James Bond: Moonraker

An original miniature used in the production of the 1979 James Bond picture Moonraker starring Roger Moore as the suave spy.

Following the box office success of Star Wars in 1977 the decision was made to send James Bond into space for his next adventure. The film centres around Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) who plots to commit global genocide and repopulate the Earth with a new race of perfect physical specimens from his Space Station. The design of the space station was that of prolific Bond production designer Ken Adam who drew influence from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science fiction epic 2001: A Space Odyssey. For filming requirements the space station was realised in miniature by special effects legend Derek Meddings and his talented visual effects team at Pinewood Studios.

This laser filming miniature was used in the scene where Drax orders the activation of the space station defence laser to destroy the shuttle launched by the United Sates to intercept them, a plan ultimately foiled by Bond. For filming two miniature lasers were built by the model effects team, one for the shot from behind the laser as it prepares to fire with the miniature offered here used on screen for the shot where the laser is activated and is seen emerging from the space station. The laser is entirely scratch built and is intricately constructed largely from plastic sheet and tubing with various detail to include metal wire with some kit parts, tape and a perspex barrel. The miniature is hand painted and weathered to an incredibly high standard as you would expect and to the back features two screws where it would have been attached to a hinge or rig during filming with a piece of elastic which was likely used by the crew to control the miniature as it revealed.

This highly displayable miniature measures an impressive 18" long and stands approximately 7" high, it remains in excellent screen used condition lacking one minor piece of detail to the top, overall very fine. The multiple exposure shots which created the laser battle in space, the realism of the shuttle flight and the stunning model miniature sequences all contributed to the groundbreaking visual effects of Moonraker which earned the picture an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

James Bond filming miniatures are incredibly rare on the collectors market and this represents a significant and desirable special effects artefact from one of the most celebrated franchises in cinematic history.

Please note that special shipping arrangements will apply on this item.