Jump to content

Orion III: Pan Am Space Clipper


Recommended Posts

  • 1 month later...

I have just heard from Adam Johnson who patterned the model. He will be selling a range of decals for this kit on his website and they will include: Pan Am, BOAC, TWA and Qantas. Adam also tells me this is the dog cahoonas as regards accuracy and although it is the same size as the Aurora kit, it is all new.

Marty...

Edited by marty_hopkirk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Moebius kit should render the Airfix kit utterly redundant, if we are being honest the Stargazer and before that the Aurora did anyway.

Unless, of course, you could not get one of those other kits. And I don't believe that the original Aurora kit was that accurate -- nor, for that matter, is the Airfix kit all that inaccurate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unless, of course, you could not get one of those other kits. And I don't believe that the original Aurora kit was that accurate -- nor, for that matter, is the Airfix kit all that inaccurate.

The Stargazer kit is still in production and readily available.

On what basis is the Aurora kit not accurate?

Aurora had access to the original MGM art department drawings and based the kit on those drawings. Whilst not absolutely perfect (mainly due to 1960s moulding technology) it was surprisingly accurate to the filming miniature and was effectively a 1/3rd scale model of the said miniature. Unlike he Airfix kit which is as all but faux.

A clear case of not having a enough knowledge, before typing.

Marty...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Stargazer kit is still in production and readily available.

At what price? The Airfix kit was readily available for many years at a reasonable price (albeit in a dreadful suggested paint scheme) and, more importantly, was available in places where "Stargazer kit" would elicit a response of "huh?". Many, many people who might have purchased an Orion kit (of any sort) would either not know about the existence of Stargazer or be extremely unwilling to pay for a resin kit (or even reluctant to build a resin kit if they could afford it). "In production" is not at all the same thing as "readily available".

On what basis is the Aurora kit not accurate?

Funny, the many, many times I've seen 2001, I don't once remember seeing the back fall off of the Orion revealing its "atomic engine".

I wasn't suggesting that the Aurora kit was in any way bad, just that it was not the be-all and end-all ... it was not so superior to the Airfix kit that the latter becomes only so much dog faeces.

Unlike he Airfix kit which is as all but faux.

I hear lots of people say that. And yet, I look at the kit, I look at the film, and they sure look very similar. I have no doubt that there issues, but they don't leap out at me. I sure wish someone would itemise the exact problems, but everyone seems to be too dismissive of it to take the time.

A clear case of not having a enough knowledge, before typing.

You should be able to resolve that problem with a little bit of forethought, but I don't think anyone will hold it against you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At what price? The Airfix kit was readily available for many years at a reasonable price (albeit in a dreadful suggested paint scheme) and, more importantly, was available in places where "Stargazer kit" would elicit a response of "huh?". Many, many people who might have purchased an Orion kit (of any sort) would either not know about the existence of Stargazer or be extremely unwilling to pay for a resin kit (or even reluctant to build a resin kit if they could afford it). "In production" is not at all the same thing as "readily available".

Funny, the many, many times I've seen 2001, I don't once remember seeing the back fall off of the Orion revealing its "atomic engine".

I wasn't suggesting that the Aurora kit was in any way bad, just that it was not the be-all and end-all ... it was not so superior to the Airfix kit that the latter becomes only so much dog faeces.

I hear lots of people say that. And yet, I look at the kit, I look at the film, and they sure look very similar. I have no doubt that there issues, but they don't leap out at me. I sure wish someone would itemise the exact problems, but everyone seems to be too dismissive of it to take the time.

You should be able to resolve that problem with a little bit of forethought, but I don't think anyone will hold it against you.

Oh dear.

Marty...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have just heard from Adam Johnson who patterned the model. He will be selling a range of decals for this kit on his website and they will include: Pan Am, BOAC, TWA and Qantas. Adam also tells me this is the dog cahoonas as regards accuracy and although it is the same size as the Aurora kit, it is all new.

Marty...

Do you know if they'll be depicting the (very small number of) stencils and airframe detail markings the studio original had?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hear lots of people say that. And yet, I look at the kit, I look at the film, and they sure look very similar. I have no doubt that there issues, but they don't leap out at me. I sure wish someone would itemise the exact problems, but everyone seems to be too dismissive of it to take the time.

