TWA Moonliner

**nando** · #1 03-18-2016, 05:24 AM

Hi to all, it is long time that i posted something new.
Last december i looked at first landing of the Falcon 9.
It was an astonishing spectacle and a great achievement.
It recalled to my memory the image of the great rocket that stood at the entrance to Tomorrowland:* the TWA Moonliner. I was a child in the 1955 but that image made me dream a bold future of regular and easy space travels.
After sixty years it seems that that dream could come true, and in a way very similar.
So i realized that i can reproduce this scenary putting both beside: the moonliner and the falcon, showing the evolution of the original dream.
So i started this new project from the Moonliner @Disneyexperience.
TWA Moonliner Paper Model

**nando** · #2 03-18-2016, 05:29 AM

First of all i reduced the model, printing four pages on one: as usual I have some issue of space at home. The final scale is about 1/73.
Here some pics of the building process:

**nando** · #3 03-18-2016, 05:31 AM

The model isn't correct in the engine section. The "real" one had a more "realistic" aspect, as you can see in the pic below. It resembles the V-2 nozzle, and this indicates the von Braun's fatherhood. If you look at the background you can see a replica of the V-2 engine that confirms the paternity.

But I preferred to maintain the wrong version because it is always a fictional space ship that remembers the style of the Flash Gordon ships.

**nando** · #4 03-18-2016, 05:32 AM

Then I did the legs.
I had some difficulty to manage the small details after I reduced the scale.

I stiffened the thinner parts with cyanoacrylic glue and I used iron wire to harden the leg: I'm planning to make them removable and the model transportable.

**nando** · #5 03-18-2016, 05:33 AM

But the model lacks a base, so I'm designing my own.
Here where I am.

Next soon.
Best, Nando

**Swampfox** · #6 03-18-2016, 06:02 AM

I've always wanted to build a model of this vehicle, thanks for the link.

Although I've taken a break from modeling, it will wait for me.

Looking forward to the rest of your build.

Swampfox

**Vermin_King** · #7 03-18-2016, 06:52 AM

Outstanding. I was going to build this for a TWA retiree before he died, but I gave up on the legs. I gave him Bruno's Constellation instead.

I might have to try it again. They had one of these on the TWA building in downtown KC, too, so I'd probably try to add a base of the top floors of the building

**elliott** · #8 03-18-2016, 12:14 PM

Some nice detail work there Nando.

**Paper Kosmonaut** · #9 03-18-2016, 03:14 PM

Hey Nando, great job you're doing there.
I also have plans to do this rocket. I actually started on some years back but I stopped with it for some reason. I also made recolours of the Moonliner in other liveries, of course being a Dutchie I made a KLM version but I also made a Braniff all-orange version, just for the looks of it. I yet have to build them, though.
I have always had the feeling the cabin was out of scale, by the way. Too large.

**nando** · #10 03-27-2016, 06:11 PM

Thanks for follow my project.
Small progress: just some graphic adjustment for the base.

Happy Easter to all.
Nando