Eagle Transporter from "Space: 1999" (Syndicated 1975-77)

SCALE: 1/72

INITIAL RELEASE: 1975

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY: (3)

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

The Eagle Transporter was the workhorse vehicle of "Space: 1999's" Moonbase Alpha.  Featuring a purely utilitarian, non-aerodynamic form designed to function in the hard vacuum of space, the Eagle could serve as a personnel transporter, cargo carrier, flying infirmary or mobile laboratory, all depending on the customizable service module snapped into its central position.

Heavily influenced by the designs of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and built by special effects whiz Brian Johnson (who had worked -- uncredited -- on that 1968 Stanley Kubrick epic), the Eagle was a credible lunar utility vehicle.  But although it was clearly designed to work in a vacuum and the low gravity of the Moon, Eagles were often shown flying through planetary atmospheres and taking off from high gravity worlds -- something only possible through the magic of special effects.

The 1/72nd scale Eagle 1 has been released by numerous companies since the mid-1970's, including MPC/Fundimensions,  Airfix and AMT/Ertl.  (Japan's Imai also released its own 1/110-scale version of the craft in the late 1990s.)  Although widely criticized for it numerous inaccuracies, this kit was nonetheless the only "Space:1999" vehicular model to be generally available in injected-molded polystyrene between 1975 and 2000.  It has since gone out of production.

This model is an original 1975 issue -- and is due to be replaced by a more artfully constructed 1990's AMT/Ertl version sometime in the near future.

Original Box Art

Airfix Box Art

AMT Re-Release Box Art