LANDMASTER - (Tamiya)

From the 1977 20th Century Fox sci-fi epic ‘ DAMNATION ALLEY’ Directed by Jack Smight and Produced by Jerome M Zellman and Paul Maslansky.

This film is based on a novel by Roger Zelazny, which follows a group of survivors and their trek across a desolate United States in the wake of a massive nuclear attack. Key to the story and the appeal of the film is the futuristic LANDMASTER truck.

it travels over deserts and wasteland. The unique arrangement of ‘tri-star’ wheel units, with three wheels enable the vehicle to traverse even the roughest terrain. They even serve as rudimentary paddle—wheels when in deep water.

The vehicle was designed and built be DEAN JEFFRIES who was an established auto-engineer and had designed and supplied various vehicles for TV and film including the Black Beauty from ‘The Green Hornet’ TV show, the Monkeemobile form ‘The Monkees’ TV show, several cars for Roger Corman’s satirical Sci-Fi classic ‘Death Race 2000’ and the Moon Buggy from the James Bond film ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. The LANDMASTER is a full scale working prop; 35 feet long and 12 feet in height and capable of 55 miles per hour. (Interior shots appear to have been shot on sets that are slightly larger to allow more room for those scenes).

The Landmaster made appearances in other TV shows and films in ‘cameos’. It still exists and for many years could be seen in the parking lot of Dean Jeffries studio in Los Angeles, before being sold to a private collector.

A model kit of this classic vehicle, from the masters of 1/35th scale military models would have been tremendous. This imaginary box art is in the classic style of their 1970s AFV kits.

Designed by Dean Jeffries

Here is a link to short video of Dean Jeffries talking about the Landmaster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26n3RsXNyKE