1/72 Scratchbuilt MARS 1

by David Hanners

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This is an original scratchbuilt model based on one of the many design concepts for a manned Mars lander. The body was built from .015 sheet styrene and rolled into three sections: A truncated cone (topped with Miliput) that makes up the upper capsule; a cylinder for the main body and a second truncated cone making up the propulsion section. Inside the propulsion section, I added yet another truncated cone for the recessed "well" that the nozzle sits in.

 

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The model's surface was detailed with half-round styrene strip, styrene rod and tubing and other bits and pieces. The main engine nozzle was scavenged from an old “Space:1999” Eagle and was cut and sanded to shape. The egress hatch was made from the bottom of a plastic pill bottle, cut to shape and faired in with Super Glue. The landing legs and footpads were made from strip styrene, and the landing gear fairings were made from sheet styrene that was heat-formed over a carved wooden mold.

 

 

All decals, including cockpit windows and thermal protection system tiles, were homemade on my computer and printed out onto white decal stock. Except for the NASA “meatball” and the American flag (which I cut and pasted from the Internet onto my homemade decal sheet) all decals and markings were designed and printed on my computer.

 

The base is a piece of foam-core poster board covered with spackling paste, unused cat litter and rocks from the backyard. It was painted a rusty red, then weathered and set in an old picture frame.

David

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Photos and text © by David Hanners