Dang this is a fun kit to work on!

I’m not planning to incorporate many “fixes” into the model because so far as I can tell it doesn’t require them.

That said, I did elect to fill in those seams on the lower hull to more closely match the large “hero” FX miniature. I understand why Moebius included pre-scribed access panels (heck, I applaud them for it, because they would have been a pain to scribe), but for whatever reason I found them distracting. Sometimes less is more, ya know?

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs1.jpg


Like most injection-molded kits, the Moebius FS has its share of little dips, bumps, and other production-related imperfections in the plastic. On the hull halves these are mostly to be found running along the outer edges. Fortunately they’re very subtle and can easily taken care of with a little bit of medium-grade sanding.

It took a few coats of primer and several medium-to-light sanding passes to arrive at a suitably smooth surface.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs2.jpg


The issue “lower fin droop” has been discussed elsewhere on this forum. My understanding is that the Moebius FS is accurate to the 18-inch FX miniature (having been scanned from it), but since I’m basing my model on the 36-incher I decided to file down the fins to more closely adhere to the profile of the hull.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs3.jpg


Replacement lamp cages were fashioned from “chicken wire” found at a home improvement store (courtesy of GKvfx). These will eventually be set into thin rings cut from styrene tubing and then placed over the lamp lenses.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs4.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs5.jpg


Just for the heck of it I snapped off a shot of the 1/35 Moebius model sitting next to the 1/16 Rick Teskey version I’m working on. You can never have too many Flying Subs (just ask Admiral Nelson).

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/fs6.jpg

this place is turning into a subapalooza! I feel no pity for the figure guys. :thumbsup:

outstandig build,Rob,as usual.........

:cool: Thanks for the inspiration to fill in the claw and landing gear hatch lines, Mr. Dyle. IMHO, they distract from the smoothness of this fine craft, and are a relatively simple fix. :thumbsup:

Rob's gonna need a bigger bathtub when he finishes these........

Gene

Thanks for the pics!
When I didn't see you here on Sun. I knew you was bizzy!

Nice work.

Steve

Rob, Thank you for this inspiring work and your photos! :thumbsup:

I look forward towards both your 1/32 and 1/16 FS1 project completion.


- Ben

Very,very Nice Indeed Rob!

Thanks, guys. Like I said, this thing is a blast to build.

Question for Gary K (or anyone else who may know): Were the circular docking seals similarly raised on the large FX miniature (as opposed to being flush with the hull)?

Rob, it is looking real fine!
I was wondering about your other FS.

I like the lamp cages idea. You called it chicken wire, but it looks like hardware cloth, as I have always heard it called, am I right?

You called it chicken wire, but it looks like hardware cloth, as I have always heard it called, am I right?

Yeah, I get my wire meshes confused. :)

Thanks, guys. Like I said, this thing is a blast to build.

Question for Gary K (or anyone else who may know): Were the circular docking seals similarly raised on the large FX miniature (as opposed to being flush with the hull)?

I was wondering that myself,I'm working on a Monogram FS,and would like to know.

Gary was kind enough to forward a couple pix of the 36-incher for reference, along with the following explanation...

"To answer your question, yes, the docking rings were slightly raised. The lower docking ring on the Moebius kit is a decent representation of what the rings are supposed to look like (at least, as decent as you can get when you're trying to describe it to people halfway across the world)."

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/FS2-1.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/CarsonDyle/FS1-1.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong Gary, but in addition to the model shown above wasn't there also a large (36") FS used for flying shots that didn't have all those functional hatches and openings in the bottom? Assuming the answer is yes, did it also sport slightly raised docking seals?

Thanks, guys. Like I said, this thing is a blast to build.

Question for Gary K (or anyone else who may know): Were the circular docking seals similarly raised on the large FX miniature (as opposed to being flush with the hull)?

