Lunadiver Manta

[Pete in Lincs]

Finally finished. My latest Kreiger scratchbuild of a Lunadiver variant, the Manta. A space based hunter killer.

I hasten to add that this is not an official part of the kreiger universe. I made it up.

I do have a Hasegawa Lunadiver Stingray kit, but hesitate to build it as I'm having too much fun doing these things.

Two Sea Kings, Two Whirlwinds, One Frog Wessex and various other bits and pieces make up this one.

(Oh, and a fair amount of filler) (The stand is ex Corgi aircraft, 50p from the car boot)

There is a WIP thread so you can see how it came together & that I didn't use a pristine Wessex!

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235043676-krieger-lunadiver-variant-manta/

Scale is 1/32nd and the main paint is IJN Grey from a Tamiya rattlecan.

The main entry point, A 1/24th Muscle car bit surrounding a 1/32nd Aircraft tyre. The wheel is ex Matador.

The grey bar is a common feature of kreiger builds, probably a radar device. It's actually part of a Revell P-38 Lightning. 

It goes under the stabiliser to stop the model tail sitting.

RH rear view. One of the Whirlwinds (Originally built in the early 70's & very rough!) Probably a fuel tank.

Close up of the LH engine. A bit rusty but hey, who's going to see it in space?

The black and yellow thing is the root of a Whirlwind rotor blade.

LH side. Yes, I think that is a Buccaneer bit you can see. And a V8 cam cover too. 

The cockpit has no windows so this thing is covered in sensors (painted green) for the computers to make up images for the Pilot.

RH front. The 'Martian' was inspired by an Octopus on the Revell Ventura.

The bit with the Skull & Crossbones is a debris shield for the fuel tanks.

It's actually a bit of leftover Bo105 Helicopter roof from a previous build. The original Lunadiver uses a Porsche 911 door!

LH rear. That is a 1/32nd P-38 wing with an Airfix 1/72nd Gnat upside down. Green aileron is now a sensor.

The unit that operates these things in space served previously in the Desert. (probably) Hence the Camel & swords.

A front view with the debris shields activated. (They swivel on Panzer axles).

The green nose sensor was a 1/72nd canopy. Guns were donated by a mate. (blue? why not?)

Fwd underside. More cam covers, Truck exhaust bits and solder pipework.

I have had that radar dish for so many years I can't remember it's origin. It stands on a McPherson strut though.

You can just see the tips of Martians tentacles (steady!) as he hangs on.

Yes, that's a tank engine deck. Honey, I think. Sea King dipper halves too. And Jerry cans in the middle.

Oh, and the bit sticking up on the tank deck is a 1/24th car jack.

Here the stand is clear to see. Painted Gunship grey. Inside the engine bell, the fins from an Airfix 1/24th

Typhoon, kindly donated by a fellow BM member. I'll call them steering vanes.

The back end again showing both engines. Looks like the vanes can rotate too.

The rod disappearing off to the right has a sensor on the end. I made it years ago to go on an Airfix 1/48th

TSR2 as a refuelling probe. You can see it attaches to the wing in the picture above.

 

And I think that's about it for this one. Comments are, as always, welcome. As are questions on the subject

from those who are wondering what they are looking at and why. I'll edit some of the text if it helps.

Cheers

Pete

 

 

 

 

[Vince1159]

Lovely job Pete,great conversation piece when anybody sees it....

[Pete in Lincs]

Thank you, it's better than just chucking away old kits.

(And more fun).

[TheBaron]

When you look at these old spacecraft you have to marvel at just how Armstrong and Aldrin ever made it down on to the lunar surface in one piece. With an onboard computer less powerful than a modern lawnmower and a hull made of Formica so thin that scientists were concerned that a collision with a single moon-pigeon could have spelt disaster, these were inspiring times. 

 

As Arthur C. Clarke so prophetically noted in his final work The Sands of Croydon: 

'Your work here is a powerful reminder of these epic journeys Pete.'

 

 

[Pete in Lincs]

Arthur C Clarke was in Croydon?

Probably signing on with all the other unemployed 'artistes'.

 

BTW, I have a book which proves the Moon pigeon was extinct by 1969. 

I think the author was one Alfred E Neuman.

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/xxx-d01-mad-alfred-18.jpg

[rockpopandchips]

You have captured the Maschinen Krieger look perfectly, an inspired build and great work.

[Gimme Shelter]

looks interesting

[Pete in Lincs]

On 10/29/2018 at 8:40 PM, TheBaron said:

The Sands of Croydon

BTW, I looked them up. Eric and Naomi Sands ran a B&B behind the Hippodrome in Croydon during the fifties.

Not a bad little business, but obviously spoilt by the noise of the Hippo's taking off and landing every five minutes.

Maybe it's time for my pills.... 💊

 

Thanks for the nice comments, Guys.

 

I can see that there are a few things wrong with the model,

I know it's out by a mil or so here and there but overall I think

I achieved the effect I wanted and I'm glad it's going down well.

[TheBaron]

1 hour ago, Pete in Lincs said:

BTW, I looked them up. Eric and Naomi Sands ran a B&B behind the Hippodrome in Croydon during the fifties.

Not a bad little business, but obviously spoilt by the noise of the Hippo's taking off and landing every five minutes.

Thanks for the new information Pete.

 

I remember an article in the Croydon Advertiser some years back that insisted that their business went under due to the imposing black monolith positioned at the foot of the bed in each room, which many guests found off-putting. That and the rapid ageing...

 

[Pete in Lincs]

21 hours ago, TheBaron said:

That and the rapid ageing...

I think I must have stayed there. 👴