03-09-2022, 11:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-09-2022, 11:53 AM by Joseph C. Brown.)
Space Academy Planetoid build in 1/2 studio scale, the build files!
I actually saw many of the Saturday morning TV episodes when they aired, in the Fall season of 1977. Using most of the existing models and adding the sleek StarfireJason of Star Command followed along in 1978 and '79, and the shows were in re-runs for a long time on Saturday morning TV, well into the 1980's. From a sci-fi modeler perspective, the spacecraft modeling was outstanding, given the low budget and time constraints. Given that Filmation's Lou Scheimer statement from his book and video interviews, he needed some model makers, and walked into the MCA-57 shop just after they were done with all the Star Wars work, but, before they were doing anything else, and this was *before* the theatrical release of George Lucas little space film. He was able to hire Jonathan Erland, Lorne Peterson, and Paul Huston - possibly others.
The actual filming effects miniature was 4 feet long (48 inches or 1.336m). I sseriously admire the builders here who knock out 4-foot and 6-foot and larger studio scale builds; I just don't have the size of home where I can do that! So, the asteroid miniature that I am building here is 22 inches long, giving me a scale of 1/11093. That means scratch building virtually the whole thing; very few off-the-shelf items are compatible without modifications. This meant using lots of ‘found’ parts to be kit-bashed and tweaked into shape.
Some quickie math, since I am simply a happier modeler when I have an inkling of the scale I am working with. Based on screen captures of the televised program from DVD's and the hard work of the gentlemen E. James Small and Patrick King Hill, the width of a Seeker was determined to be 18 feet. The Seekers are the small utility spacecraft that the actors used to come and go from the Star Command planetoid. Using that to determine the maximum width of the hanger bay, I get a width of 126 feet. Using the best available side view of the Academy asteroid showing the length of the Academy and the hangers, I arrive at an approximate overall length of 20,800 feet. My build is 22.5 inches long, giving me a scale of 1/11093. Roughly, that is.
Have determined the length and size of my build, I get started by getting a new sheet XPS foam (Extruded Polystyrene foam). Its very light weight, easy to form and sculpt, and can be attached in layers with a variety of adhesives. The surface can be textured with sanding, and with a number of sculpting tools. I am a fan of working with foam; and while foam has it's own unique challenges, it is inexpensive and easy to work. I had determined the overall size and shape of the asteroid, and using a band saw, quickly cut out a top and bottom blank. I used a ceramic kitchen knife for rough shaping as it does not bind up in the foam the way most other metal blades will - thanks to Robb Merrill for that tip!
I actually saw many of the Saturday morning TV episodes when they aired, in the Fall season of 1977. Using most of the existing models and adding the sleek StarfireJason of Star Command followed along in 1978 and '79, and the shows were in re-runs for a long time on Saturday morning TV, well into the 1980's. From a sci-fi modeler perspective, the spacecraft modeling was outstanding, given the low budget and time constraints. Given that Filmation's Lou Scheimer statement from his book and video interviews, he needed some model makers, and walked into the MCA-57 shop just after they were done with all the Star Wars work, but, before they were doing anything else, and this was *before* the theatrical release of George Lucas little space film. He was able to hire Jonathan Erland, Lorne Peterson, and Paul Huston - possibly others.
The actual filming effects miniature was 4 feet long (48 inches or 1.336m). I sseriously admire the builders here who knock out 4-foot and 6-foot and larger studio scale builds; I just don't have the size of home where I can do that! So, the asteroid miniature that I am building here is 22 inches long, giving me a scale of 1/11093. That means scratch building virtually the whole thing; very few off-the-shelf items are compatible without modifications. This meant using lots of ‘found’ parts to be kit-bashed and tweaked into shape.
Some quickie math, since I am simply a happier modeler when I have an inkling of the scale I am working with. Based on screen captures of the televised program from DVD's and the hard work of the gentlemen E. James Small and Patrick King Hill, the width of a Seeker was determined to be 18 feet. The Seekers are the small utility spacecraft that the actors used to come and go from the Star Command planetoid. Using that to determine the maximum width of the hanger bay, I get a width of 126 feet. Using the best available side view of the Academy asteroid showing the length of the Academy and the hangers, I arrive at an approximate overall length of 20,800 feet. My build is 22.5 inches long, giving me a scale of 1/11093. Roughly, that is.
Have determined the length and size of my build, I get started by getting a new sheet XPS foam (Extruded Polystyrene foam). Its very light weight, easy to form and sculpt, and can be attached in layers with a variety of adhesives. The surface can be textured with sanding, and with a number of sculpting tools. I am a fan of working with foam; and while foam has it's own unique challenges, it is inexpensive and easy to work. I had determined the overall size and shape of the asteroid, and using a band saw, quickly cut out a top and bottom blank. I used a ceramic kitchen knife for rough shaping as it does not bind up in the foam the way most other metal blades will - thanks to Robb Merrill for that tip!
And I think it would be awesome to see you or Pat tackling a SS build of this, too!