Really Retro Lunar (Osumi Satellite)

[Cat]

Thanks Matt.  1/72 was tempting; Triang and other Chinese knock-offs of the MPC figures were done in a variety of sizes including 1/72.  But I don't think they were ever released in bulk sets like MPC did for 2 decades.  I had a couple of them as a kid, they came 1 in a package with a much smaller scale space vehicle of various sorts.
 
I'll definitely be going with painting in colours that mirror the original plastic with some highlights.  That way I can balance out figure assortments, there will be some defectors changing their colours!
 
So, those ones aren't easy to hunt down in any quantity these days, while MPC cranked out so many they are still cheap and plentiful on EBay.
 
Nice find on that Moon Bug print!  Just re-watched that movie the other night for a lighter break between episodes of For All Mankind.  If I ever want a larger transport, that Bug will definitely be in the running (if there's an easier way to build it than the amazing work that went into that blog linked one).

I did just find the perfect kit to bash for my corporate buggy — a VW type 825 Pick Up built on the WW2 Beetle chassis.  I'll chop of the roof, remove the doors, and the tyres are 2-piece so it will be easy to widen them with a spacer in the middle.
https://squadron.com/1-35-special-armour-vw-type-825-pick-up-plastic-model-kit/
 
For a corporation, I was originally leaning towards Germany's OTRAG, the first attempt at a private operation started in 1975.  That was incredibly hopeful at the time, but alas didn't get off the ground.  But since I'm really settling into a retro 1960s SF, that didn't quite seem right; Germany didn't have much of a space program in the 60s (the US had grabbed up all the Nazi rocket scientists and technicians in Operation Paperclip).
 
Then I remembered Turbonique and Roy 'Mr. Pitiful' Drew as the best contender for a 60s private entry into rocketeering.  Roy Drew was a drag racer who took a rocket powered VW Bug airborne in 1968!  Turns out that 183mph is the maximum land speed limit of a stock VW Bug body.  After that it becomes aerodynamically unstable and leaves the ground.
https://www.theautopian.com/happy-juneteenth-meet-mr-pitiful-and-his-rocket-turbine-powered-vw-beetle

So in my storyline, Captain Drew will be commanding the Turbonique moon team, and the VW pick-up moon buggy in Turbonique colours is the required ride.
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[Cat]

I have emerged from a couple of internet rabbit holes having refreshed and improved my knowledge of 1960s space programs and international political relations. 

I'll be fielding 9 different Earth factions sorted into toy figure colour assignments, plus the Little Green Men (of various hues).  Keeping this mostly to countries that had actual space launches up through 1970, plus honourable mention entries for Indonesia that among others launched suborbital sounding rockets, and Turbonique as mentioned in the prior post for a corporate team that at least had launched a rocket powered VW Beetle airborne.
 
There are of course the two Division One competitors in the space race:

*  USSR (red), will attack anyone.

*  USA (white), will only attack USSR or PRC, although might get provoked by Argentina or Indonesia.

Followed by:

*  PRC (yellow) will attack anyone except Pakistan, might ally with USSR.

*  Pakistan (green) receives support from both PRC and USA and will not attack either one, will especially ally with either against USSR, otherwise a wild card.

*  France (dark blue) will not attack USA, Argentina, or Japan.

*  Argentina (light blue) receives support from France; will not attack France, and likely not USA; otherwise a wild card.

*  Japan (orange) will not attack anyone, defensive force only; does have a mutual security treaty with USA and Indonesia and can come to their aid.

*  Indonesia (gold) receives support from Japan; will not attack Japan, and likely not USA; otherwise a wild card.

*  Turbonique (silver) an American corporation, will not attack USA, France, or Japan; otherwise a wild card suspected of engaging in proxy conflicts on behalf of the USA.
 

[mikedemana]

I love the factions and country orientations...sounds like a campaign!

Mike Demana

[Cat]

Certainly will provide a good narrative background to scenarios.
 
Could set up a whole Lunar Diplomacy game!

[bluewillow]

Have you seen this Cat?.

https://blacksitestudio.com/en-au/pages/lunar-products


Cheers
Matt

[Cat]

Yuppers, just waiting for Black Friday sale to order the starter set and expanded weapon deck.  Since I won't be using their minis, I'll need to scrounge around to find images or stat lines for the crew cards that come with the expansion minis.

[mikedemana]

Yuppers, just waiting for Black Friday sale to order the starter set and expanded weapon deck. 

Someone who plans out their purchases...love it! I was talking to a friend the other day who made me feel less anal for tracking my Acquired vs. Painted totals. He awards himself points for figures, terrain, scatter, etc., all very detailed. For example, a 28mm fig is worth 2 points, but a mounted one 4 points. 

Mike Demana

[Cat]

I've found putting things on the "Maybe on Black Friday list" is a reasonable curb against some of the impulse buys.  This game has definitely jumped from maybe to buy it, but might as well ride out the wait now.  Wasn't entirely sure back when it went on the list.
 
Ooh, points for painting — you can win games with points!
: 3
 
The only ones I really track are DBA armies, which are sorted by roughly how much work is done: raw, trimmed, primed, ~1/3, ~2/3, completed.  Helps me eyeball which ones might jump back onto the workbench for various periods. 
 
It's only been this year that I finally started beating Xeno and got over half of them fully completed!  Currently 67 armies out of 126 if my inventory has been correct.  I've been so close to getting them half done for so many years, but could never quite cross the halfway line with new acquisitions coming in.
~ , ~

[Cat]

A friend printed out the Gemini Lander, and I absolutely love it!
 
Juggling scaling option between 154% (actual 1/35 Big Gemini planned diameter) or 130% (still plenty big on the game table), finally opted for 130% to keep the footprint down.  It still looks mighty impressive and like it can carry a squad of astronauts and plenty of gear.
 
Stands ~16.5" tall.  Had to scrunch the ladder a bit — width and thickness are 130%, but length is 70% to get the rung spacing better matched with the 2" MPC astronauts.  Splicing 2 of these ladders together will give  the required length.

The parts dry fit very nicely, painting to follow.

[HerbertTarkel]

I had a space cake for one of my birthdays (maybe like 7? 8?). There was a lunar lander on it.  That toy saw life long after my birthday - I remember a Star Wars toy being used to pilot it!

My dad was a ham radio fan in the late 70s, as well as being an RCAF air traffic controller, and one day, he connected with NASA in Texas. The dude there sent me a TON of promo material. Talk about sparking my imagination.

This projects reminds me of the sheer space joy those days were for me.

[Cat]

My dad was a ham radio fan in the late 70s, as well as being an RCAF air traffic controller, and one day, he connected with NASA in Texas. The dude there sent me a TON of promo material. Talk about sparking my imagination.

This projects reminds me of the sheer space joy those days were for me.

Lucky connection there! 

And yes, this project is definitely re-awaking the old joy — first time I've been bit by a real nostalgia bug.

[HerbertTarkel]

Lucky connection there! 

And yes, this project is definitely re-awaking the old joy — first time I've been bit by a real nostalgia bug.

I’ve sent you the photo collection at the archive I donated it to. Enjoy, be inspired!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

That Gemini Lander looks superb. I really like what you are doing with this.   

[Daeothar]

Ooh, that lander is an absolute beaut!! 

Loving where this is going... 

[mikedemana]

Currently 67 armies out of 126 if my inventory has been correct. 

I was a HUGE DBA fan back in the day. I sold off all of my armies, though. Props to you for continuing to paint them.

Oh, and love the lander, too. Great stuff!!

Mike Demana