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| The Quadrunner - Front View |
Space Station - Quadrunner
For prowling around the area of his space station, Matt Mason had the
Cat-trac, a small one-man vehicle with treads. I decided my 1/6th
astronauts needed their own ride, in the form a Lanard 4X4 Quadrunner. Here
you have a front and rear view with another of my Lanard-suited astronauts
(this one based on a GI Joe Tuskegee Airman body).
This Quadrunner was originally OD green. I completely disassembled it,
masked off the black fender flares, the yellow seat, and repainted it white
using Krylon spray-paint. The Krylon attacked the red paint used on the
fire-extinguisher detail on the side of the body, causing it to bleed
through. Took probably six coats to get decent coverage, but the end result
looks pretty good. Tires, wheels, racks, handlebar, bumpers, and a few
other removable details were left in their original colors. Striping tape
was added to the fenders to provide a little color.
Lots of details here. On the front rack are a pick and shovel from a Lanard
astronaut set, and an Apollo sample container from a Bandai "Heroes of
Space" figure. On the rear rack is a plastic tub that once held a Canon
printer cartridge, filled with an assortment of Max Steel, GI Joe, and other
items. The miniature bungee cords are actually sold as hair elastics. The
laptop is from a Lanard Stealth pilot set.
One other note, this figure is wearing the original Lanard space suit,
without the "MMM" modifications. Note the white boots and lack of joint
bands, leg packs, or other details. The figure includes a pair of white
"mittens," but these look as though the figure has bags tied over its hands,
so I left them off. Eventually he'll get black gloves like the Major's. As
you'll see from some of the other pictures, it's possible to get quite a few
different "looks" out of the basic Lanard suit, depending on the figure you
put it on, and what accessories that you add.
By the way, the original MMM Cat-track came in two colors, white, and red.
I'm pretty sure Lanard also made the Quad in red. Anyone got a red one they
can spare? I could use a contrasting set.
Space Station - Construction (cont.)
In this VERY busy picture, you see a construction scene as my crack team of astronauts work on getting the station up and running.
In the figure at lower right, and the one lifting the original MMM station
girder to the second level, you can see my second space-suit type, which
isn't Matt Masonish at all. It's kitbashed together using the suit from a
Lanard snow-trooper (hood and coat-tails tucked inside), Lanard boots in
white or gray, a Max Steel "secret attack" backpack, and the space helmet
from either a GI Joe "Hall of Fame" astronaut, or a Hasbro "Apollo 13"
'naut. I've got four of these, plus six Lanard suits, and a couple of other
odd ones, like the "Space Marine" seen at lower left, outfitted with a
variety of Lanard items and the helmet and gloves from a GI Joe "Intruder
Defense" set.
Here's my current reasoning for the different suits. The Lanard "MMM" type
is favored by professional astronauts. It's less automated, handles
extended temperature extremes well, and has a reputation as being rough and
reliable. It's more difficult to use though, requires more training, and
isn't as flexible, especially if you aren't in top, physical, shape. The
"type-2" is more automated and easier to use. It's more flexible, but not
as well insulated, so you don't want to spend extended periods in deep
shadow or out a Lunar noon. It's favored by scientists, commercial space
operators and VIP visitors to the Moonbase. The same company that makes the
Type-2 suit also makes the more advanced "Space Marine" suit that shares
some of the same components. Also automated and easy to use, the Space
Marine suit incorporates kinetic and energy armor, self-sealing liner, a
multi-mode heads-up display, combat weapons integration system, and other
classified features tailored to military use. A few Space Marines are
stationed to provide Moonbase security and to supervise classified military
projects.
Also in this shot you see an alien visitor. Or, it might just be Captain
Action and other of his pesky masks. It's hard to tell. The shoulder weapon
is an "Intruder Defense" mini-gun, and the hand weapons is from a Toy Biz,
Silver Surfer, "Thanos" action figure.
And no, the GI Jane flying her rocket-pack just above the station isn't
about to get goosed by a 2001 space pod. That's a signed print of a Bill
Warren painting on the wall behind her.
Space Station - More Construction
A closer view on the construction scene. The high-tech power tools,
ventilation fan, a nice tool box and various smaller hand tools not shown
here, all came from "Fire Squad" action figure sets that are currently
(3/01) making the rounds of KB liquidators. The figures in these sets scale
about 1/18th, but the accessories they're packed with are WAY out of scale.
Most of them, though a little small, work well with 1/6th figures. Many of
them would be GREAT at 1/12th scale in a Major Matt Mason scene. Thanks to
ScottE for the tip on these.
The white plastic bin as a modular, drawer organizer. I'm using LOTS of
these. In fact, I've used them as the basis for a hand-pulled cart inspired
by the "rickshaw" transporter used on Apollo 14, and which doubles as a
trailer for the Quadrunner. You'll see it in some future batch of pictures
I'm sure. They'll also will make good storage bins and drawers if I can
find a place in the station for them.
The light blue shelf (just barely visible to the left of the cylinder in
this photo), TV (soon to be view-screen), and TV remote (which works great
as a "tricorder" style, hand-held, device) all came form a doll accessory
set I got on clearance at Target for about a buck-fifty.
Space Station - Even More Construction
Another angle on the construction scene. You can get a good look at the "type 2" spacesuit at lower left. Also clearly visible in this scene are the two different Lanard rocket-packs, the astronaut version (above the station) and the "Stealth" version (hanging below the top platform). These are the same except for paint and markings. The backpack with all the yellow antenna, worn by the figure on the right of the station's "command deck" is a Lanard "GPS" backpack that comes with some versions of the arctic trooper. The frame on this folds down to create legs, and the back opens up to reveal a screen and keyboard.
Space Station - Looking Up
A low angle view looking up at the station. You can clearly see the
construction of the upper platform. I went to a lot of trouble to create
that inner ring, but now it's virtually hidden unless you crawl down here to
look. The circular, lower airlock hatch will be located here, and a ladder
of some kind will run down to ground level. I'm also planning to add some
sort of winch, either inside the airlock, or on a boom attached to the roof.
I haven't worked out the details yet.
The lower platform's inner structure will probably be simpler, just a square
rather than an octagon. That'll reduce the part-count, and those 45-degree
elbows are one of the more expensive parts of the station. "T's" and
90-degree elbows are much cheaper individually, and when bought in
contractor packs, are cheaper yet. The traditional, circular-shape of the
platform hole will be created by the opening in the flooring board, and not
the frame itself.
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