Looking for 'retro SF' models - probably 3D printed?

[Rob de Bie]

I'm looking for one or more 'retro SF' models, say up to 1955, like the Willy Ley models by Monogram and Aurora. Pre-WW2 would be nice. One example, maybe a bit extreme, would be this manned rocket:

 

 

Since I can't think of many injection-moulded models, it's likely that it will be 3D printed models (or STL files thereof). Does anyone know of any models that would fit these criteria?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Rob

Edited December 28, 2024 by Rob de Bie

[Pete in Lincs]

1959 is a bit late for you then? The Monogram Space taxi 

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/6/5/6/237656-12192-65-t180.jpg

 

The Dick Tracy Space Coupe might fit. A 1968 model but a forties design.

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/3/1/2/170312-16253-31-pristine.jpg

[Rob de Bie]

Pete, thanks for the suggestions, I think they would qualify for what I have in mind. The doubt I feel is that Dick Tracy is hardly know here in the Netherlands.

 

I found more information on the red rocket that I showed in my first message. It's not some kind of Jules Verne moon rocket, but a planetarium device. Here's the full text to go with that cover:

 

"Rocket Ride is New Planetarium Exhibit"

 

"Rocketing through space at lightning speeds, encircling the moon, streaking past planets, racing with a comet -- these are some of the startling sensations promised visitors to an ingenious planetarium planned for an international exposition. Outside the domed structure, visitors enter a steel rocket ship fitted with circular windows. Wheeled through an arched doorway, the space ship glides onto a steel turntable where it is tipped upward, pointing into the heavens pictured on the inside of the planetarium dome. As chemical vapor illuminated by colored lights roars out of exhaust vents at the rear of the ship, specially prepared motion pictures are projected onto the circular ceiling to give the effect of speeding through space on a whirlwind tour of the universe." [Popular Science, p.65]

 

Souce: https://www.flickr.com/photos/57440551@N03/32596495383/in/photostream/

 

Rob

[Hook]

10 hours ago, Rob de Bie said:

The doubt I feel is that Dick Tracy is hardly know here in the Netherlands.

Hey, if I know about it, there must be more of us out there.   

 

How about this one? 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

 

[Rob de Bie]

6 hours ago, Hook said:

Hey, if I know about it, there must be more of us out there.   

 

How about this one?

 

Andre, thanks for the Pegasus Hobbies 1:144 Luna Rocketship suggestion! It's the subject of the one-but-last chapter of Mat Irvine's book 'Scale Spacecraft Modelling', and I like it! I didn't have Pegasus Hobbies on my radar, but the Dutch importer has an interesting list of Pegasus kits:

 

https://www.hobbytime.nl/producten/pegasus/sciencefictionpegasus

Rob

[Noel Smith]

There is a article in a very old 'special' named 'Famous Spaceships of Fact and Fantasy, and How to Model Them'.

Writer Rick Yager describes how he made Buck Rogers Golden Spaceship named 'El Dorado' using the old 1/32nd scale Revell Mig 21 kit as the basis of a semi scratchbuild.

Don't know if anyone has done it as a 3D print at all.

Edited December 30, 2024 by Noel Smith

[Rob de Bie]

On 12/30/2024 at 7:16 PM, Noel Smith said:

There is a article in a very old 'special' named 'Famous Spaceships of Fact and Fantasy, and How to Model Them'.

Writer Rick Yager describes how he made Buck Rogers Golden Spaceship named 'El Dorado' using the old 1/32nd scale Revell Mig 21 kit as the basis of a semi scratchbuild.

Don't know if anyone has done it as a 3D print at all.

 

Noel, thanks for the tip! Indeed it was a 'Scale Models' special, and what a great cover. Here's a nice peek ito the special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vdsurd0FgA&ab_channel=MrEModels

It seems there's another book(let) with the same name, by Fine Scale Modeler 🙂

 

 

Rob

[Noel Smith]

Rob.  I think that the MAP book is basically the same book with a different cover to the FSM one. MAP may have printed it under licence from Kalmbach Publishers at the time in the UK.

 

Just had a quick look inside my copy and saw that it was indeed a Kalmbach Publication originally, who as you probably know publish Fine Scale Modeler Magazine. So it sort of confirms that it is probably one and the same book apart from the cover.

Edited January 6 by Noel Smith

[Rob de Bie]

14 hours ago, Noel Smith said:

Just had a quick look inside my copy and saw that it was indeed a Kalmbach Publication originally, who as you probably know publish Fine Scale Modeler Magazine. So it sort of confirms that it is probably one and the same book apart from the cover.

 

Thanks for checking! That brings me to the idea that I need to check my collection of FSM issues for inspiration regarding 'retro' SF models..

 

Rob

[TonyW]

 The Eagle Book of Spacecraft Models might be of some help Rob. It turns up at auction fairly frequently. Basic plans, but very period looking.

 

Tony.

[Noel Smith]

The Eagle Book of Spacecraft Models.... Will have to look for that one. 

I was an Eagle comic reader as a lad.   Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future. A favourite of mine !

His spacecraft the Anastasia intrigued me by its looks.

[Rob de Bie]

7 hours ago, TonyW said:

 The Eagle Book of Spacecraft Models might be of some help Rob. It turns up at auction fairly frequently. Basic plans, but very period looking.

 

Thanks Tony! I found an auction on Ebay that shows a bit of the the contents:

 

http:// https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166886200061

 

Ebay suggested a few more books that look interesting. Again I searched for auctions that show a bit of the contents:

 

'Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD': https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356403265381

 

'How to Build Sci-Fi Model Spacecraft': https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335532304765

 

Rob

Edited January 7 by Rob de Bie

[Rob de Bie]

I just found a 'retro SF' 3D model that I really like: the Jules Verne moon rocket, as found on the covers of several books.

 

 

The model shown is probably unpainted, but here's a more colourful example:

 

 

Here's the link to the 3D model:

 

https://www.printables.com/model/279902-de-la-terre-a-la-lune-jules-verne

 

Rob

[Rob de Bie]

I can now add that the Jules Verne moon rocket model has been 3D printed, and custom-printed decals are also ready. A club member will build it.

Rob