wreck of the ..........

[raafif]

For years I've been thinking of rebuilding a few old kits & have gutted, paint-stripped etc several of them ready for re-work but never actually got around to rebuilding them as "stock" models due to the lack of replacement decals.  Here's 2 ships that I meant to re-build but my MaK kits need mods that could use several parts from them.


So do I wreck 'em & part them out or fix them up whif-style ??

As I've been drawing a few starships lately, it dawned on me that 99% of space-ship art (Deviantart etc) & models are designed by artists not engineers & so are too aerodynamic.  Now that's ok for anything small that's supposed to take-off / land thru an atmosphere but for small & large space-bound ships it's rather dull - I liking all the scaffold-ladders, spherical-fuel-tanks-out-in-the-open look etc etc .......

[Madhatter]

I say WIF the sh*t out of them! I much prefer a what-if to a what-is... So much more original thought goes into a WIF.

[Weaver]

Blend the two together: the Eagle never had enough volume devoted to fuel, so adding the tanks from the Lindberg Lunar shuttle should do nicely!

[Dr. YoKai]

Wreck 'em. Its not like nobody elese has ever built an Eagle....(Yeah, I'm evil ) The frames from the moon lander could be used to enhance the 'open structure ' look of the basic eagle frame...or...yeah the cockpit of the Eagle could be a decent Neuspotter style
Drone head...

Where did the "AFS Vs. Martians" illustration come from? Its really cool!

[Queeg]

You could use the ball shaped thingies to turn the Eagle into a tanker/transporter .....

I've always wanted to do a Spacewreck dio but think you're better off scratching that sort of thing and adding details rather than crashing a ship. Unless it's going to be shown sinking into a swamp ... swamp with vines .... and resin water ..... of course then use the whole Eagle ...... 

[raafif]

he he, I knew I could count on you guys to back me on whiffing it
Yes, I do intend to put those big round tanks from the Lindberg kit on the Eagle :)
maybe something like this ....


I also intend to swop out other sections of the Eagle to make it more "interesting" but still keep with the "Space 1999" story concept.  However I'm going to have to buy 2 more kits for parts which is getting extravagant considering the $60 cost.

Doc Yokai - that pic is a very early MaK poster by Kow - got it off the (now defuct) first Jason Easton site.

[Brian da Basher]

That's truly inspired, raafif!

Space 1999 is great nostalgia, but new and improved really gets me interested!

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

maybe something like this ....

Helium 3 transporter!

[Buzzbomb]

I just want to see the results, either way. But that Eagle rocks!

[father ennis]

I love your concept for the Eagle but don't forget the Moon ship. I been planning on doing something with the one in my stash. I would suggest you do some measuring on the tanks before you use them. I'm thinking that I would make a rectanglure box with the corners cut off to mount back where the tank was. I also thought I would make some open bins with tanks and stuff inside. Never have decided on a ffinal plan,though.  I was also thinking of detailing the legs ,etc. too.

[raafif]

I love your concept for the Eagle but don't forget the Moon ship. I been planning on doing something with the one in my stash. I would suggest you do some measuring on the tanks before you use them. I'm thinking that I would make a rectanglure box with the corners cut off to mount back where the tank was. I also thought I would make some open bins with tanks and stuff inside. Never have decided on a ffinal plan,though.  I was also thinking of detailing the legs ,etc. too.

Ditto along those lines for a couple of my models - more alternate boxes, trays, compartments, new leg assemblies etc.
I did use the capsule of one old Lindberg moon-lander on its own -- painted brass colour, added legs & mounted on a moon base ala some 19th Century Victorian moon-landing

[jcf]

Round2 is re-releasing the MPC/Airfix Eagle this coming December.
http://www.round2models.com/models/mpc/space-1999-eagle1

[elmayerle]

Interesting!  Anyone have drawings of what I believe was called the "Hawk" fighter derivative?  I've seen it somewhere and it stuck in my mind as an interesting variation to do with an Eagle.

[Weaver]

The Hawk wasn't derived from the Eagle, rather it was a completely new ship in a similar style.

Some good drawing here, and LOADS of stuff on a Google search: http://eagle.space1999.net/h_blprnts.html

[father ennis]

If you were to look a bit you might find the old Airfix kit of the Hawk. Of course we might get real lucky and it comes back as well.

[raafif]

there are a couple of Hawks on evilbay at the moment - one with an eagle kit as a double-deal but the postage gouge makes them verry expensive

Airfix Lunar-Lander kits are listed at a $10 start to $150+ ..... or £5 at UK boot-sales {:-((((

[father ennis]

I know what you mean. I sold the Hawk kit I had (bought at LHS for 10$US) for over 100$US.   When I sold a resin kit at Sci/Fi Cons,  it was 75$US !!!     

[elmayerle]

Got URL's for those Hawks on eBay?  My eBay search-fu appears to be weak and I couldn't find them.

[GTX_Admin]

Evan, try here

[GTX_Admin]

Also here

[GTX_Admin]

Or if you are sitting down...here

[elmayerle]

Thanks, Greg.  You pointed out my search error.  I found plenty now, including that double kit sale mentioned.  That's real tempting; particularly when you see some of the accessories available as detailing kits.

[elmayerle]

Or if you are sitting down...here

Yeah, that's a bit of "sticker shock".  I can hear my budget screaming "NFW!"

[bluesman]

I am working on a Hawk profile, I will post it here.

[jcf]

A 'fighter' derivative of the Eagle would be an interesting design exercise,
and one could probably come up with something much better looking than
the ugly Hawk. To my mind the Hawk has always looked too kluged, the
engineering of the Eagle mostly makes sense, the Hawk looks thrown
together in a hurry.

[raafif]

OK, I've decided to do this version (& keep the Airfix nose for my MaK kits as Dr YoKai suggested) - possibly with the fuel spheres instead of the cabin tho ...


After some research, it would seem that the Airfix Eagle is around 1/110th scale so I settled on the Revell 1/100th Lunar Lander kit as the cheapest way to go for a replacement cockpit pod. I think that if anyone else is going to copy this conversion they should go with the slightly larger Revell 1/96th Lander - even this very-small size difference should look better.

The Revell 1/100 kit is adequate for the scale with some detail that is equal to the larger Airfix kit, a small decal sheet with USofA lettering & a flag but no window glass, just holes where they are, so use Krystal Kleer or blank them off & paint gloss black.  It only has a few blemishes from worn molds.

I'm trying to soak the decals off the old Eagle's gloss paint job but they don't seem to be shifting - I may have to try use the caustic-soda bath & hope they survive ok which several other kit decals have when I've resorted to this method of paint removal.  A weeks work & I should have the bits read to start putting it all back together again.