The lower docking ring on the 36" studio model with claws & landing gear was slightly raised, and the lower ring on the Moebius kit is a decent representation of it. The height of the upper ring is maybe a hair lower. Not surprisingly, the heights of the upper & lower rings on the two 36-inchers I've seen are all slightly different, due to individual variations in the thickness of the cast rings and the size/shape of the upper & lower wells, into which the rings are screwed. On the Moebius kit, you'll need to add a little sheet styrene filler to the underside of the upper ring so it doesn't sit quite so low in its recess.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure about the rings on the 9" & 18" studio models, but if past experience is any judge, one version will have recessed rings, and the other will have flush rings!

Carson - I've seen two of the 36" studio models: the "flying" model at Bob Burns' and the "claws & wheels" version, which is in the hands of a private collector (not Greg Jein). I had no idea re. the location of the hero 36-incher (prominently featured in "The Silent Saboteurs"), but I wish I did!

Gary

On the Moebius kit, you'll need to add a little sheet styrene filler to the underside of the upper ring so it doesn't sit quite so low in its recess.

My homework for the evening. :)

Thanks, Gary. Based on the above I plan to fit my Teskey FS with slightly raised docking rings.

There was also another version of the 36" FS mini where the docking ring is flush,( actually painted onto the Hull.) the front cockpit windows were also painted in, I'm not too sure but I think that it may have been used for rear filming shots or distant shots.

also the close up front shot shows the raised ring as well,

One question I have is about the incanted search light cages,on the 36" Mini. That is , they seem to stick out at the edges, and go inward. Apart from the screen caps can this be varified? If so I will incorporate this to the Moebius model.

One question I have is about the incanted search light cages,on the 36" Mini. That is , they seem to stick out at the edges, and go inward. Apart from the screen caps can this be varified? If so I will incorporate this to the Moebius model.

The searchlights on the Flying Subs were made the same way as the searchlight on the Seaview: they were milled from acrylic rod, with a convex front end, and a light bulb was affixed to the end inside the model. The rods were generally parallel to one another, and pointed straight ahead. Because the front bulkhead of the model was slanted, more of the outboard portion of each light rod was visible. In short, the outboard sides of the lights were "outies", while the inboard sides were "innies".

Gary

One question I have is about the incanted search light cages,on the 36" Mini. That is , they seem to stick out at the edges, and go inward.

Because the front bulkhead of the model was slanted, more of the outboard portion of each light rod was visible. In short, the outboard sides of the lights were "outies", while the inboard sides were "innies".

Good eye, megabot11. I'd never noticed these particular characteristics before, but I may well incorporate the deeper-on-the-outboard-side lamp cages into my build.

Another interesting thing about the cages shown above is that the horizontal bar clearly overlaps the vertical bar (as opposed to both bars converging evenly in the center).

Good eye, megabot11. I'd never noticed these particular characteristics before, but I may well incorporate the deeper-on-the-outboard-side lamp cages into my build.

Another interesting thing about the cages shown above is that the horizontal bar clearly overlaps the vertical bar (as opposed to both bars converging evenly in the center).

To add to the fun, the cages were arranged in an "X" pattern on some of the Flying Subs models, and in a "+" pattern on others. I went with a "+" pattern on the Moebius kit because that's what the studio plans show.

Gary

Thanks Gary For the varification . I did a somewhat crude diagram of what you described. would this be correct?

Fantastic job on the FS Rob!!

Mike

Thanks Gary For the varification . I did a somewhat crude diagram of what you described. would this be correct?

Yep, that's the idea. On the "claws & wheels" model, the inboard sides of the lights were slightly recessed into the front bulkhead, while the outboard sides extended slightly beyond the bulkhead.

Gary

Thanks for the info, Gary and megabot11.

I have collected alot of screen grabs of the FS, I need to pay more attention to them.

I have yet to spot them, but which episodes are the claws and wheels seen in. The first I knew of them, were the photos in Seaview Soundings.

To add to the fun, the cages were arranged in an "X" pattern on some of the Flying Subs models, and in a "+" pattern on others.

