Catacombs Model Gallery
Moonbase Alpha

The 12 foot diameter Moonbase Alpha model was largely built in plywood (seen showing in damaged sections here) covered in plasticard. There are some perspex sections, and the crude launch pads are vacuum formed. The 1 inch thick buildings are detailed with pieces from the Revell 1/24th scale Gemini kit and thousands of "Butterfly Brand" paper sticky labels. The lunar surface around the buildings was created in Plaster of Paris, poured after the buildings were stuck in position. Craters were made by flicking water into the plaster as it dried. When not in use in the studio it would be hauled on chains to the roof, out of the way.

The lunar mountains around the base were large black and white photographs, 4-8 foot wide, mounted on hardboard. The fixed camera position would not reveal the 2 dimensional image, although one shot of the base in the Year One title sequence as it drops from the Earth reveals the trick.

After the series it was displayed at the Blackpool exhibition, but when the exhibition ended the model was to be destroyed. With no time and no transport for such a huge model, Phil Rae rescued most of the buildings, ripping them from its base. He was unable to remove most of the travel tubes and the launch pads. The model is now owned by Andy Hopkinson who hopes to restore it completely. Note how the camera flash illuminates the reflective transflex used to represent windows.