Moon Base Alpha – Space 1999

Moon Base Alpha

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Moon Base Alpha

 

 

This project was a complete distraction.  I was in the middle of my CF-130/LAPES project when I saw this kit and an old episode of the BBC TV series Space:1999.

I was inspired to experiment with use of LED lighting to see if I could produce a more realistic looking display of Moon Base Alpha.

If I did it again I would certainly spend a lot more time, but I learned a great deal.

Each building component houses a strip of 3 LED lights.  The challenge was to allow the light to show where you want it, through windows, but not anywhere else.  The technique was to use several layers of paint to create a lightproof coating for the exterior of each building.  Then I lined the interior top of each building with aluminum foil to block light going through the top of the building and reflect light around the inside of the building.  Each building was then given a false bottom so that each building was a completely sealed unit with only the wires to the LED strip coming out where the various holes in the base permitted the space.

Then, wherever I wanted a window, I used a very small, sharpened screwdriver to cut the paint away from the building.  It actually worked!

Of course there are a huge bundle of wires under the base.  The power source is actually a small DC power adapter with selectable voltage settings, I use 9v or 12v, that I plug into a small jack mounted in the bottom of the base.

To display the project, which measures over 20 inches square, I affixed the same hardware you would use to mount a picture on the wall.