Did the "X" version ever appear onscreen, or could that configuration be attributed to after-the-fact "restoration" misalignment?

Thanks for the info, Gary and megabot11.

I have collected alot of screen grabs of the FS, I need to pay more attention to them.

I have yet to spot them, but which episodes are the claws and wheels seen in. The first I knew of them, were the photos in Seaview Soundings.


The Flying Sub's articulated claw is shown in only two episodes.
Both are from the fourth season
"Cave of the Dead"(First Aired, Otober,8,1967)
"Man-Beast"(First Aired, Feb18,1968)

The landing gear was NEVER SHOWN.
It is Implied in several episodes that the Flying Sub could land on a 'Hard surface", But due to limited Budget, etc..They never filmed it.

The Flying Sub's articulated claw is shown in only two episodes.
Both are from the fourth season
"Cave of the Dead"(First Aired, Otober,8,1967)
"Man-Beast"(First Aired, Feb18,1968)

The landing gear was NEVER SHOWN.
It is Implied in several episodes that the Flying Sub could land on a 'Hard surface", But due to limited Budget, etc..They never filmed it.

The landing gear make a cameo appearance in "Cave of the Dead" when they make an ocean bottom landing (bottoming?)...

The Craw!

How 'bout them dryer hose controls?!

Did the "X" version ever appear onscreen, or could that configuration be attributed to after-the-fact "restoration" misalignment?

The only appearance of the "claws & wheels" Flying Sub was in the 4th season episode "Cave of the Dead" (although the footage was reused in "Man-Beast"). The DVDs of these episodes have not yet been released, but you can view the sequence on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nzDyQEgoM.

Beatlepaul - the main landing gear IS visible in this clip, albeit murkily. The oversized main wheels were geared to rotate into a horizontal position, to serve as landing pads on the ocean floor. With the gear extended, Crane sets the FS onto the ocean floor with a thud. While the FS is elevated above the seabed, Sharkey deploys the claws and snags the end of the diving bell cable.

Rob - I checked my close-up pics of the "claws & wheels" model, and both headlight cages are built to be positioned in an "X" orientation (with two short legs and two long legs on each cage). On the YouTube clip, though, it appears that the stbd cage is in the "X" position, while the port cage is in the "+" position. Go figure! Hopefully, we'll get clearer views of the cages when the DVDs are released.

Conclusion: you can orient the cages any which way you please!

Gary

Mega: wondering about your 00012 view above. Aside from trying to figure out which fs mini had which wingtips, there is also a real difference in the top front hull curvature between the minis. I thought the 36" seems to have had a relatively gentle curve as outlined by the top front wing slats. The blueprints and the Aurora kit show a much smaller radius and more steeply curved slats, as your first post does. I've only ever noticed it on the show in some flight sequences and thought it was the 18" (assuming they ever flew the 18"). Do you think your 00012 is the 18 or the 36?
(Amazing: I watched that sequence a couple months ago to check out the claw and never noticed the landing gear. I think my head was just spinning in too much disbelief. [Trying to figure out the color of the inside of the panel above the drivers of the Chariot so I watched a couple bits of Space Primevals from LIS yesterday (speaking of head spinning in disbelief). But the cave men were using one of the Flying Subs translucent floor panels as a drum. Sigh. Really nice close up, tho.] Did that clip come from the episode with the beautiful shot from behind the Seaview with the FS sailing off forward? There were some great effects.)

I watched a couple bits of Space Primevals from LIS yesterday (speaking of head spinning in disbelief). But the cave men were using one of the Flying Subs translucent floor panels as a drum. Sigh. Really nice close up, tho.

Fox apparently had a boatload of the those panels, leftover from the Shrink-o-matic machine in "Fantastic Voyage". Since Uncle Irwin never saw a prop he couldn't reuse, another of those panels served as the round, lighted panel in the floor of the Jupiter 2's elevator.

