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JUPITER-2 DIORAMA #40 (TIMEWARP) |
Updated: September 14, 2022
This 1/35th scale Jupiter-2 model from Moebius is based on the classic ‘60's Irwin Allen TV series "Lost in Space". It was constructed and finished as a museum quality showpiece, with absolutely no detail being overlooked. The Paragrafix brand photo
etch and decal set, plus the Aztec Dummy brand painting masks were utilized in the construction process. The Moebius Model's Jupiter-2 Lighting Kit with 28 interior and 24 fusion core lights was installed, plus an additional 24 LEDs were installed in the interior where needed, in order to light every single control panel. This required upgrading the 1 amp Moebius DC converter to a
more powerful 2.6 amp unit, since it also had to power the 3 LED spotlights in the base, which light the ship from below. The
hull halves are not glued together, so that access to the interior wiring is possible. I decided from the beginning, that the
model was going to be built with the landing gear in the retracted "launch" position, because I had designed my own custom
display base and launch gantry to resemble the gantry seen only in LIS episode one.
The base and gantry took about 3 months to construct, from the initial designs to the final assembly. The launch gantry alone consists of over 150, individual, laser cut parts! I also added a soundboard from Starling Technologies, which blends in
perfectly with the fusion core lighting effect, for the optimal viewing experience! The soundboard operates from a separate
power switch (front left), and is battery operated, so that it can be turned on and off independent of the lighting. The sound speaker is located in the top, center of the base and blends in nicely. I moved the fusion core speed control switch to the right side panel on the base for ease of operation (red button). With the Jupiter-2 ready to launch, it only made sense to add the
crew to the freezing tubes! A custom designed dual-port umbilical "cable" plugs into the base and the bottom of the hull, and is hidden by the rear launch gantry leg. Convenient "On / Off" switches were added to the front of the base on either side of the
laser etched, "Lost in Space/The Jupiter-2", and they control the sound and lighting effects. The beautiful gloss black acrylic
base measures 20" x 20" x 2.5" and has a port for the 6V DC transformer located on the rear panel. The black metallic vinyl on
the top of the base provides a nice "starry night" effect, and the silver metallic ring that the launch gantry is attached to
fits flush into the base. This showpiece is a work of art that any fan of "Lost in Space" would be proud to own. It could easily
be the centerpiece of your personal collection!
Value: $3,000-Up.
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