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Description
Many sci-fi fans have a passion or liking for a certain ship in the genre – there are many that are iconic – The USS Enterprise, Blake Seven’s Liberator, Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon, or Gerry Anderson’s Eagle or Thunderbird 2.

Of course there are the obscure – X-Wings, Firefox, B5’s StarFury and such. Mine is strangely the Dove/Doppleganger from the only Gerry Anderson true film ever made: Journey to the far side of the sun.

For those who had never heard of this film, it is the story of the discovery of another planet on the opposite side of the sun to us; and appears capable of supporting life. To get there, an impressive ship is launched – think Apollo but way larger; and to get down to this planet was via this ingenious means. Alas in that Gerry Anderson sort of way, it all goes horribly wrong and results in everything blowing up

So why is it called Doppleganger? Check the movie yourself

I loved this ship ever since I clapped eyes on her; she is not a starfighter or capable of doing anything radical – she is just a shuttle. Yet something about it made sense and it looked rather impressive; it was sleek, fast, and looked cool; and also very technically accurate; no doubt based on the lifting bodies from the 1960’s.

However I was not keen on the colour, nor its propulsion systems, and the landing gear beggared belief – SKIDS?!

The original ship had two rocket type motors, two outer engines and two vertical jets. The design is sound but the mechanisms under her made no sense. It’s no surprise that this thing killed anyone who flew it.

So I did a version; the ship has two engines similar to the one the legendary X-15 carried, with internal chambers to funnel thrust through the outer engines which would bend down akin to the F-35 and hidden vertical thrusters. I gave it a shuttle colour scheme akin to the Dream Chaser, and gave the thing proper landing gear.

I also re-designed the symbol to make it look more impressive.

Like to hear your thoughts – and if anyone wants to do a 3D model – go nuts

Enjoy!

Description
Many sci-fi fans have a passion or liking for a certain ship in the genre – there are many that are iconic – The USS Enterprise, Blake Seven’s Liberator, Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon, or Gerry Anderson’s Eagle or Thunderbird 2.

Of course there are the obscure – X-Wings, Firefox, B5’s StarFury and such. Mine is strangely the Dove/Doppleganger from the only Gerry Anderson true film ever made: Journey to the far side of the sun.

For those who had never heard of this film, it is the story of the discovery of another planet on the opposite side of the sun to us; and appears capable of supporting life. To get there, an impressive ship is launched – think Apollo but way larger; and to get down to this planet was via this ingenious means. Alas in that Gerry Anderson sort of way, it all goes horribly wrong and results in everything blowing up

So why is it called Doppleganger? Check the movie yourself

I loved this ship ever since I clapped eyes on her; she is not a starfighter or capable of doing anything radical – she is just a shuttle. Yet something about it made sense and it looked rather impressive; it was sleek, fast, and looked cool; and also very technically accurate; no doubt based on the lifting bodies from the 1960’s.

However I was not keen on the colour, nor its propulsion systems, and the landing gear beggared belief – SKIDS?!

The original ship had two rocket type motors, two outer engines and two vertical jets. The design is sound but the mechanisms under her made no sense. It’s no surprise that this thing killed anyone who flew it.

So I did a version; the ship has two engines similar to the one the legendary X-15 carried, with internal chambers to funnel thrust through the outer engines which would bend down akin to the F-35 and hidden vertical thrusters. I gave it a shuttle colour scheme akin to the Dream Chaser, and gave the thing proper landing gear.

I also re-designed the symbol to make it look more impressive.

Like to hear your thoughts – and if anyone wants to do a 3D model – go nuts

Enjoy!