Nick Macarty is a digital artist and runs the Space 1999 by Nick Macarty Facebook page. We asked him to talk about the various exciting new Eagle Transporter variants he had been coming up with.
For me, the Eagle Transporter, from Space 1999, was one of my favourite ships. The whole NASA, earth-based look, gave a sense of realism to a great TV show. I’ve always considered how many variations of the Eagle there could have been, depending on location and type of mission it was designed for. Moon, Mars, the asteroid belt, maybe even interstellar travel missions, plus all designed to dock with each-other, regardless of the type of Eagle Transporter being used.
Being a huge fan of other Gerry Anderson TV series’, such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, I decided to create my own range of Eagle designs, all with a hint of Anderson simplicity and functionality. My own range included a small one-man Eagle fighter, survey and exploratory craft, rescue and recon ships to add to the fleet of growing designs. The design of the Eagle has numerous possibilities that helped me design one particular Eagle with planetary modules, which could be landed and connected to form a small outpost.
A Super Eagle, designed for long range and evacuation missions; vertical Mars and Moon Landers, designed as early concepts, prior to the early Alpha missions. A popular version was the Twin-tail Eagle, designed for long distance and deep space surveys and catering for a larger crew.
I designed a small Eagle Lander craft, to drop off and pick up a Moon-car style jeep vehicle I created. Both would link perfectly, to allow easy access to both parts. Again, the modular design of the Eagles, really allows for amazing concepts, for a given mission or task.
With the possibilities of other Space-bases, the thought of interstellar travel threw up so many other possible designs; one being the warp-capable Eagle, designed to reach the nearest stars and planetary systems. I designed a version with warp pods, which attached to a regular Eagle Transporter, giving it a solid but sleek look.
One hanger bay scene that proved very popular with fans, was a Moonbase Alpha and 2001: A Space Odyssey merger. The colours and huge observation windows really brought the scene to life. I guess a favourite scene for me involves a busy hanger-bay with Eagles being serviced and repaired, or re-fueled prior to take-off.
I have many other Space 1999 concepts, on my to-do list and I’m sure even other Moonbases and Planetary Bases; maybe an outpost on a huge asteroid that orbits our solar system. It would be a dream come true if a Captain Scarlet and Space:1999 crossover could ever be made. The possibilities… are endless.
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