I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*, and I love Dr Who, so this fan-produced mashup is right up my street.
Talking of which, it was seriously considered that the Daleks could have appeared in Blake's 7. Same writer of both...
*Not the film. That was terrible. But the Radio, books and 1980s TV series.
It's time for the annual sci-fi fest in Buckinghamshire. There were Daleks, full-size and model, replica Anderson puppets, and all sorts of good modelling.
I've tried to capture the best bits over on Flickr
Oh, and a little exclusive video:
Stand by for action!
OK, I know that was Stingray, but this is an interesting documentary about making Captain Scarlet, which doesn't reflect well on 1960s America...
This is just 3 minutes 41 second of feelgood fun.
Also, doesn't it take a lot of people to make TV?
Some traditonal pre-computer animation, or how you make computer graphics by hand. Fascinating, and amazingly crude, but effective.
The story of the real, iconic, pink Rolls-Royce, used to promote the Thunderbirds films. This film covers bit the original, proper one, and the more modern version. Some nice behind-the-scenes photos and films too.
Some projects, I just have to doff my cap to. The Eagle transporter from the TV show Space 1999, is the bext sci-fi spaceship ever. There have been many models made, but none as massive as this 25-foot long version. It looks amazing.
The thing about the Smallspace show, is that some very interesting people take stands there to show off their models.
See this "Starbug" from the TV series "Red Dwarf". It's the real one. The one from the telly. And the man beside it is the man who built it. From plastic globes, and parts from EMA. And wood. And Letraline.
And I had a long chat with him about it. He even showed me, and anyone else interested, the original plans. Fascinating.
Aprt from that, the full-size replicas of Hewey, Louey and Duey from "Silent Running" impressed me a lot, but then so did a lot of the modelling. So, go and have a look at the photos over on Flickr.
While I've always been a fan of Mat Irvine's model making, this feature is something special. For a atart, the style is very much of its time. I'm not sure who
I remember this toy, at least from mail order catalogues. Never particually interested, but this is a nice dose of nostaligia.
Kudos for using a brown sofa as a background, and doing a good job with it.
Yet again, Hanslope Village Hall hosted a superb sci-fi show. Loads to see, including the entertaining Avenue Who, a cross between the Muppets and Dr Who. I'd not planned to stay as long as I did, but had to wait for the 1pm performance, and it was well worth it.
Inside, there was the usual (!) selection of high quality modelling and trade. Outside, Daleks, K9 and R2D2 trundling around.
I've always said that the Eagle transporter from Space 1999 is my favourite space ship. It just looks right - a real space truck, just what you'd need living on the moon.
Interesting then, to see this collection in a US sci-fi convention with the model in many, many different scales. The guy is a collector, rather than builder, but he seems to know his stuff and I envy him a shelf full of these things!
Not your usual nerdy Dr Who stuff here. OK, maybe a little, but there is an awful lot covering the development and construction of a new type of Dalek, including the multiple rebuilds the prop endured after appearing on screen. I love that it owes a lot to a plastic bin and plant pot holders!
Sit back, and enjoy this exploration of the uses the humble Airfix Girder Bridge was put to in Thunderbirds. If that sounds nerdy, it is. And brilliant.
While my modelling recently has been non-existant, I have taken a few trips out and about. Sometimes to places not involving trains!
First up - The National Film and Sci-fi museum in Milton Keynes.
Handily, it's in the main shopping centre which includes some very reaonable parking. Admitedly, you do need to note down where you left the car, or spend 20 minutes wandering around trying to find it, but for 50p and hour, I can live with that.
The museum is on the first floor of a unit and costs around £13 to go in. The actual pricing is a bit confusing, but that's what I paid as a walk-up. For that you can browse the collection as long as you like, but photos can only be taken at designated points.
I'm not quite sure why there is this restriction, partly I suspect so people actually get through rather than spending all their time taking pictures. Also, because they need people in the door, and many would be happy not to see the props on display for real, if they can look at a photo for free. No, I don't get it either.
Anyway, we kit off with the Indiana Jones series, after which we see Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr Who, Space 1999 and too many others to mentions. Props are grouped and reasonably well labeled. If Star Trek costumes are your thing, then the display of these is massive.
It always fascinates me just how crude a lot of these things are, and as a modeller, I find the details fascinating. For example, both the Imperial gunners, and rebel troops have the same "radio" pod on the side of their helmets. Obviously a vac-formed lump that was used everywhere by the costume department.
There's also a huge display of Star Wars memorabilia, including some pencil cases that I rememeber from my school days and brought back a blast of nostalgia. They also had some Droid Factories, the only item in the range that ever appealed to me, something else I remembered.
I wandered for a couple of hours, helped by having the place largely to myself, and really enjoyed it. It helps if you remember late 70s and early 80s films and TV. This is a chance for some proper nostalgia, and if you recognise nothing but the Harry Potter stuff, it won't be nearly as fun. For those who know what a puppet from the Dark Crystal looks like though, it's a fun trip.
National Film and Sci-fi museum website.
I've mentioned in the past that my favourite space ship ever is the Eagle Transporter from Space 1999. One day, I'll get around to building the Airfix kit. Finding space for that in the cabinet will be touch, but how about a 25 foot long version?
Amazing work. And stong enough to walk on.
Only later did it occur to me that it was the perfect test subject for a recently purchased Liquid Chrome pen.
I'm a bit cynical about silver paint that claims to look like chrome, but I'd read about these, and the seller assured me that it was every bit as good as promised. I know, but I have some faith in these guys, and since they turn up at shows, I can alway go and moan.
However, I was pleasently surprised. The paint is on the thick side, perfect to hide the layers on a 3D print, and dries quickly to a very high shine. You really can't tell it's not proper chrome.
On balance, I should have bought the 1 or 2mm wide tipped version as getting in the tight areas on the figure was impossible. I picked up some paint on a small brush to get around this - it works if you are quick and apply more than you might normally do.
All this went on a satin black paint job from a Halfords rattle can. Working out which bits should be shiny wasn't east as this seems to vary, and there are a lot of replica costumes out there with odd interpretations of the "uniform".
All in all, I'm impressed. This stuff isn't cheap, but it's worth the money. Pity that they don't produce brass and copper versions - not those would be really useful.
Molotow Liquid Chrome website.
I bought mine from Modelingtools.co.uk
Jon Pertwee wasn't my Dr Who, that was Tom Baker, but I still appreciate Pertwee.
The Whomobile, wasn't actually built for the TV series, Pertwee commissioned it and then the BBC liked it so much, the vehicle was written into the show. More information here.
A terric show - too much to see. Too much to buy. I bought an Airfix "Cosmic Clipper" plastic kit from the guy responsible for the airline effects in the Bond flick Casino Royale. We had a fascinating chat about the value of physical effects compared to CGI.
I also managed to suggest it was being too nerdy when in conversation with a bookseller. Then realised where I was!
Star Wars was an important film for me. Aged 7 when it first hit the screens, it was like nothing I'd ever seen before, but I was captivated.
Looking closely at the props from the days when they weren't all found in a computer also fascinates me. This X-wing fighter isn't a hero model, but a less detailed version that could have been blown up. As it is, the studio have modified it, they aren't precious with the props, unlike collectors!
