The year 2350 is an awsome year, as we have a thriving base on the moon with United States, England, Russia, China, and Japan. Science teams are exploring new energy resources for an energy-starved earth, for if the Earth is to continue on its present course, with staggeringly high pollution, then mankind will cease to exist. Thats one of the reasons there are several science teams on Mars getting the planet ready for a possible human colonization.

Giving the science teams a big boost is the Sidewinder ATV, a huge machine which has auger-propelled power screws, powered by a nuclear-powered turbocharger, giving the Sidewinder a 3000 hp bite into the Martian terrain. Attaining speeds of up to 70 mph, the craft has two sections: the front containing the cockpit, operated by one person, and a passenger cabin room for twelve team members. A flex coupling connects to a rear section that contains an electromagnetic pillar crane that lifts cargo containers. The roof opens to let the cargo be loaded or unloaded.

This time Sidewinder 7 has been dispatched to a large canyon in the southern region to investigate a structure of some type spotted by an air survey. There have been rumors of ancient structures, but that's been just rumors....until now....Sidewinder 7 has arrived at an incredible sight. Buried halfway is a sealed entrance of some type, with no other evidence of structures of any type around. The head of this team is on his way down in the elevator to check with one of the team members, valuable instruments to probe this sealed up structure are being unloaded,while inside the front cabin a team member chats with the Sidewinder's operator.

The Model

This model was built starting with two kids ray gun rifles. After taking them apart the fun begins. First I widened both sections with .040" plastic styrene strip. Then I cut the rear section's roof in half and made doors that open like the space shuttle has. Then I built the pillar crane to swing and the load to turn for its descent to the ground.

The passenger section was the easiest to make. Basic seating was made with various diameter styrene tubing long-wise. All bulkheads were made with .30" styrene sheet and the detail, such as the small com unit next to the doors, was shaped from scrap pieces of styrene. Lighting consists of two LEDs for the headlights, one red LED in the cockpit and three grain-of-wheat bulbs in the passenger section. The battery holder is above the cockpit with the switch it the bottom rear of the first car.

The most time consuming part was the augers. These are printer paper spools glued together, then 3/16" solid aluminum wire was wraped around the spools then glued in place. Then epoxy putty was applied over the spool and wire and then formed.....whew.

The dio base was a large chunk of styrofoam I found at work to be thrown out. Some red, brown and gray paint and red grout and you have Mars....oh and the cave entrance ? Well that's a secret......ok, ok, it's a cardboard shipping container that holds electric meters,and the little cargo boxes are what our taps are shiped in for us at work.

There you have it a fun project plagued with problems from the start,would I do another one....NO.

Image: Closeup of cave entrance, with headlight's reflection

Image: Closeup of the elevator

Image: Crew cabin closeup