Gary

The only appearance of the "claws & wheels" Flying Sub was in the 4th season episode "Cave of the Dead" (although the footage was reused in "Man-Beast"). The DVDs of these episodes have not yet been released, but you can view the sequence on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nzDyQEgoM.

Beatlepaul - the main landing gear IS visible in this clip, albeit murkily. The oversized main wheels were geared to rotate into a horizontal position, to serve as landing pads on the ocean floor. With the gear extended, Crane sets the FS onto the ocean floor with a thud. While the FS is elevated above the seabed, Sharkey deploys the claws and snags the end of the diving bell cable.

Rob - I checked my close-up pics of the "claws & wheels" model, and both headlight cages are built to be positioned in an "X" orientation (with two short legs and two long legs on each cage). On the YouTube clip, though, it appears that the stbd cage is in the "X" position, while the port cage is in the "+" position. Go figure! Hopefully, we'll get clearer views of the cages when the DVDs are released.

Conclusion: you can orient the cages any which way you please!

Gary



OOOPS!
Gentlemen, I stand corrected, You can kinda see the "Landing Gear" there..somewhat

Thanks for the clip!
I am looking forward to the fourth season being released later this Month(I think)

WOW, Thanks for the you tube clip there! This is the first time i have seen the claws and landing gear actually shown, All but briefly.I have seasons 1 through 3, And i read season 4 volume 1 will be released sometime this year.beatle paul i hope you are correct about the release date sir.:thumbsup:

Ah yes, I remember the shock when I noticed the landing gear in that shot...what's even better is when you can glimpse the big car headlight in there that would have filled up the bulk of the interior...

big headlight..it sure does ... takes up the whole area top to bottom
Will

Great thread, Good information !

Just fast fwdd thru some 4th season episodes. I must have fast reversed through Cave the first time. It Is the episode with the great shot from behind the Seaview, but the FS is approaching it, not leaving it. (Scanning at fast speeds in either direction is the only way anyone could watch these episodes, and fwd or reverse makes absolutely no difference to the plots.) But there is some great fx footage that season. I swear it looks like the Seaview posted above dropping the FS has frames around its windows but it is most likely artifacts. That Seaview does have the 17' limber holes. It will be really interesting to see what a super clear DVD will show of the miniatures.
One surprise even from my old VHS is fx footage of a miniature on the surface. I slowed it to have a look at the great weathering all over the miniature, esp under the deck and limber holes and around the sonar domes and realized later that this Seaview's top and hull color was a light gray. I'm going to have to find the shot again. But that adds yet a new color scheme into the mix.
Please, scan some of those photos from Seaview Soundings #3. Between #2 and #3 must have been when I decided to give up my fan boy ways. Little did I know Moebius would happen 20 years later.

Scanning at fast speeds in either direction is the only way anyone could watch these episodes, and fwd or reverse makes absolutely no difference to the plots.

heh. great review. I feel the same way about most of IA's stuff. Funny it never affected me that way as a kid.

There was also another version of the 36" FS mini where the docking ring is flush,( actually painted onto the Hull.) the front cockpit windows were also painted in, I'm not too sure but I think that it may have been used for rear filming shots or distant shots.



Just for clarification sake, the 36" FS mini with painted windows also had it's lower docking ring flush with the lower hull.
Considering that the bow windows were painted on, I'm going to advance the theory that this was the version used for the famous "splash-in from the sky" footage.

Hi starseeker

The Pic-capture which you refer to is most definitely the 36" mini. one clear give away apart from the hull contour is the huge bulky top docking hatch that was a signature for the 18 " mini. Moebius took the best of both mini's and added the 36" hatch design for it's great model. Which BTW I'm still sadly waiting for...Waaaah! Anyhow.

I've put together a few shots to show the distinction between the three minis.The last two being the 36"

I'm actually coming to the limit of images that I can upload so you can go here
to see more.

http://www.freewebs.com/scifivehiclevault/index.htm

Thanks, Beatlepaul for the episode names.

Gary, I think I will wait for the DVDs, to see the gear. I don't want to spoil my fun. As for the headlight cages, every screen grab so far shows it as +, no matter which size I view, so I will go that way.

