Concept Spacecraft

Willy Ley Space Taxi (1959)

Willy Ley Space Taxi - 1

Monogram Early Logo

SCALE: 1/48

INITIAL RELEASE: 1959

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY: (2)

 

Willy Ley Space Taxi - 2

 

Willy Ley Space Taxi - 3

Willy Ley Space Taxi - 4

 

Willy Ley Space Taxi - 5

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

Another classic Willy Ley design, the "Space Taxi" or "Space Buggy" is, in the description found on the 1969's re-release box, an "Intraspace cargo/passenger carrier designed to move men and material between space cargo ships and manned space stations."    Its clunky, purely functional design is typical of the brass-tacks engineering aesthetic that characterized conceptual spacecraft during the second half of the 1950's.

Despite its non-aerodynamic shape, the "Space Taxi" proved to be popular enough to warrant multiple re-releases following its 1959 debut.  In 1969 it was released with chrome-plated astronauts and machinery cages (the version shown here), and it was released again in 1996 along with the "Passenger Rocket" as part of Revell/Monogram's "Selected Subjects Program." 

This is a refurbished "chrome" edition from the 1960's.

 

Willy Ley Space Taxi - Original Monogram Box Art

Original Box Art

 

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