Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club (PIC HEAVY!)

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

There may be problems with assembling the walkway with an aluminum bar sticking out the sides, and building/attaching the surrounding cage. To play it safe, I've started on the cage to help me wrap my mind around it!
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This is pretty straightforward: cutting the tubes to the desired lengths, curving the ends which run into the sides of tubes with a round file (covered with fine sandpaper, to make the size of the curvature the same as the tube thickness) and gluing the pieces together...one by one. I used a metal straightedge to help insure the pieces were going together at right angles, checking each assembly before moving on to the next.
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I also realized from looking at Eagle photos, that in order to be able to see the walkway interior when the model is finished, I'll have to extend the cut-away approach to the cage. Here are a few pictures of the approximate view which should be afforded once everything is put into place.
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Having this cage in hand, it's going to be much easier to visualize the assembly process. I left just enough width to be able to build non-functioning door pockets which my non-functioning doors will never slide into!:lol
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[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

My 8-9 feet of styrene tubing got used up pretty quickly! This is as far as I got, so I'll have to pick up some more tomorrow.
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I did end up making it to Home Depot today, so I picked up my aluminum rod and a piece of 3/8 in poplar to make the new bases for the forward and rear walkways. Now, I have to figure out just how the rod will integrate with the poplar so the connectors to the landing pods will be at the correct height. It looks like I won't need to bend the rod into a square 'U' shape after all. If I cut a groove into the top of the wood, I'll be able to run the rod straight through from one pod to the other without it interfering with anything, being that I'll screw the rod onto place beneath the floor level in the groove and just add the floor detail right across the top of it. I may end up using bolts, which means I'll cut a groove across the bottom as well, to bury the thickness of the nuts.
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I determined that the rod will work well at thirteen inches long, so I cut it and drilled the appropriate holes into the aluminum for the screws. I then countersunk the holes, and since I didn't have an appropriate bit for deburring the holes, I used a plain old flat file. Since this isn't the part of the build that has to look pretty, it didn't really matter if I got scuff marks on the surface or not!
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[deck5]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Having this cage in hand, it's going to be much easier to visualize the assembly process. I left just enough width to be able to build non-functioning door pockets which my non-functioning doors will never slide into!:lol

Really want to dissuade you from this. If you can imagine these little ships with nuclear engines, artificial gravity, shields, and whatever else, extend your suspension of disbelief far enough to encompass doors that are engineered to compress as they open. The door pockets look nasty.

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Really want to dissuade you from this. If you can imagine these little ships with nuclear engines, artificial gravity, shields, and whatever else, extend your suspension of disbelief far enough to encompass doors that are engineered to compress as they open. The door pockets look nasty.

I'll definitely keep that in mind, Deck5. Basically, is the "gain" worth the "loss"? There's going to be a lot of junk within the cage as it is, so I'm not really sure how the overall aesthetics will be affected. Having said that, I was expecting more of an obvious "Hey, that wouldn't fit" look to the walkway walls. I may end up doing as you suggest. But I have to decide soon, seeing as how everything affects everything else. I make the inner "box" of the cage a bit wider, then the outer sections of the cage are impacted, and I'm not sure I want to go there. Don't be surprised if I end up doing exactly as you suggest! Darren more or less said the same thing, when he asked why I was going to include door pockets, when my doors weren't even going to work.
You make an excellent point about suspending disbelief: it's okay "here", but definitely not "there"!! It's a package deal, in my opinion. You want to accept warp drive? Then the transporter, phaser and turbo-lifts come with it! And as I've said, since Space:1999 has a 'consistent inconsistency' about doors with nowhere to slide to, maybe that does indeed suggest some technology which makes it possible.
This is the first time I've ever shared a build process, and it is a fascinating experience. It's really helpful to get the input from others!
Whatever...I don't want to ramble! But thank you for your interest and in mentioning your concerns. It's appreciated, and no such thing as deaf ears here!

 

[SteveNeill]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Excellent! So clean.

Steve

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Forget what I said: the rods do need to be bent. Just caught myself almost making a very stupid mistake. I can't believe how careless I almost was...

 

[greylocke]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Correction, Greylocke: I meant to say that the foam board I normally use is 3/16 inch thick, not 3/8!:$

I've been using the 3/16th foam core. Though I found some at office depot that is 1/8th. The price however is almost 3 times what the 3/16ths from walmart. So I'll keep checking around the local shops.

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

A couple other sources I know of are Staples and CVS. Another (where I got mine, actually) is one of those craft supply stores. I'm not sure what they're called, actually, but it's one of those stores that has everything from picture frames to green paper Easter "grass" to yarn to decorative beads (the kinds kids use for projects).

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Sunday was not a good day. I didn't sleep well the night before, the guy I was riding into the job with was an hour late (and I skipped coffee in order to be ready to go), the job had unexpected complications, the guy who I worked with was moody and had a headache...you know, one of those days!:sick
Then I get home and suddenly realized (after my long-awaited coffee!) that I had erred in my assumption about the Eagle pods and the aluminum support rods. Either I had gotten a lot smarter since yesterday, or I was just especially careless yesterday. I suspect the latter. :confused
At least I had caught the error before I had committed to building any parts. But I did come to realize I need to assemble the gridwork "jungle gym" differently than I thought, so I pried apart the basic structures of the cage and tackled it fresh.
I built up the outer section of the cage, the part where the support rod will stick through to join with the pod.
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Then using a piece of thin corrugated cardboard, I proceeded to coat the cardboard with styrene, This piece will form the "shelf" just inside the cage which has all kinds of technological-looking gobbledygook on it.
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I then joined the shelf with the outer cage, then atttached the other side of the shelf to the inner cage wall. This will make it easier to attach the gobbledygook to the shelf from the inside, and also make it easier to build up the diagonal framework on the outside edges of the cage.
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I was determined to overcome the day I had, and this cage was starting to seem like a game of pick up sticks, so with these parts now attached, there's now a solid starting point for me to build the diagonal frames without it all falling to pieces like a house of cards in a moving vehicle while I worked!

