ALL SCI-FI

ShadowLandz100 · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:07 pm Post subject: Mars exploration vehicle.

In 2004 I entered an online modeling contest from Starship Modeler. It was asking the modelers to model what they think might be our entry into going to mars in the immediate future or into the far future.

I chose to go into the far future, so I designed a vehicle that would be able to navigate over the Martian surface and to check out a reported alien structure spotted by surveillance satellites. A team of archaeologists and scientists have just arrived at the site.

My exploration vehicle started out as toy ray guns bought at a flea market, and after a long examination of the toys an idea was born. I gutted the toys, and with my trusty Dremel and cutting bits I created two sections of this vehicle. The forward section is the command and cabin section, and the second section (connected by a flexible tube) carries all supplies that are on a roller bearing floor for easy movement of supplies, along with an extendable pillar crane with an electromagnet to lift the metal banded crates.

The vehicle uses augers to propel it along the surface of Mars, and it was made using Epoxie Sculpt that gets rock hard along with interior and exterior lighting.

I had a great time building this one-of-a-kind craft.

Karl

https://imgur.com/4G0nTtr

Exploration vehicle arriving at site.

https://imgur.com/bVo6BHL
Cargo being unloaded with pillar crane.

https://imgur.com/4G0nTtr
The ancient entrance can be seen in the distance.

https://imgur.com/jNjWT5Y
The on board elevator being used by one of the crew.

https://imgur.com/zniZM9C
A close up of the entrance to ......... ?

https://imgur.com/dlPcGw6
The front cockpit with crew quarters.

https://imgur.com/dmGlroT

The pilot as seen from outside of the vehicle.
https://imgur.com/ol0DrTA
The finished exploration vehicle.

https://imgur.com/g0WQaqA

One of two toy ray guns used for this conversion.
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Photograph what interests you today for tomorrow it may not exist.

scotpens · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:55 pm Post subject:

That's a cool design -- very imaginative yet plausible. It reminds me of some of the futuristic machines from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds, and also makes me think of the giant underground excavators from Things to Come.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 1:28 pm Post subject:

Hadn't thought of the similarity between Shadowlandz100's creation and the Things to Come mechanisms. Good call, sir! Very Happy

Emerald Duck Call Award
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

ShadowLandz100 · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 6:17 pm Post subject:

Thank you scotpens this was my first scratch built adventure and I just went with what I thought might work on Mars, those augers were a pain in the neck but worth the pain as they all came out like planned. Karl
_________________
Photograph what interests you today for tomorrow it may not exist.

ShadowLandz100 · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 6:21 pm Post subject:

Thank you Bud I appreciate that, this hobby is all that I can do at the present as my home is too small for my other passion ..... 1:48 scale trolley and interurban modeling and operation from a live 12 V overhead trolley wire, but I'm limited what hobby to do so it's sci fi for now. Karl
_________________
Photograph what interests you today for tomorrow it may not exist.