Space dropship WIP updates

I wanted to wait a while before posting any pictures of this, I kinda wanted to post a completed work for once, but with continuing health problems I am only making limited progress on my stuff.
Anyway, the inspiration should be immediately evident to fans, especially MBAM, no attempt is made to hide or deny it.
I'm ready to skin the body, but I'm working on the landing legs.
Hope you enjoy!




Everything was built using materials lying around from old home repairs. I decided to do this as a low dollar build.
I'm actually farther along now, the supports for the spine have been added and the engine module rails have been installed ( I'm building that as a removable unit so I can move the model easier.)
I want to use legs similar to the original, like the ones in these pictures, but I am changing them to reflect the materials I have to work with.


As always, suggestions and criticisms are welcomed!

Is this the ship, the Eagle Transporter, from Space:1999? I’m just guessing, mind you.

Looking great so far. How big is that?

Stryker2011 wrote:Is this the ship, the Eagle Transporter, from Space:1999? I’m just guessing, mind you.

Very much inspired buy it.
I'm not trying to build a replica, too much detail for me and it has been done by professionals before. ( 44" )
What I am shooting for here is a model of the correct scale ( 14' based on the scale of the 44" model ) with a command module at the front, engines at the rear and a replaceable central passenger area.
The current frame I see about 9' long. I expect at least 2' for the cockpit and similar hang out for the engine nozzles.
I want to have four corner, compressible landing legs and the center module will be hung with magnets.
The cockpit module is significantly different from the Eagle, I'm working with Adventure Team Mobile Support Vehicle cabs, ( you can see them on the floor) but you can see that I am basing it on that ship.

scalawag wrote:Looking great so far.  How big is that?

Currently it's at 9'. I anticipated a total length of 14' when finished.
I'm working to complete this in a week or so.
I want to finish at least one project this year!

Looks like a very solid and yet ambitious project. Going with a (dis)assembleable design makes very good sense. Looking forward to later stages or finished product.

You have to made a SF Movie with that !

Reminds me at this

Ephiane wrote:

You have to made a SF Movie with that !

Reminds me at this

For sure! That is the inspiration!
For reasons relating to available materials and my skill level, the finished unit will probably have a very " distant relative " look, but the Eagle is the root of the design.

That is going to be awesome. Already a massive size, and excellent start. I can't believe I guessed the origin correctly. I haven't seen that show since it first aired.

Stryker2011 wrote:That is going to be awesome. Already a massive size, and excellent start. I can't believe I guessed the origin correctly. I haven't seen that show since it first aired.

A 1/6 scale Eagle would be badass, but I don't have that level of skill for detail.
Still, there is more than enough room for me to create something that fits with my campy style and be fantastically large.
Hoping to post updates tomorrow, I have been working on the landing legs all day.

This is going to be cool. Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Hot damn, this is awesome!!! I love the look of the PVC pipe design! And the landing gear look so awesome. I'm really excited to see this build come together. So epic!

ReverendSpooky wrote:Hot damn, this is awesome!!!  I love the look of the PVC pipe design!  And the landing gear look so awesome.  I'm really excited to see this build come together.  So epic!

Thanks! The landing gear is actually someone's custome for an Eagle model. I was showing them mainly for reference.
I completed my first prototype landing leg, but the Mrs. said it looked like a lamp, so I have started over. Hope to post the revised unit soon!

Good luck. Our better halves generally have a way of pointing out our flaws, don’t they...

Stryker2011 wrote:Good luck. Our better halves generally have a way of pointing out our flaws, don’t they...

Absolutely, but in the nicest possible way. As soon as she said it, knew she was right. I was trying so hard to avoid a direct copy of the Eagle gear, I made the goofiest looking pod and it sure did look like a lamp shade!

Well, if it looks like a lamp, it's one damned epic looking lamp.

Great work, man. Looking forward to the progress and am real impressed by what's there already.

WOW!! That's one ambitious build! Coming along great and extra kudos for doing it with hampered health as well!

dadrab wrote:Well, if it looks like a lamp, it's one damned epic looking lamp.

