afraid.

Anyhow, as I said, my main interest in the Hobby is Gerry Anderson and I have completed numerous projects, many of those being Eagle builds.  I have also completed other Anderson projects also.

Here's one that is NOT an Eagle:


http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4421a.jpg

 

Thank you again for the tips and advice!  If you enjoy the picture.....and it shows up......I can post more.

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Central CA
Posted by Division 6 on Saturday, March 19, 2011 9:24 PM

I remember that build, really nice work.

I recognize your name from several forums (RPF, Aliens Legacy and a few others) but I have encountered a number of different people using the same names on different forums so one can never be sure.Smile

By all means post away, I'm sure many here would enjoy seeing some real scratch building especially if it's in studio scale.

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:58 PM

Thank you Division 6!

Here's the other two from that same series, same episode.  The "Flat Top" is well underway and the "Dome Tank" will be started shortly.  The hard part is over as it has taken years to research and find all the original pieces Mr. Bower used to make these.  He did all three in a week.  I'm still foolin' around with 'em after YEARS!  LOL!  Y'all know that's how it works.

 

Anyhow, here was one of the absolute toughest things to find.  This is an old butter dish from the UK back in the 60's.  Took quite awhile to figure that one out and THEN try to find one.  As luck would have it, I found two.

http://members.cox.net/hobby/Butterdish.jpg

 

Here's and example of the "Flat-Top" tank.  Mr. Bowers original build courtesy of "The Catacombs".

http://members.cox.net/hobby/Flattop.jpg

Here's an example of his original "Dome Tank", again borrowed from "The Catacombs".

http://members.cox.net/hobby/Dometank.jpg

 

Here's my attempt, so far, at the "Flat Top"

http://members.cox.net/hobby/1.JPG
http://members.cox.net/hobby/2.JPG
http://members.cox.net/hobby/3.JPG

 

Enjoy!  Critique, advice, suggestions and comments are certainly welcome!  Better DURING a build than AFTER, I say!

Rob.

 

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Maine
Posted by Stage_Left on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:12 PM

Eagle- welcome! I don't build much sci-fi myself, but I take more than a passing interest in the genre. I remember watching Space 1999 and building the MPC Eagle 1 when I was a kid. Kinda wish I had left that one unbuilt in the box now, lol.....

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:41 PM

Not necessarily Stage_Left?  If you enjoyed it, that's all that counts, my friend.  Yes, they are certainly worth WAY more than they were when they were in the TG&Y's, but look at it THIS way......

 

If you wanted one now, you would have to pay out the nose!

 

Wink

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 26, 2011 4:19 PM

      hi there.  infact, i have posted one of my first attempts at a eagle about a year ago. l have collected all of the episodes and most of the printed material.  but i then, i mostly scratch build trek stuff.  welcome in out of the cold cold space, and into a eagle hanger.

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Saturday, March 26, 2011 6:34 PM

Hey ap!

 

As you can probably tell from my ID, I do likes me some Eagles too!

 

Here's a 22" Eagle Transporter I built a while back.  All the sections come apart and I made two passenger modules for it as I like the one with stripes too.

 

http://members.cox.net/hobby/2A2B.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/22AB.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/A22B.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/AB22.jpg

 

As I said, I mainly build Space:1999 and UFO.  Here's the Command Module I have scratch built for the larger of the studio scale HAWKs seen in Space:1999.  This HAWK winds up at around the 32" mark.  This CM is made from vacuum formed parts that I made by FIRST hand making the bucks/plugs, vac formed styrene over them, cut out all the pieces and assembled them into what you see here.  This was the first one to make sure everything went together as it should so that any changes could be discovered and corrections made.

 

http://members.cox.net/hobby/angle.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/anglea.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/angleb.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/bottom.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/downward.jpg

 

Here's ALSO, a half scale size to that one, the smaller one from the same episode, that I also scratch built around the same time, using the exact same methods as I used for the big CM..  The half scale is around the 17" mark when done.  This one doesn't exactly match the half scale HAWK seen in the episode, but rather the large HAWK.  I like the overall look of the large HAWK much better than the actual small HAWK and since I was doing the scratching.....well...Angel

 

http://members.cox.net/hobby/halfang.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/halfbot.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/halftop.jpg

 

Now, from time to time, I have built other models.  Here's a $.99 cent  "Hobby Lobby" special I picked up in the clearance rack.  On this one, it's built almost directly as per the instructions...almost.  I did make the exhaust headers from aluminum rod I bent into shape and I added all the wiring, tubing and braided hoses.  Other than that, she's a bone stock 1:25 Eddie and Ercie Hill Top Fuel Dragster!  Can't beat the way it turned out for 99 cents!

