Mattel Eagle Conversion

[klee]

Possible beginning of a new project:
A comparison of the Mattel Eagle Command Module and the Round 2/MPC 22 inch Eagle Command Module.
My thought is to recreate the Eagle model I built in 1979 using the Mattel Space:1999 Eagle toy as the basis. There will be a lot of scratchbuilding involved in this, namely the cages, corridors, passenger pod, engine plumbing, landing gear and possibly the spine if I cannot satisfactorily alter the toy spine (I ignored the spine on my original model and used it as is). With the wealth of information I have now that I lacked in 1979 along with my much improved modeling skills this should be great when I finish. I still have to get a few parts, mainly the main engine bells and the bottom lift-off engine bells.

After searching in vain for a viable (inexpensive) source for the main engine bells, I have decided to make my own, using model rocket nosecones as the basis. They should come out looking like a cross between the 22 in bells from MPC and the original Mattel engine bells.

And my original model from 1979:

I wish I had better images of the original, but the only camera I had in 1979 was a cheap Polaroid with poor focus.

 

[Steve Gerard]

I loved the Mattel Eagle when I was a boy. Great thread, keep posting. :clap:

 

[klee]

The beginnings of the alterations I am making on my Mattel Space:1999 Eagle. This will be a long process, when I did this on my original toy in 1979 it took me over a month working 4 to 5 hours a day on it.

 

[klee]

 

[klee]

A solution to the missing roof hatch:

 

[klee]

Altering the window recesses will improve the look of the CM.

 

[FALLINGSTAR]

I started doing this years ago but I never got round to doing much. Be interesting to see what yours ends up like.

 

[klee]

I started doing this years ago but I never got round to doing much. Be interesting to see what yours ends up like.

The only other parts I may use from the Mattel toy are the leg pods and spine and those will need modifications. nearly everything else will be scratch built.

 

[klee]

Got the main body of the Mattel Eagle today. After altering the spine to add the missing center section, the model will be right at 33 inches when completed. Part of me wants to scratchbuild the spine from brass and the other part wants to just use what I have, just like I did nearly 40 years ago.

 

[klee]

Got the opening filled in where the toy's CM roof door was located. Some putty, filing and sanding it will almost be a seamless repair.

 

[DEWLine]

I didn't think that was doable. But, glad to see the proof otherwise!

 

[klee]

I just realized that I started this on Sept 9, I wonder if I can finish it before Sept 13th 2019?
A little more progress tonight, the CM is looking good:

 

[klee]

I didn't think that was doable. But, glad to see the proof otherwise!

Yeah, it takes a little work, Mattel got the curves of the CM very close to being right, they just messed up the windows and they blunted the nose. After seeing that the shape was close I knew it was just a matter of cutting out the existing window recesses and putting them back to get the proper window shape. I also plan on building up the tip of the CM nose and filing it to a proper pointy shape so it will look more like the studio models.

 

[FALLINGSTAR]

The only other parts I may use from the Mattel toy are the leg pods and spine and those will need modifications. nearly everything else will be scratch built.

Quite a lot of work but it'll be interesting to see the results.

 

[klee]

 

[klee]

 

[klee]

 

[klee]

 

[klee]

 

[klee]