We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Serenity eye candy for a special bulletin: The bridge sculpture is complete. I repeat, the bridge sculpture is complete. How exactly this will effect the day-to-day lives of average citizens is at yet unclear. However, if you look at the photos after the jump, you’ll see that it’s unlikely anything will ever be the same again.
Okay, sorry for the silly intro. But when I got these photos an hour ago I was completely flabbergasted. And what is perhaps more amazing is Wolvster has been as sick as a dog for two weeks now, and yet look at the beautiful thing he made between sneezing and coughing fits. When this is all done, I think we might just need to start a campaign to add him to the official list of Big Damn Heroes. Certainly, his effort on this project is nothing short of heroic.
A couple things to note before the drooling begins: The bridge insert is only three inches end-to-end. Wolvster especially wanted me to mention that what you’re seeing here is a casting. In other words, it’s exactly the level of detail you’ll see on the final model. We just wanted to be clear on that point as some folks have seen their mileage vary of late between some companies’ super-idealized prototype images and what you actually get off production. All I can tell you here is what you see is what you get.
Also, before you ask – yes, I know the dinosaurs aren’t there. At this scale, they’re just too tiny to cast in resin. So, we’re looking to add them as photo-etched parts during the build.
Okay, now you can start drooling:
Serenity’s bridge consists of several tiny pieces.
Here’s a close-up of the assembled bridge insert.
And here’s the bridge from a slightly different angle.
![](http://www.fireflyshipworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bridge-41.jpg "Bridge - inserted into the \")
When the bridge insert was originally designed – following the CGI files exactly – the insert didn’t fit inside Serenity’s head. So, a couple of minor adjustments were made.
The Three Faces of Serenity: Be sure to click on the image to see these images to see these full size!
That is BEYOND insanely kickass!! WOAH!!!!
Thanks for the comment, TVChick. I liked it so much, I changed the headline
Holy Cr@p! Sorry about that but I couldn’t help it. Don’t make that the header Andy. Wolvster really came through with this one. The bridge looks so great through the flight deck windows. I can’t wait to see it in full color. I hope you can find some super clear plastic for the windows so as not to obstruct the view of this work of art. Will there be any lighting in this area?
Thanks Wolvster and get some rest. You deserve it!
Great Update Andy!
jim
How you going to paint in all the details?!?!?
Wolvster did a fine job. Just Curious, what are you using as reference for the piece? The Blueprints? It looks like it. There were some differences between the movie cockpit and the TV cockpit, and there were “hybridized” in the blue prints. Like the lockers on the back of the bridge from the TV show, being replcaed by wiring access in the movie. Yes…I know…trying not to nitpick.
Sean – and failing miserably, I see
Well we started with the movie wireframes but they simply didn’t fit. You 3D guys really love to cheat on dimensions, don’t you?
So, our fallback were the blueprints, which solved the “make it fit” issues rather nicely, we thought. Plus, I asked a few of our fan advisors, and they really favored the hybrid approach on the bridge as it added just a dash of nostalgia for the original version.
Sweet! Still wondering how you’re going to paint and light it. 3 inches is a tiny space…
Mal: Ship like this will be with you ’til the day you die.
Zoë: That’s ’cause it’s a death trap.
What can I say, it’s like Christmas morning everythine I see a new piece!
Hey! Where are the palm trees & dinos??
Seriously I don’t know how you do it. Amazing!
“I know the dinosaurs aren’t there. At this scale, they’re just too tiny to cast in resin. So, we’re looking to add them as photo-etched parts during the build.”
Nice, talk about trying to take it to the next level!
Seam – that bugged me too, actually, but if you look closely (it’s especially obvious in the behind the scenes stuff) the lockers were just moved to the airlock behind the bridge. If I remember right, they were even the same set piece.
Wolvster – if you’re out there and not too busy sneezing, you’re the man. That is gorram frakin’ shiny.
Okay, here’s my question though. Wouldn’t it look a bit weird to have the ship posed in full burn, but not have a pilot inside? Hint, hint…
We can make teenie, tiny people. Go back in the archive and look at FX’s Enterprise Refit and the peeps walking around in the arboretum. Roughly the scale.
‘Course, it’s hard to capture Wash’s wry expression on a head 2 mm tall.
Just think how small them little dinosaurs will be on the dashboard… need a magnifying glass to see them….
Sweet merciful crap!
That is awesome, you’re doing more work on the bridge than I thought. Didn’t expect you to do the dinosaurs. Can’t wait to see all the pieces together.
Wolvster or Andy
After my initial awe and after closer examination, I’m not sure what the opening in the bridge floor is. I looks like that is where the “Explosives Vault” would be. Also, will there be stairs and rails going down to the lower level?
Thanks
jim
As a collector of numerous items on this site. I know the quality of this model will be second to none. Now, when does the open “bidding” start.
Will $500 hold one of the models for me, or maybe $1,000
Lets rock and roll on this, time is driving me mad.
Stay Shiny, Harold Lewis
two words. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… and before you say, hay thats only one word, there’s more aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
We’re clearly suitably impressed. If I may I do have one BURNING question, do I recall correctly hearing somewhere that this was going to have some kind of lighting? Fiber optics or?
Kudos to you all, we’re beyond excited to see the model assembled. One step closer to availability!
Oh, I get it now! The hole in the floor is going down to the lower level. The grate flooring is in place.
Duh!
jim
Heh, beat me to it, Jim
nice…very very nice!
seeing as every one else has already said, well, typed anyway, what i was going to i’ll just leave it at, NICE! keep flyin’
A suggestion I had for detail in the Galley, since it’s too small to sculpt like the bridge, but everyone would like to see; how about a piece of back-lit film with an image as it would be seen through the window and/or skylight, possibly with a lens a little bit above the film, to increase the effect on the image from your view-angle as you move your head. That would give the maximum detailing, actually in the same way the image would be overlaid in film making, and keep the part count and sculpting issues down.
As I see it, there’s only 2 things that’d make this even better than it already is.
1, Wash’s 3 switches.
2, Wash’s/Alans “Recall Button”.
Of course, both of them would be smaller than the dinosaurs, so it wouldn’t work. But one can dream…