 

http://members.cox.net/hobby/penn.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/penn1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/penn2.jpg

 

This next one, I haven't exactly finished yet.  It started out in life as the 1:24 Aoshima "Road Warrior" version.  I'm turning it into the "Mad Max" version by adding all the things seen in THAT movie instead of the gutted "Road Warrior version.  To do that, I've had to scratch the entire rear including heat forming a rear window and scratching most of the front lower area under the front bumper.  I have also removed the hood to make it operate and thinned the spoiler on the roof down to something closer to 'seen on screen'.  There's more planned for this, but here's where it's at.

 

http://members.cox.net/hobby/maxfor.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/newfront.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/newglass.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/newtrunk.jpg

 

I hope you guys wanted to see some of this.  If you didn't, I've made you mad....LOL!

Rob.

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by spadx111 on Saturday, March 26, 2011 8:40 PM

Welcome Sign to the forums.

Ron

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 27, 2011 3:02 PM

nope, i couldnt tell by your id,   i had to read a little too.....lol

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Sunday, March 27, 2011 3:27 PM

Yes

 

You did figure me out though!

 

LOL!

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Sunday, March 27, 2011 3:54 PM

Welcome, Rob!  It's good to have you here.  I've always enjoyed seeing your Alpha Tanks.  I hope to someday make studio scale copies of my own.

Could you, by any chance, tell us the dimensions of details on those butter dishes?

matt

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Monday, March 28, 2011 12:28 AM

Hey matt,

 

Thank you sir!  Glad to be here.

 

Matt, yes, I could, can and will give the dimensions for that dish, all the components and every other detail about ALL THREE studio scale Laser Tanks from Space:1999.......... at a little later date, if you wouldn't mind?

 

I have some plans I would like to finalize first.

 

Wink

 

I will, that's a fact!

 

Rob.

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Monday, March 28, 2011 12:29 AM

matt, please don't be offended by that last post?

 

Here's a little bit of info that WILL help and you would certainly need this if you (apparently) plan to build the Flat-Top tank and just a sample of the kind of information I will be providing for everyone just a little later....

 

1/25 TAMIYA/MOKEI JagDpanther kit #DR-2008-1800

Here's a note on this kit.  TAMIYA, as with many of their older kits, has re-issued this kit several times.  You
have to be VERY particular when searching for THIS particular kit of the JagDpanther.  The one you will need is the very first issue of this kit as this one has NEVER been the same in any later releases.  This kit was completely re-tooled after the initial release and, you guessed it, this SUPER RARE, HARD TO FIND, VERY EXPENSIVE initial release kit is the one Mr. Bower used.  It very rarely shows up for sale and was available in two versions.  One labeled as 'remote-controlled' and one labeled as simply 'motorized'.  These two kits ARE identical, but either HAS to be the initial release version.  NO OTHER TAMIYA JAGDPANTHER KITS WILL PROVIDE THE NEEDED PARTS FOR ANY LASER TANKS.  This one IS used for both this 'Eagle' type AND the 'Flat-Top' tanks built by Mr. Bower originally.

 

Now, I could STILL give you those DIMS you asked for?  A PM work?

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Dublin Rep Of Ireland
Posted by terry35 on Monday, March 28, 2011 4:49 PM

Hi, Rob and welcome, well all I can add is just to check out my avatar!

I'm also a hoge Anderson Fan, sometimes I even renew my subs with Fanderson.

As for Eagles, well 17 at the moment. 3 -22inch AB models, 1 -23 inch signature edition from Product Enterprises. FAB 1 from product enterprises as well. Comet miniatures Eagles.

20inch interceptor. 14inch SPV.

All product Enterprises smaller stuff , stingray, fireball, UFO. Captain Scarlet.

Well lets just say I'm an Anderson Fan.

/forums/t/57321.aspx

Terry.

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Sunday, April 10, 2011 12:16 AM

Hey Terry!

 

I completely understand, I'm afflicted with the Anderson bug myself.  Sounds like you've got a nice collection going there too!  I've got umpteen of all those myself and I must admit, they ARE cool!

 

Spent the past few days making molds and pouring RTV and resin for the newest projects I mentioned earlier.  I've pulled several castings at this point and they are all coming out really well so far.

 

Here's an example of some of the parts that will be needed.

 

attachment.php?attachmentid=49967&d=1302378375

attachment.php?attachmentid=49968&d=1302378375

attachment.php?attachmentid=49969&d=1302378375

attachment.php?attachmentid=49970&d=1302378375

attachment.php?attachmentid=49971&d=1302378381

 

What y'all think?

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Monday, April 11, 2011 12:22 AM

Hi, welcome to the forums. Nice work man. Cool

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Monday, April 11, 2011 8:49 AM

Hi Rob!

Sorry, I missed your reply until now! 

Eagle-1

matt, please don't be offended by that last post?

