Brian Johnson Space: 1999 Eagle Interview

Watch our latest interview with multi-award winning Special Effects Designer Brian Johnson as he talks through one of our favourite model miniatures from the Prop Store 2021 London Entertainment Live Auction - an original screen-matched large-scale eagle transporter filming miniature.

Eagle Transporter model miniatures were the primary spacecraft on Moonbase Alpha, used for exploration, transportation and combat. This transporter appeared in 45 of Space: 1999's 48 episodes, making it the most screen-used model of the series, and it screen-matches the Eagle seen in series finale "The Dorcons", through its markings and details on the bottom of the footpads. It was also used in nine of the 11 crash-landing sequences, meaning it had to be repeatedly rebuilt and repaired. In recent years it has been lovingly and carefully restored by master model maker David Sisson.

Husband-and-wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created the live-action show Space: 1999, having previously collaborated on their "Supermarionation" puppet-based shows, including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Joe 90. For Space: 1999, they drew visual inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Special effects designer and Academy Award®-winner Brian Johnson, who had worked on 2001, designed the Eagle Transporters. They were built in four sizes: 44", 22", 11" and 5" in length. Although two other 44" models were eventually built, this is the original 44" model used primarily for medium and close-up photography - such as take-off, landing and crashing shots - and appeared prominently in the show's opening credits.

The model is made largely of resin and wood, with a brass frame, moveable metal feet and propulsion engines on its underside. The passenger pod is hand-painted in varying shades of grey, giving the impression of different panels. It has four doors, one on each side, which do not open. Small transfers, featuring serial numbers and the Moonbase Alpha insignia, give added detail and realism. The model's various sections are detachable, including the feet, main frame, pod, and cockpit, which reveals two model pilots when removed. Sisson repaired the brass frame holding the Eagle together, stripping it down and resoldering it. He also stripped down paintwork which had been applied subsequent to production, revealing original detailing, before carefully applying new paintwork in some areas.

This amazing item and over 1000 other items of iconic movie history are going up for sale in the Prop Store London 2021 Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction on the 9th-11th November. Find out more about this item now over at propstore.com/liveauction.