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AbaKon — Edge of Nothing
#black #blackhole #ericso #exploration #eye #hole #leif #mote #sciencefiction #space #starship #leifericson #moteingodseye
Published: 2015-11-11 16:29:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 2277; Favourites: 53; Downloads: 70
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As a kid, I thought the AMT Leif Ericson model was the coolest spaceship ever. As the years passed, I learned that I was not alone in this belief. Apparently, even legendary authors Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle agreed with me. It would be interesting to track how many versions of this ship have shown up over the decades - but there may not be that many numbers. So, here's a bit of starship eye candy featuring one of my favorite models.Oops - forgot to credit the background art source - a wonderful impression of a supermassive black hole done for NASA by Aurore Simonnet/Sonoma State University.
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Comments: 28
Since I had the glow in the dark version in my earliest model collection, I've loved this ship design! Would have also loved to see it actually used in some good production. Look forward to any future works you do with it!
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Perhaps you loved it because it is the most awesome ship ever designed? That's my reason.
Working on some new stuff with it right now, actually.
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THIS takes me back! I used to have two of those AMT models, one was the regular plastic, the other was the glow-in-the-dark version.
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I had this vessel as an all-green glow-in-the-dark model when I was a wee lad in the 70s.
Just seeing that aft section with the offset door brings back such memories...
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As I say, I think EVERYONE had some version of this model - it was just too awesome to resist!
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I never even knew what the thing was, or what show it belonged to, or anything, until The Intratubes enlightened me. Imagine my surprise to discover it was a Matt Jefferies design!
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Now this a shuttle!!! Actually this baby could be used for combat shuttle. The real reason is that the engines are hidden. And protected from gunfire. Plus is so cool to look at!!!
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I love it...but I always thought the nose looked like a duck.
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I built this when I was a cub---the glow in the dark version.
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I think I built a new one everytime a new version came out, because the old one was all broken up by then from excessing play!
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I didn't break my toys, I had a little brother for that.
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Anderson Drive to full power... ready the Langston Field!
Totally awesome!! Great book and and awesome ship to go with it. I'd love to see a pic of the modifications Niven and Pournelle made to the design. There were some changes like some sort of boom that could be rotated so the Captain's command offices would have gravity, and I think the hanger was modified. Even stock though this is definitely a favorite of mine to be sure. Had the model when I was little. Can't remember but maybe my little brother and I both had one... and I do believe it was the glow-in-the-dark version
I know of a nearby hobby store that has both versions. Next payday I think I'm going to indulge myself 
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There are lots of cool versions on dArt. One of my favorites is this one:
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Oh, and this is an AMAZING image of it...
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There were many sci-fi book covers to feature this or similar design craft. There is a website devoted to the "Leif Erickson" model kit, try a search engine using the "name".
That site will show you just how beloved this model was/ is.
I even just recently bought from Ebay the AMT company's "The Interplanetary U.F.O. Mystery ship" kit.
Haven't assembled it yet. Waiting for ability to do a real dream job onto it this time.
You do know that Matt Jefferies (designer of original t.v. starship Enterprise) designed this model kit?
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I do indeed. He also pitched it to George Pal for a War of the Worlds TV series!
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MacArthur's warp is forming ... in the dark
All the blue-green tendrils swirling down ...
Someone left the shuttles ... out of range.
I ... don't ... think that they can make it
So the crews will have to take it
And just hope the ship will pass this way again!
OH, NO!!!
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It's always kinda sad doing Mac images and knowing what's in her future...
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Great spacecraft design, a real classic. And you have done a wonderful rendering!
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Thanks. I think every sci-fi kid from my generation had this kit!
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Mote in gods eye! Wow that takes me back many years!
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Thanks! With the exception of War of the Worlds, this is probably my most read/reread book.
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VERY cool! Love the colors, angle, space wedgie.... all of it! You really made the model sing, not just lipsynch!
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MJ certainly nailed this design. Thank you for the very kind words, my art Yoda.
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Thanks! Hard to do a bad image of this ship!
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