No worries, your reply didn't bother me in the slightest.  I know it's a lot of work to research the parts Mr. Bower used, and it is quite expensive to gather the necessary kits to get the parts.  I thouth that you might not want to share ANY of the information from your hard work.  I just took a chance. Smile

Thanks for the information about the Jadgpanther kit, I think. Wink

I figured that a lot of parts for the tanks would be hard to come by, I realized that I would have to scratch the parts or find something that "resembles" the parts I would need.

Eagle-1

Now, I could STILL give you those DIMS you asked for?  A PM work?

That would be great!  I'm really looking forward to any other information you care to share. Big Smile

m@

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:46 PM

Hey matt,

Forgive my delay here.  I can't ask anything else as long as I've waited.  I apologise.

Ok, here are the DIMS for one cube of that butter dish.

http://members.cox.net/hobby/cube.bmp

Each cube is, of course, identical.  There are 91 total cubes on the entire butter dish.  7 rows of 5 across the top, 2 rows of 5 at each end and 2 rows of 7 for each side.  Each cube is 3 mm thick of which about 1 mm is the surface of the inside which holds all the cubes together......if that makes sense?  Also, each cube is slightly depressed in the center of the outer surface of the cube.  I tried to indicate what that sorta looks like with that bitmap, but that may not express it too well.

 

Now, since I waited so long to give this info to you like you asked, I decided to go ahead and post it here instead of in PM.

 

May I ask why you actually wanted to know the DIMS of one cube?  The reason I ask is, if this was so that yo8u could replicate them, why don't you just let me send you a set instead?

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington, DC
Posted by TomZ2 on Thursday, June 9, 2011 12:40 AM

Nobody gets to see the WIZARD! Not nobody! Not no how! … Oops! Wrong greeting! Never mind …

I’ve been a fan of the series since … oh, roughly since lunar storage area #2 cooled. The physics were strictly from hunger, but there were moments … Koenig breaking the four hour jigsaw puzzle record for one.

I thought that one short story in the Space: 1999 comic, #6, had potential. Commander Koenig and a self-referential John Byrne (the artist) were marooned in an Eagle that had been cut it two by a meteor and turned the drive section into a St. Catherine’s wheel to show the Alphans where to send the rescue ship.


I loved the modular structure of the Eagles / Hawks / Transporters / space tanks / whatever.

Occasional factual, grammatical, or spelling variations are inherent to this thesis and should not be considered as defects, as they enhance the individuality and character of this document.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 9, 2011 5:10 PM

come to think of it, i have in my long forgotten model boxes, a japanese eagle model.  a dinky toy ( i think).  it is about 3/4 scale of the normal eagle.   i planned to build a eagle launch pad, with that eagle.   but first, since i am into starships.  i have a few to complete first.

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Thursday, June 9, 2011 7:16 PM

Eagle-1

Actually thought you were a fellow I know in a newly formed model club. Going to his place tomorrow night for a meeting.

His main area of science fiction is assembling replicas of the models used in Space 1999. Did some parts mapping of a few ships he hopes to build part for part like the original film models. He too has trouble finding the original Tamiya Jagpanzer in 1/25 scale.  

www.smallartworks.ca

Above is the link to his business. Living the dream he builds film model replicas for a living.

* Drop him a E-mail, the 'butter dish' you shown on a previous post is something he has difficulty obtaining, I believe he cast resin copies of one yet wants a original.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Thursday, June 9, 2011 10:21 PM

Hey SF,

No, that ain't me.  I have heard of him though.  Good fella! 

The Tamiya kit, for me anyway, wasn't so much hard to find, they show up on ebay fairly regular.  What makes THAT kit bad is, it doesn't go for less than around $800.00 and I've actually given up at the $1200.00 price.  Rare, yes, but more importantly....EXPENSIVE.  Now, believe this or not, there are actually TWO versions, as with most 1:25 Tamiya tank kits from that era.  This is a late 60's version.  Back then, what Tamiya labeled as a "remote-controlled" kit, meant they had this hand-held control box wired to the tanks and allowed for forward and reverse on two seperate (most of the time) motors.  Reverse on one and forward on the other and you've got a turn.  The OTHER version of this kit simply contains a motor with NO remote.  Turn on a switch under the tank and it would crawl forward till the batteries died or fell off a cliff or you grabbed it and turned back off.  Normally, the remote version would be the expensive one, right?  NOT in this case.  That NON-remote motorised version is three times as rare as the remote version and REALLY goes for big dollars!  The thing with this tank is, they are BOTH strictly 'collectors' kits.  The tooling for this kit changed damatically on the very next issue of this tank and it has never been the same as that initial release since.  The other 1:25 kit needed for any of these builds, the 1:25 Tamiya British Chieftain, has remained (practically) the same through all it's re-issues over the years, so it's not in the same 'collectors' boat.  While the actual kit of the Chieftain HAS remained the same all these years, there IS a big difference in the one single release that just so happens to be the same one Mr. Bower ended up using, so it DOES make finding the actual exact kit originally used just a little tougher than most think.  There are parts in the kit Mr. Bower used that have NEVER been in the Chieftain kit since.  That's a fact.  Found out by accident myself.