Gary, I think I will wait for the DVDs, to see the gear. I don't want to spoil my fun. As for the headlight cages, every screen grab so far shows it as +, no matter which size I view, so I will go that way.

Like I said, the Moebius kit has the cages as +, since the studio plans show them that way, so a + orientation is fine for your model. My head is spinning from trying to document all the discrepancies between the various FS models. Just for grins, head over to Phil Broad's site (at http://cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/FlyingSub/FlyingSubTop.htm ), where you can see the headlight cages in an X orientation. As you can see in close-ups, the cages were constructed to be that way (at least, on that model).

My brain hurts!

Gary

I love the comparison photos above--really shows you what Moebius was up against.

I love the comparison photos above--really shows you what Moebius was up against.

I'll say. By comparison TOS Enterprise model manufacturers and builders had it easy.

Fortunately for Gary and Moebius there were only a couple of Spindrift FX miniatures to contend with (Uh-oh... :eek:... did I say that out loud)?

I'll say. By comparison TOS Enterprise model manufacturers and builders had it easy.

Oh, I dunno about that. Buy me a couple drinks at Wonderfest and I'll tell you a few stories...

Fortunately for Gary and Moebius there were only a couple of Spindrift FX miniatures to contend with (Uh-oh... :eek:... did I say that out loud)?

Dream on, you kit-assembler! Now I'll stand back while Dave Metzner smites you....

Gary

Rob, I didn't hear what you said, maybe if you shouted!

The way models varied from scene to scene, it is hard to make sense of it all. I'm glad all of you are doing it for me. I can leave the pills in the bottle.

Buy me a couple drinks at Wonderfest and I'll tell you a few stories...

It's a date!

Hi starseeker

The Pic-capture which you refer to is most definitely the 36" mini. one clear give away apart from the hull contour is the huge bulky top docking hatch that was a signature for the 18 " mini. Moebius took the best of both mini's and added the 36" hatch design for it's great model. Which BTW I'm still sadly waiting for...Waaaah! Anyhow.

I've put together a few shots to show the distinction between the three minis.The last two being the 36"

I'm actually coming to the limit of images that I can upload so you can go here
to see more.

http://www.freewebs.com/scifivehiclevault/index.htmIt seems to me that the 36inch version has a slightly more, for lack of a better word, humped contour on the "beaked" portion of the upper hull above the cockpit in SIDE profile than the 18 inch model

It seems to me that the 36inch version has a slightly more, for lack of a better word, humped contour on the "beaked" portion of the upper hull above the cockpit in SIDE profile than the 18 inch model


Hey Mark!!!!

Not to go off topic in this cool thread,But I got to say I love your Paintings Sir:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Fantastic Work!!!!!!

It seems to me that the 36inch version has a slightly more, for lack of a better word, humped contour on the "beaked" portion of the upper hull above the cockpit in SIDE profile than the 18 inch model

One of them did, for sure. I always thought it was a smaller one (esp the 9 or 10"), as it doesn't seem to show up on the main underwater FS that much. However, it's really obvious in the airborne FS. Which was the 36", I think. So maybe both the 9 and 36?

could that hump been part of the flying rig?

just curious

consistency was certainly not part of the IA universe.

The 9" resembled the 18" more, in that the hull drops down right from the center docking ring area,

http://www.uncleodiescollectibles.com/html_lib/voyage-props/00007.html

where as the hull extends slightly then drops on the 36" giving it the Hump or Frankensteinish look.

All flying sequences were shot with the 36" (so far as I know)

the only other shots that were used with the 9" mini were when it lands on the hull of the damaged Sub ( EP the Monster's Web) and some new shots in season 4 where we see a back view of Seaview and the flying sub returning to the launch bay ( not inside Seaview as that particular Mini wasn't rigged for launching sequences)

Do the pinstripe lines go from front to back on top? The rasied part stops near the hatch ring.