I'm just going to go ahead and post this one in one post, so there are a lot of photos.
This kit is another example of the sort of thing being produced more and more these days in that it is really a model of a model. It is an extremely close match to the primary studio model used most in the series. Ans there is a lot of plastic in the box.
I did the project with the windows masked off almost the entire time.
On the studio model the "windows" in the lower half of the cockpit are black. I sprayed a tint on them that would allow some light out, as an experiment. I wanted as much light as I could justify on this model, even though the studio model has minimal lighting.
I changed my mind about the tint later and blacked out these lower windows completely. Really it just looked like a light leak,
This is constructed just like the "real" craft. The cockpit has two figures and a back wall but no other interior detail.
On amber LED with defusion (some tissue paper) gives a nice even light.
The spine was slightly tricky in that it is large and has to be perfectly straight. It is the primary structural element of the model. A large flat surface is needed.
Like the studio model, this construction is done in modules that can be all but completely independently. In the show, the idea was that the Eagle was a modular craft that could be reconfigured in various ways. This idea is reflected in haw the studio model, and this kit, are designed.
It was surprisingly time consuming. For example, each section has to be prepped, primed and painted with the final color. Even weathering and some decals had to be done at early stages since many surfaces will become unreachable.
The studio model goes together exactly like this.
I lighted the engines with blue LEDs. It was ticky figuring out how to get power into the rear section. I'm not sure how people do this. There is no completely internal path.
I used UV LEDs for the thrusters under the craft. I also placed an on/off button and external power jack here.
None of the engines are lighted in the show.
I painted the inside of the center module windows with Tamiya clear smoke. This work just as I'd hoped. The windows are black when the lighting is off, and lighted but opaque when the light is on. Nice warm LEDs complete the effect.
I like the look, even though once again, these windows were all black in the show.
I wanted to place some port of landing lights in the front landing gear pods. Getting the wires into there took careful planning since again, the parts have to be nearly complete, paint and all, before assembly.
The front and rear sections had to be painted and weathered in three layers as more detail goes on.
These parts are actually not symmetrical, although they appear so. Like pother parts of the craft, it's critical to pay careful attention or the components will not line up.
Here's a test fit with lighting. It still works! At this stage though the front widows were still masked. i could see the light inside.
The rear cage was crazy. There's many parts here, all having odd turns and angles. There's any number of ways to assemble this incorrectly.
Blue LEDs...
At this point it's becoming clear how big this model is.
Getting started with decals... There were a lot of decals, 100s of them. I think I spend 2 or 3 days on decals.
The moment of truth after finally pulling of the masking from the front windows. It all worked! even the thin white trim line around the windows are there top and bottom.
And the completed model... This took longer than I expected (they always do), but the result is pretty nice.
Space 1999 was an odd series. The premise of the series was laughably ridiculous, even at the time. But the writing was excellent - true science fiction - which is rare in television. And the visual design, the Eagle in particular, stole the show. It still looks great.
See the whole album for this project here:
See the whole album for this project here:
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