Catacombs Model GalleryEagles
Catacombs Model GalleryThe original 112cm/ 44inch Eagle took two months to build. It was built by Arthur "Wag" Evans of Space Models, with model makers Gary Dickens, David Seymour and John Phillips. At the same time they built the 22 inch Eagle and the 11 inch Eagle. They were delivered to the studio in pristine white primer, and were "dirtied down" by Terry Reed. The 44 inch model was used in several crash scenes, and refurbished during filming. There was a major refurbishment for the second series, including a copper ring around the engines so that they could fire freon gas, simulating rocket exhaust.
After the series finished, it was repainted and displayed in the Space City exhibition in Blackpool from 1977 to 1981. It was then displayed at Alton Towers theme park from 1982 to 1989.
Phil Rae acquired and restored the model in 1990 (photos). It was regularly shown at UK conventions. Phil sold it to David Sisson in 2002, who did more extensive refurbishment (photos). David displayed the model at many UK conventions (for example, 2015, 2019).
The model was put up for sale at a London auction on 9th November 2021, and sold for £125,000 (about US $153,000).
The first 44 inch Eagle ("Eagle 1") as it appeared in the initial episodes of Space 1999, with Moonbase Alpha beyond. The pods and nose cone have less panel shading, mostly drawn by pencil or ball point pen, shading with pencil smudge and some black airbrushing. Also note the "Moonbase Alpha" decal, which has orbits around the Earth and Moon (apparently drawn by hand). Later in Year One the orbits do not appear.
Publicity pictures from mid-year 1 (The Last Sunset or after). Note the "Moonbase Alpha" decals are a darker blue than the Year 2 decals seen on the Eagles in the following pictures. Under the spine at the front, one of the two lunar landing modules is gone. New grey and light blue panels have been added, and less heavy airbrushing. It would be repainted again near the end of the first series, painting more light grey over the blue panels, outlined with pencil to show up on camera. There was some crude weathering added by airbrushing light grey primer in places.
The Eagle as it is now, restored by David Sisson. See David Sisson's article on restoring the original miniature (http://davidsissonmodels.co.uk) (also printed in Sci.fi & Fantasy Modeller presents Modelling the Eagle, 2016). See more photos: 2005, 2014 with Eagle 2, 2015, 2019
The command module is a perspex mould. The original master pattern did not have the "eye" windows, sensor dishes or panelling, so they were cut out manually. At first, both the top and bottom windows were clear perspex; after a few episodes, the lower windows were painted black.
Notice the round Apollo Saturn V kit piece on the side of the leg pods. The red rectangles are vinyl Sasco Year Planner stickers (they were painted orange later in Year 1).
There are two 1:24 scale Revell Gemini astronauts inside.
Replica steps and moonbuggy. The 1:24 scale doesn't fit more careful examination, and a better scale may be 1:28. The black panels on the passenger module were also originally transparent. After a few episodes, they were painted black (on the inside); later passenger modules didn't have perspex windows at all, just black panels.
Details of the rear engines. Note the mounting pipe in the back, between the four rockets. The ring of tubing around the rear engines was added for The Metamorph (supplying freon gas for the rocket exhaust seen in the episode).
The main body is painted with a car paint, a light white-grey primer from Trimite (very similar to Ford Diamond White). Very light grey and light blue panels were painted (with Humbrol enamel paints), and over-sprayed with the base primer.
The feet in Year One were the same white as the rest, although darker due to being "dirtied down". In Year Two the feet were replaced with thicker pads painted in grey, seen here. Another difference in the feet is the number of rectangles on top of each lobe. Actually these are 3/4 inch long Sasco year planner vinyl labels (intended for office walls)- the same labels are the red markers on the side pods and engines. There were five on each side in Year One; there are six in Year Two.
Front view showing the command module. Notice the screw holding the passenger module in place.
The model was repaired and repainted after filming finished. When Phil Rae got the model in 1990, it was painted plain white with no detailing and no Alpha markings. Based on limited reference, he restored the model, but certain details were inaccurate. The black cockpit windows were painted to the edge, but there should be a white edge around them. The correct decoration was restored when David Sisson acquired the model.
The main body and passenger pod of the Eagle. The "windows" on the upper sides are simply black (the frames dividing them into 3 panes are actually just painted on).
Rear views.
The PropStore auction catalogue for 9 November 2021 showing the Eagle.
Contents copyright Martin Willey