Michael Reccia’s just brought us up to date on two new titles to look forward to in the popular Sci-Fi and Fantasy Modeller series, which I know a lot of our readers have been enjoying, as much for the insights they give into how some of the terrific special effects and models were created for our favourite movies and shows as for practical tips on how to construct your own versions (I’m all thumbs, sadly, and my attempt at Thunderbird 1 would end up looking more like Quasimodo glued to a beer bottle, but I still enjoy the behind-the-scenes aspect of the journals).
Volume 13 of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Modeller will be coming in April, while there is a second special, Modelling the 21st Century Volume 2, coming this May. Modelling the 21st Century has a special theme concentrating on the astonishingly detailed and diverse models created for Gerry Anderson’s many puppet and live action series (surely among the very best SF shows to showcase some inspired model and miniatures use – no wonder Kubrick tried to poach him to work on 2001). Volume 13 boasts looks at models from Speed Racer, Star Trek and the Invisible Man among others, as well as a rare chance to read about the filming of the miniatures used on the cult 70s science fiction movie Dark Star (one of my all time favourites, made on a shoestring budget, still bloody funny), how the miniatures were filmed for the Batman films and, most intriguingly, there’s a distinct touch of Steampunk in there with a scratchbuild interpretation of how Star Trek members stuck in the 1800s would make a Victorian Phaser. I love the look of that!
February 5th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Wow. I really dig that Invisible Man model. And you’re right, that Victorian phaser is something else! It would be interesting to see the Victorian version of the rifle!