SIXTEEN 12 SPACE:1999 IMMUNITY SYNDROME EPISODE SET

The latest special edition 12” die-cast Space: 1999 Eagle Transporters from Sixteen 12 Collectables .

This ‘episode’ set features Eagle 3 and the Re- Entry Glider seen in ‘The Immunity Syndrome’. 

As with all the ‘episode’ sets, the Eagle Transporter sports much more realistic hand finished aluminium engine bells and, of course all the usual detail. The detachable Passenger Pod gives rigidity to the model as the spine superstructure is made of plastic.  

Some people have complained that the grey panel highlights on the side of the pods are a little too dark and not well defined, but it doesn’t appear to be a deal breaker as the set is selling well, and almost sold out as I write this. 

The small Glider, approx. 5” long is made from plastic. It’s very light, but very nicely detailed. Close study reveals some of the small lettering is actually readable. The red and orange paint scheme on the original was apparently inspired by the colour of the Lunar Module seen in UFO, and is nicely reproduced on this much smaller model.  It does have a gloss finish which looks just fine, although I’m wondering how a semi-gloss might have looked.

The Glider is attached to the Eagle by means of a detachable rear cradle and a forward magnetic support drum. A simple idea, but it works a treat, although the Passenger Pod must be the right way round for the magnet to work.

The set also comes with a Moon Buggy, and a detailed rectangular launch platform, perfect for displaying the model.  

There’s even been a lot of thought gone into the attractive packaging. 

The back has a brief synopsis of the episode, with some accompanying photos.

For anyone who doesn’t recall the episode premise, Comr. Koenig and a team of Alphans’ visit what is seemingly a habitable planet, only to find it quickly changes to something more hostile.  Food becomes toxic and the metal parts on their Eagles corrode trapping them all on the planet. Only plastic or filament based compounds appear immune. Luckily, there’s a carbon fibre Re-Entry Glider stored on Moonbase Alpha. The Glider is carried on the back of Eagle 3 to the edge of the planet’s atmosphere. It’s then released with Helena and Maya on board who continue their journey through dangerous planetary weather conditions, finally crash landing on the surface . 

Don’t ask me why a Re- Entry Glider would be housed on the airless Moon in the first place, or why Helena and Maya chose to (at that point in the story) be stranded on the planet along with the rest of the landing party, I’ve really no idea, but whatever the reasons, the Glider itself is still a really nice looking model.

I saw one of the two original filming miniatures at the last Fanderson convention (and probably saw the smaller 16” one, too at the Blackpool Space City exhibition way back in the late seventies) which were both built by Martin Bower. A large 850mm version, scaled to the 44” Eagle, and a smaller 16” version. However, as it turns out the smaller scaled version was fitted to the actual Eagle, and the larger model used for the crash landing scenes, and for close ups on a separate enlarged Eagle spine.

The glider is closely based on an actual remote controlled lifting body called the Hyper III . Designed by engineer Dale Reed, and built at the then NASA Research Centre located at Edwards Air Force Base.  It had only one flight on December 12^th, I969 when it was dropped by helicopter from a height of 3000 metres and remotely guided to its only landing.  

So to sum up, apart from the niggle of the  pod highlights being a little too dark, I reckon it’s another winning collectable from Sixteen 12, and perfect for those who want a ready built model.  The Glider is a really nice accessory, with some great detail. Even the display plinth looks the part, complete with the bonus Moon Buggy.