Ok Airfix kit problems. Front intake is flat not slanted, cockpit windows flat not slanted and the wrong shape, cabin windows too large, rear fuselage not bulbous enough......... I can't remember anymore, but google "correcting Airfix 2001" will bring up everything you need. I'm expecting the Moebius one to be pretty much spot on after seeing the work they put into the 2001 Moonbus last year

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you know if they'll be depicting the (very small number of) stencils and airframe detail markings the studio original had?

My understanding is the Moebius kit will be entirely smooth as per the filming miniature and it will include a large "aztec" style decal sheet to replicate the panel lines, that on the filming miniature were drawn on in pencil. The last I heard there will be no Pan Am livery included in the kit. Hence, I suspect why Adam is making them available via his website.

Ok Airfix kit problems. Front intake is flat not slanted, cockpit windows flat not slanted and the wrong shape, cabin windows too large, rear fuselage not bulbous enough......... I can't remember anymore, but google "correcting Airfix 2001" will bring up everything you need.

It is proportionally all wrong: not long enough for it's width. Virtually every cross section is dubious particulary the profile in front of the flight deck, the motors sit far to high on the fuselage and the orifices are the wrong shape and lack detail. The fuselage should have slight kick-up on top of the flight deck. The wing are are off as well - not to mention the panel lines, which are no where near either. Just compare the Airfix kit with the drawings in the Piers Bizony book and everything jumps out.

I'm expecting the Moebius one to be pretty much spot on after seeing the work they put into the 2001 Moonbus last year Mark

All Moebius did with Moon Bus was undertake a 3D scan of an Aurora kit and repop it with one slight adjustment to correct the warped top. The reason it is an accurate kit is because Aurora had access to MGM art departments drawings and the original filming miniature. It is even possible to identify some of the kit parts that the MGM model makers applied after they recieved the model from Mastermodels. The internal is a little off and Stargazer (Ian Walsh) has done a neat correction kit to make it more cannon - but effectively one is trying to fit a set into a model that didn't fit in the first place. Incidentally in the film it was refered to as a "Rocket Bus", not the "Moon Bus".

Marty...

Edited by marty_hopkirk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok Airfix kit problems. Front intake is flat not slanted, cockpit windows flat not slanted and the wrong shape, cabin windows too large, rear fuselage not bulbous enough......... I can't remember anymore, but google "correcting Airfix 2001" will bring up everything you need. I'm expecting the Moebius one to be pretty much spot on after seeing the work they put into the 2001 Moonbus last year

Thanks for the information (and for not being a plonker). I'm quite looking forward to the Moebius kit also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the information (and for not being a plonker).

I refer the honourable gentleman to his opening comment on the matter, below.

And I don't believe that the original Aurora kit was that accurate -- nor, for that matter, is the Airfix kit all that inaccurate.

You decide.

Marty...

Edited by marty_hopkirk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

And so the debate continues. 40 years of Modelling and no one has come up with a diffinative view of the Clipper. Whenever you see a model, all your seeing is one persons interpretation of the pictures they've seen. Unless someone comes up with a set of original drawings then all your going to here is " your wrong " " no your wrong". I spent 2 months researching this last year and in the end thought sod it, build it and enjoy it coz it's never going to be correct!!! Having said that, from conversations I've had, I PERSONALLY feel that the reissue is going to be the closest yet.

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chadders -

Have you seen these images of the filming miniature?

394815747.jpg

394815767.jpg

394815768.jpg

If you want drawings you need to look at Simon Atkinson's ones of Orion in Filming the Future, also have you contacted Ian Walsh and/or Scott Alexander?

Jonathan, the above could not have been homaged in Star Wars, as Trumbull has not long let that image out his archive and it did not make the final cut of the movie.

Marty...

Edited by marty_hopkirk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep got those images. If you notice the windscreen on image 2 shows no resemblance to the image in post 45. That's why I've given up. Lighting an image hides may a detail.

I'm also very familiar with Simons "plans" but again are simply one persons version of true fact.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...