NASA VTOL AIRCRAFT - from the 1969 Feature Film ‘Journey to the Far Side of the Sun’ (aka Doppleganger)

Written and Produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson . Directed by Robert Parrish

‘Journey to the Far Side of the Sun’ is a feature film made in 1968 and released in 1968. Conceived and produced by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson - of ‘Thunderbirds’ fame. This was their first venture into live-action films. But the familiar futuristic setting and spectacular action was retained. The film involves a joint mission between Eurosec and Nasa to travel to a new planet on the other side of the sun. Seen briefly this VTOL plane brinsg the US Astronaut Glenn Ross to the Eurosec launch site. The plane comes into land vertically and the main fuselage detaches its passenger section which is then carried to the gate. Superb model work from the highly skilled and prolific Derek Meddings team. This artwork shows the rocket assembly building and the airport VTOL landing area seen in the film, and an interpretation of the whole Eurosec base.

This model was later converted into the Shadair Mobile Transporter in the TV series ‘UFO’.

Its fun to imagine Airfix following suit and having this kit and the UFO Mobile Transporter kit share parts. More on this in the video ‘What If Fantasy Model Kit boxes #17’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN4gxQZGS0o&t=601s

Designed by Visual Effects Director Derek Meddings