Use the "Content" listbox above to select a topic to see.Thank you for visiting my Lunar Model's Seaview Project pages. The information on these pages is both about the Seaview as well as my building the Lunar Models Seaview kit.
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As I mentioned in my description of my Seaview image (in the Art Gallery Section), I have always wanted to build a model of the submarine Seaview (from the movie and television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea). So, in 1996 I purchased the only Seaview model kit I could find, which was produced by Lunar Models. Their literature warned that this kit was intended for someone with advanced modeling skill and experience. Well, I hadn't made a model in years, but - after all - how hard can it be?
In the spring of 1998, I started to build it. This was my first serious model... and it was going to take some serious effort!
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Figure 1: A marketing photo of the Lunar Models Seaview kit, including the TV conversion modifications (which include the one-piece flying sub shown). Courtesy of Lunar Models. |
Lunar Models provided a base kit, which is based on the movie version of the Seaview. This consisted of the following (I apologize for the lack of pictures here; I hadn't considered documenting this project until I started building it):
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A two-piece 32"Hull |
This consisted of two pieces of (very thin) vacuum-formed plastic, which
constitutes the starboard and port sides of the submarine from the conning tower down to
the ridge that transverses the Seaview's hull (from the large forward fins, back
to the ends of the engines). Some details were molded into these pieces, including the ballast vents, hatches on the conning tower, the forward observation light, and markings for the forward observation windows. The quality of this detail was very rough. |
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A single-piece keel |
A single piece of thin vacuum-formed plastic constituted the keel and
lower hull. This was designed to attach to the under side of the lateral fins, from
the bow to a section just aft of the mini-sub doors. Speaking of the mini-sub doors... these were molded into the plastic. |
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Two three-piece engines |
These were the assemblies for the bullet-shaped engines that are nestled
in the Seaview's stern section. Unlike the hull pieces, these were made from thick
vacuum-formed plastic. They were detailed with the vents that appear above and below the
fins that run along side of the engines. However, this detail was also very rough. Resin insert parts were included for the interior of the engines. |
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Misc. detail pieces |
Various resin parts were provided for additional details, including the
aft (Cadillac-like) fins, the conning tower's diving planes, periscope assembly, etc. Additionally, resin parts for the diving bell and the mini sub were also included. |
Since I was interested in building the TV-version of the Seaview, I also purchased the conversion kit available from Lunar Models. This includes:
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Flying Sub bay & hatch |
This modification included a large resin piece designed to replace the forward section of the Seaview's lower hull where the flying sub was housed. A square piece of card plastic was provided for the bay's sliding doors. |
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Flying Sub (single piece) |
An appropriately scaled resin flying sub was provided. This was a nice touch. |
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Interior Pieces |
Several resin pieces to be used to build the interior of the observation nose were provided. |
Even though I had limited experience as a serious modeler, I knew that the model I wanted to build was not going to be easily created from this kit. Therefore, I developed a general plan with only vague ideas has to how I was going to accomplish it. Here is my planned approach:
I would build the TV version of the Seaview, and incorporate lighting where appropriate.
An external power-source would provide electricity for the lighting. I did not want to
add batteries or a switch on the model its self.
The upper deck (including the ballast vents and conning tower) would be separated from
the main hall. These pieces would be constructed such that they could be removed from the
hull as necessary. I planned to use magnets to hold the upper deck structure to the
main hull.
I wanted the mini-sub bay doors to open. These were to be spring-loaded so that they
would remain shut naturally. The mini-sub bay would be built and lighted as well.
A stand for the finished model would have to be constructed also. Eventually, the idea
evolved to include electrical power to the model from contacts in the stand. I also
wanted to be able to be articulate the stand, so that it could display the model from different
angles.
...And finally, I would need a winning lottery ticket to pay for all of this.
Generally, the kit is well proportioned and provides a good scale for an effective result. However, it has several problems with accuracy - some of them major. I have included descriptions of these problems in the appropriate sections covering construction of specific areas of the model.
But the concept of "accuracy" is difficult when modeling the Seaview, since there were several different studio models used during the production of Voyage, each a little different from the other. Additionally, these under went a major conversion during the TV series' second season (see my Seaview Studio Models pages for more details). I chose to make a model that would capture the general look of the Seaview, but I would also add subtle details to enhance the model as well.
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