 

[greylocke]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

It looks good. I can't wait to see how yours and Darrens all come together.

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

It shouldn't be too long now,greylocke, for that to begin happening. I just hope Darren is able to, as well! I haven't heard from him lately....hope he rejoins us soon!

The build of the cage continues. Then out of boredo...uh..I mean, in a flash of inspiration, I started detailing the "shelf" within. I didn't devote a great amount of thought into this part, other than to make sure everything was straight and neat. Mainly, a few cannister-looking things mixed up with odds and ends for a part of the ship that won't be particularly visible. I just had to make sure to leave free the section of the cage that the pod leg will stick through.
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With a table saw, I then cut the piece of wood that will be the new walkway floor (actually, I made two: one for the front and back ends of the ship), and cut the slot which will accomodate the aluminum bar. The second slot which is perpendicular to the first is in anticipation of the aluminum bar support which I anticipate will be needed for the passenger pod.
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Next will be to bend the center of the rod into a square 'U' shape, which will house the walkway. As you can see, corresponding slots have been cut into the sides for this.
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Stay tuned: things are going to get unbearably exciting soon!

 

[Chrisisall]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Heck...I'd even fly it as is!
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[Chrisisall]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Dude- buzzkill.
:lol

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Well, this can't be good: I just checked upthread to look for something, and I noticed that Darren's photos are no longer there. Curioius, I checked his thread on the Eagle Transporter forum, and they weren't there, either. Anyone know the potential cause for this?

 

[greylocke]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Hmmmm possibly he made a change to his photobucket account? A friend of mine changed some of the permissions on his account and they affected all of his photos instead of just the one folder he wanted to change. Darren might have done that by accident.

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

That's possible, greylocke...but it seems an odd thing to happen just as he's been absent for so long, save for his check-in last week. I hate to say it, but I suspect I'm going to be going it alone now..I hope I'm wrong!:cry

Got a fair amount done in the last 24 hours: I built the rectangular tube in the cage through which will fit the aluminum rod. With it, I was able to mark on the side of the landing pod its placement, so I proceeded to cut a slot in the side of the pod for the aluminum to stick through. I made it (the square tube) a little long so I could size it to the exact length I'll need.
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I started to build up the other side of the cage by taping it to the back of the other side of the cage, to better insure it's built to the same size. It's pretty important they come out more or less identical (even though "more or less identical" sounds a bit like "kinda sorta exact")! Once the main frame is built, I removed the tape, and now have two sides to work with.
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Time to make some more doo-dads for the center "shelf".
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I test-fitted the pieces of the walkway with the cage, to see if everything's going along okay and to look for anything that needs to be modified. I forgot to place the walkway a bit higher, maybe 1/4 inch, to correspond to its final placement, but I can see even as is that there won't be any problems. I had cut a small area out of the back of the foam board walls of the walkway to accomodate the aluminum, so the plastic which will eventually cover the walls will conceal it nicely.
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Placing a landing pod in place, and I must soon devise the method for attaching the aluminum rod to the pods. But my main concern for now is just the overall fit of the pieces. And unless I'm missing something, I think I'm in good shape!
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Here, placing the command module in place, it's actually beginning to resemble an Eagle. It's easy to lose sight of that, laboring over each separate little component.
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[Chrisisall]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Okay, I got my dose of awesome for today, thanks!:thumbsup

 

[LMFAOSchwarz]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

Beginning the passenger pod:

Since there's going to be an aluminum rod running from the front walkway to the rear section, I need to establish the exact length and contour (i.e. bend) of that rod. So, I cut out the bottom from a section of 3/8 foam board, and marked the 3/4 inch center line which will be carved away to house the rod.
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The bottom of the pod rests lower than the walkway, so that's where the bends in the rod (front and back) will go. I set up most of the existing model pieces at their appropriate relative heights to help me in visualizing this.
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I foresee some interesting challenges in the future. When the walkways are covered and detailed in styrene, the rod must be permanently bolted in place at that point before I do this. Hence, the connecting "pod rod" will be attached to them, which may create some interesting/awkward maneuvering to work around it (something akin to a giant styrene lollipop shape!). Then, the pod will have to be lowered into place, bolted top and bottom, then detailed while attached. It's also possible that the rear engines may be attached at this point also, since they may well need to be bolted or otherwise attached to the rear walkway. It might not be as bad as I envision, simply because all this is still ahead of me, but for now I'm just going to anticipate the worst. As long as I don't paint myself into a corner anywhere, it should be okay!
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p.s.: You're welcome, Chrisisall!:thumbsup

 

[greylocke]

Re: Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Build Club UPDATED 21/04 (PIC HEAVY!)

I hope You're not alone here soon either. And it is starting to look very much like an Eagle sir. I wonder if it would be possible to to mold and cast some new models based on what you're doing. I know I"d buy one or two in a heartbeat.