Eagle 1 Transporter by AMT/Ertl

The Eagle Transporter was the workhorse of the show and lifeline for Moonbase Alpha. These bug like spacecraft can perform every function from basic transportation and supply, to medical and defense needs of the base with their modular center pods. The design was different from any spacecraft that appeared on science fiction TV before and elements of this ship can be seen in many designs today, from the Space:Above and Beyond ISSCVs to the Deep Space Nine Runabouts.

Airfix and MPC teamed up in 1975 to issue several models from Space:1999, including the Eagle. Both companies issued Eagle kits, which included identical plastic parts, but featured different box art, instructions and decals. The kits stayed in production throughout the show's two season run and Airfix's issue stayed in production till around 1980. But, the models became relatively scarce after that and commanded high prices on the collectors market. For the longest time, the only Eagle kit available was a highly inaccurate toy-like model issued by Imai in Japan. All that changed when AMT/Ertl announced plans to reissue the Eagle kit.

AMT/Ertl's Eagle is a reissue of the MPC kit with a similar style box. The box art features an original artwork by H. Ed Cox. The instruction sheet has an updated version of the original MPC box art. The kit contains 41 parts molded in light gray plastic (the originals were molded in white). The decal sheet is a duplicate of the MPC offering, containing 15 markings. It looks like the mold has stood the test of time. The parts are mostly flash free and show no noticeable imperfections on the surface.

Detail wise, the kit looks okay when compared to the studio models. But there are numerous simplifications to the parts and accuracy does suffer a bit. The front and rear service modules have the most simplification. On the studio miniatures, these assemblies are really open cage structures that surround box-like, pressure modules. To save tooling dollars, MPC/Airfix filled the openings in the cages of the kit, leaving the modeler to fake the interior structures with paint. The four pods housing the landing gear are identical to each other on this kit, when the studio model they contain slightly different detailing. There should also be more plumbing around the main engines and the landing feet themselves need accurizing work. Other areas are simplified as well, but these are the most noticeable features.

Assembly on the model is very straight-foreword. Fit on the model is pretty good and the seams are pretty accessible. The command module nose does provide some challenge, but needle files will work in the tight spaces between the raised heat shield panels. The areas that will require the most work are the side thruster ports on the command module. The seam runs right through them and they lack the "flower petal" detailing on the effects miniatures.

Paintwork on the model is also pretty simple. The Eagles are basically white with some detailing colors. Instructions call for the center pod to be painted in the red and white striped rescue Eagle livery to give some color to this, otherwise, monochromatic model. But, the red stripes look to be too narrow in the AMT instructions. The stripe widths should be of equal length with five red stripes and four white ones. The side airlock doors and upper spine region remain white.

Decals include four Moonbase Alpha logos, four decals that line the side thruster quads and test pattern style markings for other parts of the Eagle. These decals match the original MPC decals exactly and are similar in layout to the Airfix decals. There should be six Moonbase Alpha logos, four for the center pod and two for the command module. The logos themselves are not very good, it's impossible to make out any of the writing. The profile looks inaccurate and they are black in color, not like the blue (first season) or turquoise (second season) logos seen on the studio models. The Airfix decals are better and ledgeable. But they are too large, the wrong color (red and black) and like the MPC sheet there are only four of them. The test pattern markings are somewhat conjectural, but they don't look out of place either. Some photos show that the Eagle has more colored striping and squares on it then what the decals provide.

The real challenge to detailing the Eagle will be weathering. The white paintjob really needs something to set it off, so basic techniques like applying washes and drybrushing will help and pastel chalks can really make this model stand out. Some form of detail painting will be needed to improve the appearance of the two caged instrument modules, if an out of the box model is planned, since they look rather plain otherwise.

For those that want a more accurate miniature, A-B Models in the U.K. has issued a 22" long, multimedia Eagle Transporter kit and plans to release a 44" miniature that matches the details found on the large effects model. But, these kits are expensive. The 22" one is already sold out and at last check sold for about $450.00. But, the AMT kit can be accurized. The November 1996 issue of Fine Scale Modeler features an article by Bill Norton on accurizing the kit and the work needed doesn't appear that difficult. I plan on doing such a project in the near future and hope to report on my success at a later date.

Accurizing the model is only the tip of the iceberg for the most ambitious modelers. The Eagle is a modular craft which has been seen with many accessories. The first episode, Breakaway, showed Eagles equipped with magnetic grapples for lifting nuclear waste containers. Other episodes have shown winch equipped Eagles. The second season episode, The Metamorph, showed the most radical Eagle of them all, equipped with a large laboratory module and auxiliary boosters on the upper spine. Eagle based spacecraft and probes have also been seen in various episodes, the most elaborate of which is the Ultra Probe, seen in the episode Dragon's Domain. The possibilities are limitless.

Eagle images can be found online at the Space: 1999 Cybrary and if you are looking for printed reference, check out Roberto Baldassari's Home Page. Robert published a four page set of Eagle blueprints and he is currently working on a full color cutaway poster. The craftsmanship is outstanding.

As it is, the Eagle makes a sound model for the beginner or a challenge for the intermediate modeler looking for something to test his accurizing skills on. The price of $16.75 U.S. won't break the bank either. Whether you remember the show and are looking to relive days past or want to try something different, the Eagle makes a nice addition to any science fiction model collection.

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