The Continuity GuideMoonbase Guide
by Martin Willey
Graphics by Roberto Baldassari
The Continuity Guide
All interior rooms in Moonbase Alpha are constructed from standard wall units, each 4 foot wide by 8 foot tall. They are beige (like the uniforms), not white as they sometimes appear on screen. New sets could be quickly and easily created by fitting these standard units together in different configurations.
The panels were made by Terry Curtis of the prop company Space Models; Space Models company name and logo ("SM" in a circle) appear on some panels, such as these under the Big Screen. Perhaps because it was so obvious, they put a black label over the text nearest Helena, but the "Space Models DataFix Ltd" is legible to camera on the nearer panel.
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The computer panels were made up of 8 individual panels, each 2 foot by 1 foot. They are dark gray in colour, rather than black, and illuminated with flashing lights. The labels on the top panels read "X5 Computer". 
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This variation of the computer panel has a central panel, 4 foot wide by 2 foot high, with three black and white screens. The two small screens are 9 inch (18cm x 14cm), the large screen is 12 inch (24cm x 118cm). This design is also used in the Eagle passenger module. 
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A variation seen in the Main Power Unit in Black Sun (Bergman removes the tall panels to access the circuitry). 
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Note the "empty" computer panels beyond, showing off the box framework into which the individual panels were fitted. Real-world data centres use a standard rack-mount chassis, originally derived from telephone equipment (the 19-inch standard was invented by AT&T in 1922). The moonbase computers reflect the real-world ability to slot in modular components. These empty panels, backlit in blue, could be seen in the observation room in Breakaway and the Computer Room in Black Sun and Space Brain. There are other empty racks, illuminated red, in Nuclear Generating Area 3. We also see the Main Mission computer wall with empty bays, with plain grey backs, in Another Time, Another Place 
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In Year 2 Command Centre had a new design of panels: two black panels, two red/yellow panels, and two gray panels. The gray and black panels are rows of buttons; the coloured panels are individually designed. They appear no-where else in Alpha. The panels were taken from the spaceship in Into Infinity.  |
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In Year 2 Medical Centre had a new design of panels: these are beige/white. In the first two episodes, the panels had the same type of 3 screen panel as in Year 1; later the panels used two small screens on the right side. 
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Apart from Command Centre, Medical Centre and Weapons Section, the rest of Alpha uses the same style of computer panels as Year 1. The only difference is that racks (around the individual panels) are dark grey, rather than white. Images thanks to Craig Rohloff. 
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Copyright Martin Willey
