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a_v_bw_o_n (unnumbered, LEM touchdown, poss. S-64-166XX 'series')

A butt-ugly LEM descends to and lands on the lunar surface in this particular 1964 variant of this recurring scene. Possibly by the supremely talented Gary Meyer.

Even separately, ascent stage and descent stage are fugly, let alone together.

I of course don't know the details of this amazing spacecraft's evolution, but it would seem that a concern regarding potential terrain hazards influenced this design. The widened stance of the landing gear and substantially increased ground clearance would seem to support my uninformed 'hypothesis'. Still no ladder either. And while I’m at it...that creepy, beaked(?), apparition-like set of eyes, headlights, or whatever that thing is in the sky, persists in this version. If it's supposed to be the orbiting CSM, I don't see it.

 

Mercifully, this particular concept is omitted from this line-up:

 

cradleofaviationpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/artifac...

Credit: Cradle of Aviation Museum website

 

Don't get me wrong, if I had the opportunity & money, I'd hoover up the/a model of it in a heartbeat. ;-)

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Uploaded on April 17, 2020