Photo Feature Space 1999 Hawk model


The big Mark IX Hawk from the episode 'War Games', a lightweight plastic model around 31" in length. Some of the kit parts on this model are from The Airfix Saturn 1b, Saturn 5, 1/24th scale Harrier, Srn4, Lunar Lander, Vostok, Bismarck and the Railway Crane.

One thing that always fooled me was that unlike the Eagle the recessed areas around the windows really are recessed creating a lip that allows space for the slotted white strips. The windows themselves are yellow translucent plastic. During filming the black areas were painted white and were returned to there original black colour afterwards.

Note above - the gun tubes are not broken but have a small piece cut out of the lower half to give them a more interesting muzzle.

If you haven't already noticed the nose section is not symetrical at all. The wires for the lightbulb (laser) travel through the model and exit just over half way down the hull and then travel along the lower surface passing under the rear vertical boosters.
	The missile tubes are mostly kit parts from the Airfix Harrier with the ribbed areas cut from wedding cake stands.
As most of you should already know the Hawk was originally all white but was painted orange at the studio. The orange is hand painted on quite thinly and shows the signs of being done in rather a hurry.

Rather a lot of Airfix Lunar Module kit parts on display here together with the already mentioned wire for the front laser.

And the top features more kit parts. The gaps between the fuselage and side engines are detailed with a bits of skirting from the SRN4 hovercraft and the 1/24 scale Harrier.

The solar panel was originally a footpad from another model which is why it has detail underneath. It also has ribbed detail on the left side edge and none on the right (see below).

As you can see in the picture above, where the decal still shows clearly through the paint, the orange is a very thin coating.
The engine bells on the side boosters appear to be plastic caps from a household item - not kit parts.

Both Hawks in formation

Although I was never a great fan of this craft its surprising just how good this rough and rather tatty model looks in the flesh - another excellent piece of work by Martin Bower.