Does this look familiar to anyone?

Eagle-1

Sr Member
Hello folks,

I'm working on a studio scale build of another of the three laser tanks from Space:1999.....as usual. I would like to ask everyone if these look familiar and what your ideas are as to where they may have came from?

http://members.cox.net/hobby/sphere.jpg

They were suppose to be EMA parts, but after a few hundred bucks worth, I certainly haven't had one that matches them yet. NONE of the Plastruct/EMA parts that I've received so far have those ridges around them, so I thought I should ask if anyone has seen anything like these before? They would be only half of complete sphere individually because that's a piece of styrene sandwiched in between two "dome" halves.

Thank you all for any help of ANY kind.

Rob.
 
Look like Plastruct Hemi's to me bud, and, that ridge, looks more like a length of tubing running around the join, its not a full lip, it kinda dips in where it meets the hemi half! Not any kit part im familiar with anyhoo!

lee
 
Hello Mr. Lee,

Thank you sir!

That "lip" is a piece of circular styrene sandwiched between two domes. Unless EMA used to make those domes with those ridges and have discontinued them, I've bought one of everything they make in the sizes it should be. Actually, a couple sizes up from and down from the guesstimate.

I have also bought one of every single kit they sell that has anything to do with a dome......or sphere........or ball!

Yes, it does "dip" slightly. Reminds me of where a cap may have snapped on, kinda like what would be on on of those plastic capsules you would get from a gumball machine........maybe????

One thing here, like with most of what we all do, this would have been available before 1974 and would have originated in the UK......

As if it wasn't causing me enough greif already.

As I said though, THANK YOU. I welcome any and all ideas, thoughts or maybe's!

Rob.
 
Hi Rob, is it this part from the Airfix 1/144th Saturn 5?. Kind of looks the same to me. Diameter of outer ring is 41.5mm. Could be these parts stuck back to back?.
Stu
 
Hey Stu. I'm afraid that's a little big. The dome size (less that center ring between them) is 35 or 36mm (1-7/16" or 1-13/32"). That, plus there are no ridges on that piece from the Saturn V kit....neither Airfix OR Monogram. I've got several of each of those Saturn V's and 1-B's from Airfix, the Sat V from Monogram and the Revell 1/96. It's not in those.

The domes we're looking for won't have that center ring on them. That is a piece of styrene sandwiched between two domes.

The thing they most strike me as, are those capsules you get from a gumball machine. That small edge just below those ridges look just like where the snap on cap would have went. Those could have VERY possibly have had ridges on them too way back in the late 60's early 70's. They used to be made from hard clear plastic (maybe some still are) instead of the polypropylene type material many are today.

Thank you guys, I really appreciate the help here. I'm still diggin'!

Rob.
 
I dodn't have easy access to it at the moment to check, but could that be one of the H ydrogen or oxygen tanks from a Revell 1:24 scale Gemini Capsule.

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/real/pre_rev_gemini.htm

Given that the Saturn V's were so widely used, it's quite possible that other space kits were on hand to modellers to canibalise.

There were several sizes of spherical tanks in the Gemini kit, this could be one of the larger ones.
 
Thank you Mr. paulrw,

No sir. Those are much too small in the Revell kit. Mr. Bower used that kit extensively in his builds and I've got several, so no need to dig that one out.....

HOWEVER,

This might be a good idea.

Did anyone make a 1/96 scale Gemini capsule comparable to the Revell?

Rob.
 
Last edited:
Guys,

If y'all think more pictures would help, just say so.

That piece attached to the domes with the holes in it is from the Revell 1/260 POLARIS "Show-Off" Nuclear Submarine. There are also several pieces of this Revell POLARIS Sub kit all over all three Laser tanks from Space:1999.

I could take some measurements off these known pieces and put something together with some DIMS?

Anything y'all might need to help me?

Rob.
 
Hello Mr. Lee!

Yes sir, that was my thoughts on this as well. Those ridges are certainly actual ridges and not just drawn on or anything of the like (as has been suggested). I have a good many pictures of these tanks and in one, it shows the tanks in question with a scratch in the area of those ridges and it pulled a little paint out of a couple of the ridges.

Rob.
 
Hi Rob, have you asked Mr Bower himself ? I contacted him recently about fonts for thunderbird 2 and he was very helpful.

Cheers

Phil
 
Hey Phil,

Yes sir, I certainly have. Correspond with the gentleman on a regular basis in fact.

His recollection of them are EMA domes.

Rob.
 
Thank you very much to anyone trying to help me here, I really appreciate it.

It can be done. I just found this that Mr. Bower used on the rear deck of his "Flat-Top" tank build.

http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4530a.jpg
http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4531.JPG
http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4532.JPG
http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4533.JPG
http://members.cox.net/hobby/DSCN4534.JPG

It did take a couple YEARS to find that one though!

I found the radiator for the rear of the "Flat-Top" tank in no time at all compared to those cubes.

It's tough, but it certainly can be done. It's even tougher due to the fact that Mr. Bower could have literally used ANYTHING.

Oh well. Thank you everyone for keeping an eye out for me on this.

Rob.
 
This thread is more than 14 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.
Back
Top