Pilgrim Observer

[Mossie]

I picked up the perfect kit for this GB at the Nationals.  This is the MPC Pilgrim Observer.  I don't know when it was first released, it was sometime in the late sixties/early seventies to cash-in on the interest in the Moon landings.  I believe it only had one release so went for silly prices until Round 2 re-visited it a few years ago.  It's been on the 'WANT!' list since I found about it but it was expensive at £50, so I snapped it up when I found a discounted one at Telford.

There's an additional info leaflet that outlines the mission for the Pilgrim Observer.  It operates as a space station/spacecraft on a track that takes it into orbits around both Mars and Venus and is ready for launch in 1979.  The spacecraft has three arms that fold out after launch and rotate to provide artificial gravity.  One is a hab module, the second a hydroponics farm and the third is the nuclear powerplant for a Nerva engine.  A lab/observatory sits on top.  I believe it was designed with the input of engineers and there's some blurb on the net that suggests NASA did genuinely study a Mars/Venus mission.

The scale is up in the air.  The box says 1/100, that would make it very large and the net says it's anything between that and 1/200.  I'm going with 1/144 as the diameter of the CSM works out at this scale.  It's supposed to be launched by a modified Saturn V, you'd need a bulged payload fairing (like the early Arianes and Falcon Heavy) in this scale.

A company named Paragraphix have released an etch set for it that improves on the details, including a replacement truss for the nerva engine, solar panels, hatches etc.  There are even some silhouette 'shadow casters' to suggest people inside in case you want to light it.  I won't be doing that, I think I'll just paint the inside surfaces silver to reflect light back.

Box lid:


Box bottom:


Sprue (there should be additional clear nose piece that you can substitute for one of the solid ones, but I won't be using it and gave it to a friend):


Instructions, decals, info leaflet and even some iron on patches!


Etch set:


Simon

[Mossie]

Atlantis did a modified Saturn V that gives an idea of what a Saturn V modified to loft the Pilgrim might have looked like:
http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,37581.msg609401.html#msg609401

[NARSES2]

Etch set looks good mate.

[Mossie]

It does dosen't it?  I've seen a few built up on the web and they do enhance the kit nicely.  Most of the parts are straight forward except for the antennae which need forming to their dish shape.  Oh, and I'm not sure if I'll add all the 39 tiny grab handles!

[Captain Canada]

What a neat kit ! So many bits and bobs in there you could pretty much build anything ! Thanks for all the pics, I love the illustrations on the back of the box, really gets the imagination going eh ? The iron-on patches are pretty cool as well !

[Mossie]

I've got a bit done so far.  The tanks are together and I've dry-fitted most of the major sub-assemblies.  The joins between parts that nest together are really good (especially considering the age of the kit), but length ways ones are going to need a fair bit of PSR.

Stripping the chrome parts with oven cleaner (apart form the mirror for the telescope, which I've left shiny) took more effort than I thought, as one side of the sprue came off easily and the other side was a lot more stubborn.

I've done some paint work on the base.  I'm going for a look of an asteroid in partial shadow, it's taken a few attempts as I've only got rattle cans but I think I've pulled off a passable job.

Pics tomorrow hopefully.

What a neat kit ! So many bits and bobs in there you could pretty much build anything ! Thanks for all the pics, I love the illustrations on the back of the box, really gets the imagination going eh ? The iron-on patches are pretty cool as well !

Yeah, the tanks could double up as drop tanks or rocket pods, the lab unit could be a moon lander or submersible and the hab, hydroponics and nuke module could all be payload for some space craft.  I'm sure there's a lot more you could do too. 

It seems to be a staple for kitbashes on Starship Modeler:

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/gallery/pf_disc.htm
http://www.starshipmodeler.org/contest10/scratch_09.htm
http://starshipmodeler.net/contest4/ss_s17.htm

[Mossie]

As promised, progress pics:

I'll do a bit more on the base, add some shadows and highlights,  and vary the surface colours a little.

[Mossie]

There's a great blog called Atomic Rockets, showcasing all sorts of realistic spacecraft designs.

Scroll down about the fifth of the way on this page and there's a discussion on the good bits and the flaws of the Pilgrim Observer:
http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/realdesigns.php

[Joe C-P]

Wow, I haven't seen one of those kits in years!


Looking forward to what you can do with it.

[TheChronicOne]

Whoa! This looks really cool.  Damn fine work on the base, I might add.

[Mossie]

Thanks!  I'm doing some more work on the base to introduce shadows and highlights, hopefully it'll look good one done.  It's taken a bit longer than I thought, Christmas is already starting to get in the way.