UFO Lunar module cockpit

Hi to all as a new member of the forum.


I am interested in members views of the layout of the UFO Lunar Module Cockpit.


In several episodes, notably, Kill Straker, Conflict and The Dalotek Affair the internal cockpit of the Lunar Module is shown.

The pilots are seated side by side, with a control panel directly in front of them.

It appears though that the front control panel totally obscures any forward view, extending to above head height.

However, external views of the model show windows, and a pilot (or pilots) visible.



I'm considering ideas of how this could come about and be resolved for the development of a simulator version of the module. Any thoughts to explain this apparent anomaly of the Lunar Module would be appreciated, cutaway drawings if any exist or previous explanations that may have been published would be welcome too.

Here are a couple of pictures to show the apparent anomaly.


Kill_Straker_-_Control_Yoke_and_door_view.bmp

Left_Control_Panel_01.bmp

Many thanks for any thoughts or views.

On July 26, "Odahs [via SHADO]" <[hidden email]> wrote:
> The pilots are seated side by side, with a control panel directly in front
> of them.

Yes, I don't think we ever see a window in the interior shots of the lunar module,
although in KILL STRAKER, we do see the colored lights coming through,
indicating that there are windows towards the front of the cockpit.

But this might be inconsistent with the exterior shots, as you can often
see the pilot inside the cockpit through the front windows.

Marc

I have two possible explanations in mind at the moment:

1) The forward control panel is able to move, swinging upwards to reveal the windows when required.

2) The double control panel is not in the top cockpit, it is in a separate compartment where both pilots fly the module  using the instruments during orbital/transition flights and landing at moonbase. The top cockpit is only occupied during docking with the Lunar Transporter, or if a good external view is required (such as during space walks).

I'm favouring option number 1, as though no windows are shown in the internal views as such, what might be considered internal metal 'screens' over side windows are shown:

Screen.bmp

There is mention of lowering (or perhaps raising) screens of the lunar module in the UFO Annual.

The problem with solution 2 is it doesn't appear consistent to me with what was shown in the TV series.

I would be interested to know which appears the most plausible or consistent explanation to forum members.

Just as a note, the internal views are not always of identical film sets.  Between episodes the seat type changes, as does some of the internal trim. The large forward control panel though appears to be the same in all episodes. I'm assuming that there were a large number of modules in operation and there may have been older and newer ones in service during the series.

On July 27, "Odahs [via SHADO]" <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I have two possible explanations in mind at the moment:
>
> 1) The forward control panel is able to move
>
> 2) The double control panel is not in the top cockpit

I have a third explanation -- it's one of many inconsistencies that you can
find on the show.  :-)

Probably no different than the various inconsistencies around the Moonbase
Interceptors -- first the pilots go down chutes, but then when you see inside
the silos, there are no chutes visible.  And presumably these silos
are right next to Moonbase, and yet whenever we see an exterior shot of
Moonbase, there are no silos visible.

Marc

Indeed! But I have set myself the task of solving the inconsistencies in the best ways that I can! I spotted the sea recovery of Sky 1 (2,3,4) has already been discussed here too!

On July 27, "Odahs [via SHADO]" <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Indeed! But I have set myself the task of solving the inconsistencies in the
> best ways that I can! I spotted the sea recovery of Sky 1 (2,3,4) has
> already been discussed here too!

By the way, I took a look at the "UFO Technical Manual" that was published
a few years ago, and it doesn't have any cutaways or anything useful to
help out with this.  It pretty much ignores this inconsistency, and shows
interior and exterior shots that are obviously inconsistent.

Marc

Thanks for the info, I had considered the technical manual as a possible source so can now rule it out.

My main problem is that to create a believable virtual cockpit for the simulator 3 dimensional space needs to be consistent. I'm leaning more to two separate compartments now, one upper one used for the initial launch from the transporter, acceleration to orbital velocity, re-entry and re-dock with the Transporter. The other with seating arranged for vertical landing at moonbase with the large forward control panel. Though it's not entirely consistent with the TV series - it does make a lot sense.

I came across something else interesting whilst pouring over pictures, there was more than one Lunar Module model which I had not realised previously. In the UFO annual there is a picture of the space walk from Close Up. I had assumed they had modified a single model to create the side door for the moonwalk, but on close inspection details such as the bell of the main thruster are clearly different to the module usually shown, as are some of the paint details (particularly a white band around the nose). So perhaps a smaller scale module was produced for that scene or the original broke and went through some major modifications?

 > So perhaps a smaller scale module was produced
> for that scene or the original broke and went
> through some major modifications?

Maybe it is a left-over from filming CONFLICT, as the Lunar Module miniature in that episode is actually damaged from off-camera high pressure air during Foster's re-entry sequence.