Now that I’ve
reached the end of the 12” Eagle Episode sets which have been released so far,
here are a few previously published photos of the Sixteen 12 Collectables die-cast Alpha Moon Buggy which was wheeled
out way back in January, 2019.
It’s a
highly detailed studio scale replica around 120mm long. Although it’s marked as
1/24 scale the detailing isn’t really based on one of the actual studio special
effects model. Rather it’s based on the full size live action studio prop – the
real life, Amphicat, using markings more associated with Year 2 of Space: 1999.
(The Amphicat,
many will remember, also featured in the late sixties Saturday morning
TV children’s show, The Banana Splits
Adventure Hour, as ‘Banana Buggies’)
The die-cast
Sixteen 12 model has a removable highly detailed Moonbase Alpha astronaut
gripping the Amphicat’s two steering
levers. The helmet, labelled ‘Sissons’ has a clear orange tinted visor. The
detailed back pack has an air- pipe joined to the helmet. The shoulder insignias’
is very well detailed. The astronaut gives the buggy its scale, of course. I’ve
read that some of the studio buggy props would have used model astronauts from
the Revell 1/24th scale
Gemini Capsule kits, the same ones used in the 44” Eagle props.
(Like many
of the models seen in most Gerry Anderson’s TV series’, scale is open to much
debate. When it came to studio props, there were several different sized scaled
buggy models used in the series: 200mm;
120mm; 60mm and 30mm. A much larger 460mm was also used in a few Year 2
episodes)
I’ve added a
photo showing the Sixteen 12 model’s dashboard detail which, on the studio prop
was added to for Year 2. The side had a large ‘5’ and small ‘8’ on the side. In
year 1, this was just the smaller ‘8’. Unsurprisingly, during the filming of
episodes, changes did take place with the full size version, so I think it’s reasonable
to say that the Sixteen 12 model is fairly accurate snapshot.
There are one
or two minor, and I mean minor inaccuracies which might irk some, but are
certainly not deal breakers to me. The Sixteen 12 buggy looks to have a
brighter yellow colour than the studio version, not that it’s noticeable unless
you happen to have a studio version nearby. Of course, the original prop’s
duller colour could just be down the dust on the lunar surface set.
Something a
little more obvious is the astronaut’s gloves are grey rather than white, but
as the suit wrist bands are also white, I reckon the grey gloves give a little
definition.
Finally, the
rear aerial looks to be a little too short, maybe by around 50mm, but
considering when I initially removed the model from its packaging I couldn’t
find the aerial which was well hidden in the box’s wrapping paper, I think I
can cope without 50mm, believe me.
