> Transmit Date: 04.06.2008
> Now A Word From Our Sculptor: Accuracy [Data Source: admin]
Hey gang - got an e-mail from the sculptor this morning. He’s following along at home (as we all are) and wanted me to clarify a couple things from earlier, less-than-precise statements made by a certain admin who shall remain nameless.
As I said in the comments to yesterday’s “Name That Part” article, the replica will be accurate to the movie CG model – to the degree that’s possible – but there still will be things in the CG model that just don’t make physical sense that we will have to alter.
For example, the shuttles don’t actually fit in their landing bays as defined in the CG model. Also, looking at the shuttles to scale, Mal would have had to crawl in on his hands and knees to see Inara, which, now that I think of it, might have worked better for him than his typical approach.
Another example: Based on the CG model, the landing gears do not even come close to fitting into their recessed areas. The reason for that is when they fold back to retract into Serenity’s body, they go into the side of the ship and there’s just no way the folded up gear could possibly ever fit. So the sculptor had a choice – either shrink the whole skid to make them fit or omit part of them. He chose the latter as shrinking the whole skid would have “looked like HELL!”
We’ve included two images with this post to illustrate that point. Recessed into Serenity’s body (above) and the skids by themselves (below). I especially like the skids image below – we’ve included a ruler in the shot so you can get an idea of scale and the amount of detail that’s going into this “filming quality” model.
That “filming quality” model comment is another clarification, by the way – this time from The FX Company, who wanted me to be clear they would be putting the same quality of materials and attention to detail into the Serenity replica they do into the filming miniatures they’ve created for films like Star Wars II & III and Indy IV. I tell ya, we admins get no love!
And as long as we’re in “full disclosure” mode, this seems as good a time as any to mention that the pose for the Serenity replica will be in flight. We may have a couple other surprises on the pose we’ll keep to ourselves for now (so, I guess, not *that* full disclosure); but the photos and this discussion make it kind of obvious the pose is in flight.
But, back to the original topic, we just wanted to be clear on this point: The replica will be true to the CG movie model, except where that model violates the laws of physics. Unless, of course, we think that Serenity is dimensionally transcendental. But that’s a different show, right?
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Dimensionally transcendental? Only if River really IS the ship.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Great new pics Admin and thanks for adding the scale. The landing gear have always bothered me a bit. I liked it a lot better when she just settled in on her belly. Great detail for such small parts too! I’m glad Serenity will be displayed “In Flight”.
jim
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
I always thought that was weird, when I was working on my 3D model I noticed that there really wasn’t any place for the landing gear parts otherwise they would be inside the cargo hold.
I know you’re following the movie version as much as possible, but it looks like the feet socket shape is like the blueprints version and that the feet are slanted and not symmetrical like they should be.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Hi DV -
Just talked to our sculptor, and when you actually look at the CG source files as a flat file, that is the shape of the feet. That’s why they’re shaped that way on the blueprints, as well.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Can you expand on “in flight.” Unless I’m oblivious, Serenity pretty much looks the same in flight as she does, well, any other time.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Hi sh!ny - You’re right, she does look the same for the most part. But there are some differences, like the landing gears being retracted and the position of the radial vents on the main engines.
And, of course, you’d want the reactor flower petals to be open when you go to hard burn…
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Brilliant.
Just started posting today but have been reading since (mostly) the beginning. Really appreciate the updates, not to mention the fact that this is being crafted by people as fanatical about the verse as we are. After all, love is what keeps her in the air…
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Thanks so much! Yes, this is absolutely a labor of love for us and that’s why it took so long to get to this point. Everything had to be as perfect as we could make it, and the people working on the project had to be more than just the best at what they do, they had to have passion for it, as well.
That’s why we’re thrilled to open up the project to the community at large. You’re as much a part of this as we are. Serenity belongs to all Browncoats, everywhere.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
It’s really amazing that it’ll be as good as the real filming miniatures. I don’t think anyone’s done stuff like that. (also interested in the Battlestar Galactica replicas too).
Just checked the blueprints, on Sheet 5 it’s got a bottom view of the feet and they look symmetrical to me. Also, comparing to the orthographic pics of the movie version of the ship the shape of the socket is still different–but then again, there were two different versions in the movie–the CG version and the cargo hold set they built which were really quite different.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
DV - We’re very lucky to be working with the team that we are. It was a real coup to get a movie studio model shop to agree to produce builds for us. Typically, effects shops wouldn’t agree to do this type of work because they’re not set up to mass produce models – they build each model by hand, with great care and precision. But because we don’t want them to mass produce our replicas (each will be built by hand to filming standards), it works out really well for everyone.
I’m going to post images of the Artisan Cylon Raider very soon. Stay tuned on that one.
As for the shape of the skids: I have a complete set of orthos here. I’ll see if I can post some highlights in the not-too-distant future.
Thanks!
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
On sheet 5 of the B/P’s, you can see that the “Hexagon” shape does not have equal sides. That makes two of the flip up pads smaller than the third larger pad that does not retract into the bay. This offset design would still give you a large surface area but allow for easier stowage.
By-the-way, any news on the Tee Shirts :^)
jim
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Jim - Adam Levermore-Rich, creator of the Blue Sun Travel Posters, BSG Propaganda Posters and designer of this website, is doing the t-shirts. He’s got a long to-do list, but should be getting to it soon. I’ll post images when he’s got ‘em for feedback and then we’ll take reservations via e-mail for the folks who want ‘em.
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
Example of what I mean:
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4340/footpicnj4.jpg
04.06.2008 at 9:59 am
you said tee shirts again…I still want one!