When I was a kid in the 1970s I was fascinated by all things having to do with Space:1999's trademark Eagle spacecraft. I had a model kit of the ship from Airfix, a huge toy of the Eagle (from Mattel) and more.
And in 1976, ATV licensed "Crafts by Whiting" (a Milton Bradley Company) to create another variation on the famous Brian Johnson design: a so-called "mammoth model" for ages 10 to 16.
In this hugely complicated kit, "everything" was "included to make" a "giant size decorative model." The contents (unassembled) included "approximately 50 seventeen inch long straws, glue, die-cut printed parts and easy to follow illustrated instructions."
The assembled Eagle model was "over 3 feet long."
On the side of the mammoth model box, intrepid young modelers were reminded "It's as easy as one, two, three." First "position cut and glue straw parts over pattern sheet." Then "press out and assemble die-cut printed cardboard pieces." And finally "combine straw structures and die cut assemblies to complete spacecraft."
Today, I own one of these Mammoth Model Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter in its box, but have never, ever attempted to build it. The directions say easy as one-two-three, but I just don't believe them. Looking at the unassembled kit, it looks like the most complex thing imaginable. I'm afraid I would just ruin it.
So for now, and the forseeable future, I'm just going to enjoy the box art of this unique Eagle Transporter "Mammoth Model," and remember that I have an unbuilt Eagle at the ready should the fancy ever strike...
Cool! I would have loved to have one of these, although today I am quite happy with my Product Enterprise fleet of 12-inchers. (And no assembly required. :)
ReplyDelete~~Meredith
Hi Meredith,
ReplyDeleteI also love those Product Enterprise Eagles. Gorgeous machines. Unfortunately, also expensive ones! I have an Eagle with the lab module, and I adore it (though my cats knocked it off my desk and destroyed one of the main engines...)
best,
John
That...is... AWESOME!!!!! Want! LOL... Ya know, something about the model kids' pose makes me think of this as like a teddy bear... Can you imagine some extremely attached kid taking this to bed and sleeping with it...only to accidentally crush it in his sleep...
ReplyDeleteEagles are my second favorite sf ship after the original Enterprise, and they are also the ship that I've drawn the second-most amount of times over the years. I love their lines!
A flight of Eagles...what a dream!
Gordon Long
Hi PDXWiz,
ReplyDeleteI share your love of the Eagle Transporter, as my crazy collection of toys certainly reveals! I agree that this spaceship is right up there with the Enterprise in "cool" factor (and almost longevity too.)
All my best,
JKM
That is definitely awesome... Reminds me of some of the space legos of long ago, except that legos would be much, much harder to mess up.
ReplyDeleteI have picked up two of these of Ebay, one sealed in original plastic (which I will keep as part of my collection) the other will be a lazy Saturday afternoon project!
ReplyDeleteIs it just the angle of the model used in the box photo, or is the cockpit "bit" wrongly shaped? It looks from the photo to be far too pointed.
ReplyDelete