Retro Spaceplane Scratchbash

[trekriffic]

By the mid 1990's, rocket technology had reached a level of unprecedented sophistication, allowing commercial spaceflight between the inner planets to become a reality. Sleek rocket ships plied the spaceways between Earth and Mars ferrying excited passengers to and from the new Olympus Mons spaceport in comfort and style. Although such flights had become almost routine, there were the occassional equipment failures brought on by increased solar flare activity or unexpected meteor showers; sometimes the only thing standing between a ship and disaster was luck and the resourfulness of it's crew. There was also the danger posed by space pirates who selected targets seemingly at random; boarding liners to rob passengers of their valuables and ships of their cargo, even holding wealthier individuals hostage and demanding ransom ! Fearing that it was only a matter of time before a ship would be damaged so severely by piracy or astronomical events as to make onboard repairs impossible, the world's commercial space lines (TWA and Pan Am chief among them) appealed to the United States Space Patrol (USSP) to develop a search and rescue vehicle able to launch within 5 minutes of a distress call and capable of arriving on scene in 15 minutes or less. Funding was approved and development fast-tracked in 1995 on the Mars Advanced Rapid Response Vehicle or MARRV.
One year later, the first succesful space trials took place and soon a small atomic powered fleet of sturdy MARRV's stood ready to respond should the need arise. Equipped with a tail mounted laser cannon and capable of either horizontal or vertical takeoff and landing, the MARRV has been euphemistically dubbed "The Hummingbird" due to it's unique ability, thru a nozzle in its nose, to take on fuel (water) by inserting it in funnel shaped "blossoms" extending from an orbiting refueling platform:


Technical Data:
Wing span: 13.1 m
Length: 14.9 m
Height: 11.5 m
Power Plant: Nuclear reactor electrolytically splits water into hydrogen and oxygen to power 2 x Lockheed LM1-55MV multi-vector rocket motors mounted on wingtips and 1 x Lockheed LM1-110B rocket motor in the center.
Capacity: 21,727 kp
Empty weight: 25,036 kg (Terran)
Max. takeoff weight: 36,945 kg (Terran)
Max. speed: Classified
Range: Classified
Armament: Tail mounted SSX-7 laser cannon
Specialized equipment: Stern launched magnetic grappler claw and camera assembly.

















This model started off as a Dollar Store Booklight:


The MARRV will eventually be part of a Martian diorama I'm constructing along with the Glencoe Mars Liner space rocket which is based on Disneyland's 1950's "Mission to Mars" ride; hence, I used a Disney 1950's futuristic mindset as my inspiration. For more WIP photos of this ship and my diorama go to my thread here:
http://z11.invisionfree.com/Modelling_World/index.php?showtopic=211

I have a few more pics in case anyone's interested.

[Taiidantomcat]

Great idea and a sweet model welcome aboard 

[chrisonord]

Exactly what he said 
welcome to the mad house.
Chris.

[Weaver]

That's excellent - love the working u/c legs! 

You'll fit right in here! 

[trekriffic]

Not bad for my first scratch-bash eh ?  Thanks for your comments guys and I appreciate the welcome ! Look for another post soon of my completed Mars diorama. Here's the MARRV alongside the Glencoe Mars Liner I built prior to the MARRV. Both will be featured in the dio:

[bluedonkey99]

looks like it would be right at home in an Ultraman episode!

[thedarkmaster]

That's so nice.   

[Ed S]

That's terrific, Trekriffic.   

Ed

[Doc Yo]

looks like it would be right at home in an Ultraman episode!

My thoughts exactly-nothing says "Science Patrol" quite like red and silver. Beautiful job!

[sotoolslinger]

Absolutely Awesome Looking forward to the dio

[Big Bird]

Looks great Trek and welcome

[trekriffic]

Looks great Trek and welcome

Hey there BB !

Fancy meeting you here !

[trekriffic]

looks like it would be right at home in an Ultraman episode!

My thoughts exactly-nothing says "Science Patrol" quite like red and silver. Beautiful job!

Funny. Hadn't even thought of Ultraman but you guys are right ! 

[tanktastic43]

Ha ha! Nice one. Cool build and finish. 

[cthulhu77]

   Jaw dropping goodness.