Martin Bower's Studio Scale 2001 Moon Bus

[Ikaros]

Martin Bower added a step by step build article (with many details) for his studio scale Moon Bus model from 2001: A Space Odyssey on his website here:

http://www.martinbowersmodelworld.co.uk./html/2001_moonbus.html

Don't forget to look at the Moon Bus gallery pictures at the end. It doesn't get better than this. Looks fantastic to me!!! :thumbsup

 

[phase pistol]

:eek

 

[eagle1]

Wow, it doesn't get any better than that does it?. Martins work is truly inspirational and the models he has built over quite a number of years are just mouth watering!.

Stu

 

[phase pistol]

I wish I could commission Martin to build something for me! :cry

 

[SSRN Seaview]

I enjoyed reading how Martin refers to the Aurora model.....

"The first thing I will say is that I was always surprised at how many people seemed to dismiss the AURORA kit as being inaccurate, & had called it quite a few other uncomplimentary names besides, because to me, whenever I looked at it & compared it with the photos & the film, it seemed pretty darned close in general proportions, if a little unclear on some of the details."

 

[Ikaros]

"The first thing I will say is that I was always surprised at how many people seemed to dismiss the AURORA kit as being inaccurate, & had called it quite a few other uncomplimentary names besides, because to me, whenever I looked at it & compared it with the photos & the film, it seemed pretty darned close in general proportions, if a little unclear on some of the details."

He's right about the Aurora kit being mostly accurate. You can tell looking at screen captures from the movie DVD that they got the bottom right too. This is one area that on the Monsters in Motion Moonbus kit they just completely made it up! But Aurora did at least have reference photos of the movie Moonbus to go by, if not some drawings too.

I have a scan of the Aurora pre-production study blueprints which show details that didn't make it to the final version of their kit. But the proportions seem a bit stretched in their study plans so maybe they were just trying to document details to possibly include.

The only major mistakes in the Aurora kit are the clear window pieces that are conformal to the outside shape of the hull, instead of being recessed behind the window frames like they really are. Also the passenger window frame strut (angles) are shaped wrong in the Aurora kit. Now all this talk makes me want to break out my old deconstructed Aurora kit and rebuild it!

Anyway, congrats to Martin for another excellent studio scale build!!!

Steve...

 

[cosmic_x]

thanks for the link...checking it out

 

[DivineHeresy]

I'm with ya Karl.
Love that model in the movie.

 

[modeleers]

What a GREAT Build! And how about him ID-ing & sharing the data on all those kit parts! (as it should be!) What a Class Act!
Re: Aurora Moonbus Accuracy - No surprise here, I've been saying that for many, many years. It's nice to have Martin B. validate my long-standing opinion on the matter.

 

[Ikaros]

What a GREAT Build! And how about him ID-ing & sharing the data on all those kit parts! (as it should be!) What a Class Act! Re: Aurora Moonbus Accuracy - No surprise here, I've been saying that for many, many years. It's nice to have Martin B. validate my long-standing opinion on the matter.

You should email him! He is a wealth of great information and always responsive to appreciative fans.

 

[Stormy320]

So to confirm. He built the Eagles for the Space1999?

Wow - I love that ship. I would love to have a 44"er.

I had the toy when I was a kid and my mom threw it away.

 

[Ikaros]

So to confirm. He built the Eagles for the Space1999?

Martin built 89 models for Space: 1999 including the second 22" Eagle. This Eagle is seen in publicity shots for Bringers Of Wonder but not actually used in filming. Be on the lookout for a complete new "SPACE 1999" set of photos any day now on his website he says.

 

[modeleers]

Re: 'I should E-mail him'. He already knows we enjoy his work, but the next time you write him, tell him Mikel/Modeleer said - Thanx (...for Everything!).

Re: Black-doors -But do tell him - he's a 'Bad Boy' for waisting our time by posting pics of an unfinished Moonbus. The nerve of some people!!! (just kidding!)

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

Just fantastic. Thanks for the link. Terrifyingly impressive wood-carving skills - especially on that Orion and Thunderbird 2...

 

[Emeldahay]

Martin built 89 models for Space: 1999 including the second 22" Eagle. This Eagle is seen in publicity shots for Bringers Of Wonder but not actually used in filming.

im unsure what your saying here -to be clear - Martin did NOT build the screen used Eagles?

your wording makes it sound he built other models but not any of the iconic ships seen on screen.

 

[boodha]

Beautiful! I always loved Bower's work. Thanks for posting this link

 

[Ikaros]

im unsure what your saying here -to be clear - Martin did NOT build the screen used Eagles? your wording makes it sound he built other models but not any of the iconic ships seen on screen.

I'm really not that sure myself on the 1999 stuff as you can tell by my careful wording. You should email and ask the man himself! He's always receptive to comments and questions and always sends a reply back with detailed answers.

 

[JD1]

No need, you're quite right. Martin only began contributing to the show as an outside contractor about a third of the way through the first season (episode 8: Alpha Child). The Eagles had already been made by an outside company called Space Models. They made the 44", 22", and 11" models. Martin did actually make one on-screen Eagle: the 5.5" one which is seen being drawn aboard Arra's ship in 'Collision Course'.

Martin made a phenomenal contribution to the production of Space:1999 with his design and modelmaking talents, but you should also remember that there was an in-house model crew at Bray Studios, led by Terry Reed, who constructed Moonbase Alpha, all the launch pads and landscapes and so on. They would also work with or adapt Martin's models from time to time, for example adding the large fuel tanks to the Swift for 'Brian the Brain', as Ron Burton's original design had nowhere for the airbrush cannisters to fit (to provide 'lift-off' gas jets).

Space Models made further contributions too, like the blue 'bottle' ship for 'Earthbound', and the SS Emporium for 'The Taybor'.

 

[franz bolo]

Thanks for the link!! :thumbsup

FB

 

[Emeldahay]

Thanks JD1 :thumbsup