Great work, man. Looking forward to the progress and am real impressed by what's there already.

shovelchop81 wrote:WOW!! That's one ambitious build! Coming along great and extra kudos for doing it with hampered health as well!

I haven't totally scattered the parts from the "lamp".
I might post it just for ideas or advice if I can get it to stand again ( I did not make any permanent connections )

For my health, I have an appointment coming up on June 6, hoping for some answers.
There have been so many crazy stories in our local news that I was even moved to have the house checked for Carbon Monoxide. ( no problems, which I am glad for as the furnace is only 3 years old.)
A couple in the area had breathing difficulties for a few months and found out their furnace was bad.
I'm bummed that I could not turn the garden this year for my bride, but I can fiddle with my 1/6 stuff well enough at least.
After almost 20 years of push mowing a couple acres, I had to break down and get a zero turn, it is all so foreign to me, I'm used to being physically functional.

OK, here is the original "lamp" version. It is shown extended and compressed.


The yoga block will attach to an acrylic "foot" to increase the stability, though the block itself is pretty solid.
Here is the basic setup, minus the cooler chest cover. I have not added the scissor pivots, but they will be attached as well as the return springsto load the legs.



I like the basic shape of the cat treat boxes, and I have four, but they are not chiseled in stone. The cooler chest idea was just a cheap cosmetic way to cover the piston and spring assembly when it is finished. Like the Eagle models, the legs are going to attatch to the model structurally, so what I cover them with does not have to bear any load. I have plenty of hose, wire, lights and other fluff to dress up the final product. In extended form, I have close to 2 1/2 ' of overall height, so I have plenty of clearance and they won't look too small for the frame.
Thoughts?

That first photo did look rather lamp-like... can't blame your wife for thinking so. But I also think I see where you were going with it and it was perfectly logical.

GubernatorFan wrote:That first photo did look rather lamp-like... can't blame your wife for thinking so. But I also think I see where you were going with it and it was perfectly logical.

I'm pretty comfortable with the foot,piston and the scissor assembly I have.
I think the cat treat box works well, it gives excellent support to the tube and once painted, I'm sure it will really look the part. I may even keep the cooler chest lid, if the "pod" will work with it.
What I need is a box, large enough and light enough to cover the piston while looking "right" . I may try to make something out of foamboard tomorrow.

I love this kind of build!

Takes me back to the days of Mat Irvine in the BBC SFX workshop. People would build ships out of old tape decks, hoovers, you name it. Such fun!

CHEERS!

Since there will be four of them attached to the body you don't have to worry about the 'lamp' issue as they'll only be parts of much bigger piece over all which is the silhouette you need to worry about, not not the shape of the parts to you get there. Great idea using foam coolers for body fillers, nice and light but secure enough as long as you don't drop a hammer on them!

Rogerbee wrote:I love this kind of build!

Takes me back to the days of Mat Irvine in the BBC SFX workshop. People would build ships out of old tape decks, hoovers, you name it. Such fun!

CHEERS!

shovelchop81 wrote:Since there will be four of them attached to the body you don't have to worry about the 'lamp' issue as they'll only be parts of much bigger piece over all which is the silhouette you need to worry about, not not the shape of the parts to you get there. Great idea using foam coolers for body fillers, nice and light but secure enough as long as you don't drop a hammer on them!

Thanks guys. The coolers were only $1 and I bought 2 extra for practicing.
As much as I hate the mess from this foam, I am considering cutting one down to see if that helps. The spring goes inside the pink tube, so that is as high as I have to cover. I can cut one pretty short and still have it work.
I'll post later if it looks useable.
The hard part I am having is, every time I think of making something in foamboard, the shape looks just like the Eagle. I was hoping to not make a blatant copy!

You can cut foam with a hot wire, makes no mess at all, works just like a wire cheese slicer but wear a mask especially since you have breathing difficulties. Or you can use a fine hacksaw blade to minimise any mess but get good clean cuts fast. If you have a straight razor (throat cutter) they work well to. I had to make a lot of foam prototype models when I was doing my product design degree, although we did use the denser blue foam which is far more expensive, I think half the courses budget went on that stuff and we'd often have to ration it! LOL. I had much more fun in the workshops using MDF and the vacuum moulding machines .