SHADO MOON MOBILE - AIRFIX

From the 1970 TV series UFO created by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson

UFO was a TV series, made in 1970 and set in the futurstic world of 1980. The premise of the show is that aliens are slowly invading the earth and a secret organisation called SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organisation) is established to act as the front line of defense against the invading UFOs. (the alien ships are always called ‘you-foes’. not U.F.O. s). SHADO operate a moonbase and this is equipped with the insect like Moon Mobiles, which glide across the lunar surface.

The compact vehicle is equipped with a cannon and can be used for numerous utility tasks on the surface.

1/32nd seems like a good scale for this vehicle as it features lots of small details. At this scale I estimate the kit would be approx 9” long. It would of course have been molded in white styrene like all of their space models. And would possibly come with two seated astronaut pilots and a figure descending the rear ladder - wouldn’t that have been fun?

To viewers who have seen ‘Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons’, the Moon Mobile may seem familiar as the basic design ingredients are similar to the ‘Moon Hopper’ featured in the episodes ‘Lunarville 7’ and ‘Crater 101’, which take place on the Moon.

Designed by Mike Trim.