Starship Modeler: Gallery (Vehicle & Vessels)

Interstellar Lander

This is my build of one of the Landers from the movie "Interstellar." A talented Japanese cardmodel designer known as Uhu02 has designed and offered a complete model of the Endurance on his website and I decided I just wanted to build a Lander. I like the Lander because it has a boxy look of functionality (although the utility of its design is, at best, questionable) and with that nose, four outrigger pods and the engines in the rear, it reminds me of an updated version of the Eagle from "Space: 1999."

Uhu02's Lander is fairly small because it is scaled to fit his Endurance model, which I believe is 1/200th scale. I wanted a larger version, so I had a friend scale it up for me electronically so I wouldn't lose any color or detail. It is a little over double the original size.

I used 160 gsm cardstock for the build. I added some balsa formers inside to keep things flat and rigid. I also added some detail throughout. Among the additions:
I cut out the windows (44 in all) and backed them with clear plastic. Since the upper, lower and front of the flight deck are laden with windows, it makes the model "see-through" and since I didn't want to scratchbuild an interior, I backed the clear plastic with some dark gray cardstock;

The shutters on the four forward windows and four side windows on the nose were added;

I recessed the upper and lower airlock hatches and scratchbuilt trunks, then added a ring around the outside of the hatchway to match photos of the "real" vehicles;

the RCS openings on the outrigger pods were punched open and backed with black cardstock;

various panels were added throughout to match photos I found online of the "real" Lander;

the rear engine nozzles were scratchbuilt, using the kit parts as templates, and "hatband" detail was added to the nozzles.

With all its interesting tile detail, the Lander is a vehicle that cries out for a larger-scale model. I wish somebody would offer one (especially in paper)....

Image: Front Right

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