 

That butter dish was tough.  I'm not denying that.  10 years looking.  The fact that it was a butter dish wasn't even known by ANYONE doing Space:1999 until I found the dish a couple years ago now.  It was always thought to have been "3M rubber stick-on appliance feet", but no one knew which actual type.  However, once I found the first one, I found another within a week.  Once I had the first in hand, knowing the maker and a few other details, it makes finding them so much easier.  I now know there were several different colors of this thing (on the base, I should say, as I own a green and an orange and have seen a blue and white) and there is an exact same type without the cubes.  Just straight, slick acrylic sides on it.  Same maker. 

 

Kinda like the illusive "Cake Pillars" used all over Space:1999 hardware.  I have NO PROBLEM finding these now once I bought an original box of four.  The actual maker of these known now, they actually show up more than you think.  Now, the mattress vents that are also used........different story.  I had to rely on a friend in the UK to send me a few of these originals since they have ALWAYS been simply cut out of old UK mattresses even WAY back when Mr. Bower used them. 

 

Both typing fingers hurt........LOL!

Rob.

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Friday, June 10, 2011 5:45 AM

Sounds like you & James are dedicated to building Space 1999 film models exactly like the originals.

He has a few motorized Chieftain tanks, both before and after the molds / parts changed. I suggested scratch building parts in question and he would have nothing to do with anything accept the identical parts off the exact model / version / release as Mr. Bower used. Fanatical dedication to perfection!

Parts mapping is a hobby in itself! I identified a few on a shuttle built for the series (shown only in one episode) He was thrilled to say the least, the parts were representing some sort of rocket motors. The parts were the bottom of rail gun shells, I knew this as I have a 1/144 scale 'Thor' 60 cm mortar 'in progress'

Too bad the manufactures do not realize the demand for these out of production kits, even more unfortunate is the original molds may have been changed / modernized or lost in storage.

I take you live in UK? Will say hello for you at the meeting tonight!

(need to cut loose early as its game #5 of the Stanley Cup play-offs, its a Canadian thing eh!)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Friday, June 10, 2011 7:25 PM

SuppressionFire
Sounds like you & James are dedicated to building Space 1999 film models exactly like the originals.

You certainly have described me, that's a fact.

SuppressionFire
He has a few motorized Chieftain tanks, both before and after the molds / parts changed. I suggested scratch building parts in question.....

well, as I said, the Chieftain itself has NEVER changed.  It's still, although it's latest incarnation is a 4 channel remote control job, exactly the same kit it's always been.  The pieces I'm referring to actually didn't have a thing to do with the kit at all.  Tamiya actually includes these pieces in other kits!  There is NO 1:25 46ton British Chieftain tank kit made by TAMIYA that won't work perfectly for these tank builds. NONE.  I have better than a dozen.  The 1:25 Jagdpanzer you mentioned earlier is the only one used on these that has changed completely from what was originally used.

 

Not being willing to settle has indeed slowed my progress on this stuff, but I was able to eventually get it.  That statement is a little curious about others doing this though.  Strange.

SuppressionFire
I take you live in UK? Will say hello for you at the meeting tonight!

 

Not even close!  Unless, by "UK", you mean parts UNKNOWN?  I live in deep south Louisiana, in the good ol' US of A, just about as far south as you can go before you fall into the Gulf of Mexico.  Originally a 'redneck' from deep south Mississippi, to a 'coon-ass' in Louisiana.  I am now 'officially' a 'red-ass'!

LOL!

 

Yes, Please do send along my salutations to your friend when you next meet.  Tell him Robert Hobby said "hi"!

 

Rob.

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Saturday, June 11, 2011 8:37 AM

Indeed,

Deep south eh? Yes I said hello, seems James knew who you were!

He is working on a prototype and fixing a original studio model, I could elaborate but they I would have to kill you!Dead

Well sounds like you get a fair share of Cajun cooking! Some of my favorite dishes.

How I though you were British was the connection to 'Space 1999' and assumed you live near the studios they filmed the series at.

Have a good one eh!Toast

Jason

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by Eagle-1 on Saturday, June 11, 2011 2:48 PM

Yes, I'm that guy!  No, he knows of me, but by no means knows who I am.

Sounds like interesting projects!  Good luck on those from me.  Tell him (if they're Space:1999) I'll help if he needs.

Just had boiled Crawfish yesterday!  Don't get no better'n that!

No sir, not British in the least and have never been NEAR a studio of any kind!  If that doesn't give folks hope with some of this, I don't know what does.  I like it and am too stubborn to settle.

 

Rob.

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