MPC 1/72 Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter Deluxe Edition Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

For a brief background on the Space: 1999 series and a look at the standard Eagle 1 Transporter kit, look here.

As you know, Round 2 Models has been reissuing a number of kits from the old AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights product lines and in many cases, they've made long overdue improvements to these kits to enhance accuracy or add new features. More recently they've acquired the Lindberg and Hawk product lines and they've applied the same value-added to many of these kits as well. One year ago, they reissued the Space: 1999 Eagle 1 kit which retained the same plastic as previous kits, but added an impressive decal sheet to enhance the details on the kit.

There was quite a bit of interest expressed in the market when Round 2 announced this Deluxe Edition of the Eagle. Until this point, there had never been a complete kit of Eagle that appeared in 'Metamorph' (the episode that introduced new cast-member Catherine Schell as Maya. The Eagle is the standard utility vehicle of Moonbase Alpha with interchangeable utility pods similar to the CH-54 Tarhe helicopter. In this case, the pod has their version of docking adaptors for in-space rendezvous plus a supplemental rocket booster pack attached to the dorsal spine. The rocket pack had been produced in resin for the MPC Eagle kit, but this is the first time these features have been offered in the kit box.

As with last year's reissue of the Eagle with the enhanced decal sheet, this kit comes complete with those parts including the standard transport utility pod. As before, these parts are molded in white styrene and presented on eight parts trees plus two halves and the bottom of the utility pod and the tubular dorsal spine. In addition, 38 new resin parts cast in white resin are included which render the new utility pod with docking adapters, lift motors and maneuvering thrusters for the new pod, and the rocket booster package that mounts to the dorsal spine. The parts are all crisply molded and only minor clean-up will be required before assembly.

In addition to the same enhanced decal sheet that was included in last year's reissue, this kit includes a second decal sheet that contains the black-out panels for the pod thrusters as well as markings and stencils for the pod and booster pack.

This kit will make a great present for the science fiction buff as this is a limited edition release that will render a unique configuration of the iconic Eagle. This kit is recommended for experienced modelers who are comfortable working with resin parts and cyano-based adhesives.

My sincere thanks to Round2 Models for this review sample