celticwardog

That.....is cool beyond words. I am a nut for this (my NZ rating rating is pushing 12,000), was quite surprised at my age I could get so swept up and a superbly told story. Oh the sadness that if there ever is film it will be poo (persoanlly think TV would be better to tell the story) Anyhoo lid is great mate, has anyone ever stopped you to chat about it? Check this out, stupid money but very nice: http://kotaku.com/5933473/commander-shepards-350-action-figure-looks-lonely-without-tiny-plastic-space-hamsters

That's better mate. It was a bit spray tan before but very nice now.

Few more shots of works in progress, not all of it intended for this layout mind you:

Ta very much buddy. I had to Google the song, I remember it but didn't recognise the title/band. Cool! Myself cannot get rid of this ear worm as a train song, there is a quick reference in the first few lines AND this was playing in the van when we first exhibited it. A more obscure one, from the dying days of thier careeer, naff start and generally naff but a really punchy chorus and a great march at the end.

Lol yeah I think your are right. The eye stalk seems to have a bandage on it. Am I cruel? A kid would be happy with it but ii can't see any sane adult paying for it.

Nice one. Priming always shows up things you couldn't see. Keep it up mate

This was the best dalek I had seen, then I saw this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Model-Dalek/181654342165?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140221143405%26meid%3Db761f82ae82b4d3c934570242ce92f9c%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D331468200210 And yes I am being sarcastic. wtf! I think his eyestalk (which appears to be a tube from a Hoover!) needs Viagra.

Hi Thanks for that, what an eloquent, erudite man you are. Just that one statement about the slab means the whole things make more sense, but had one not read the book how would you know lol I had already assumed the hotel room bit was a sort of metaphor for life. Some spiritual people believe that when we "pass" one of the first things that happens is a life review so to speak - so yes in fact in the film I thought he was dead but giant space baby is still lost on me lol "The film is structured like a fly on the wall documentary" - yes it is, and it's only after you had written that that it reminded me of how oddly it is filmed. The dialogue is odd too - all a bit harsh and disjointed. In terms of being groundbreaking yes it certainly is, and I think I am right in saying it was the first to use motion control to film the models/ships - something still done today (unless the lazy film makers have done it all CGI) I do like intelligent sci-fi. I like Prometheus for that (and the amazing score) where others didn't seem to. In fact you could draw parallels with 2001 where the seeded race would only figure out who made them when they had reached the right level of intelligence - there is similar Star Trek TNG episode with the same theme (The Chase).

I know what you mean this was a strange choice of design. It grew on me though, and the idea within the story of it being military did add a aspect of realism and moving away from it's very camp heritage. I love it now, and the cycle thingy. Great build.

No your not the only one, but I think the general consensus is that it's hard too that they could be really any worse than the prequels. I did and do worry about the Disney thing but given something missed about our bitching regarding the prequels is actually how generally poor, convoluted and mostly unnecessary the story actually was so perhaps Lucas letting go might not be so bad?

I wasn't making that up! http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQ3ywwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzD4mqYbVxIo&ei=9S3WVJLOFMib7AbHl4CoDA&usg=AFQjCNHyAHc3oO_MpfjMeTRb3OrHkv6SBw&sig2=bL2wHG4_gjw6b_6qvXVlaw&bvm=bv.85464276,d.ZGU

Oxidation in space; a unique concept! - could it be these ships are also designed to enter planetary amtmosperes? Lack of weathering is often a complaint aimed at Star Trek ships, but very few are designed to enter the atmosphere (a clever ploy by Roddenberry to save money for effects of ships landing hence transporters). Save for a Klingon Bird of Prey which can and does and they often look battered. Now back to these ships within the concept of the story I suppose the rebel races have an old hidden fleet, perhaps it was landed on a planet (probably with a lot of sea given the race) and has got a bit old?!

Lovely job....however..everybody now.... "Ackbars fish-sticks from the sea, they're so tender and flaky" "Cook some up for you and me, to pass them up would be a big mistakey" ....... ............... "A Big Mistakey?"

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant. New here and nosing what's about and found this "Magnum Opus" Beautiful job, flawless finish - and I don't normally like things left like that but Daleks of that era would look very odd weathered lol. It's a funny design yet so iconic - an intergalactic, xenophobic, Nazi like race of plumbers

Again I don' know naff all about tanks, or armour as it seems to be referred to. Again excellent paint chipping, how do you do it?

haha I like that - though i haven't got a clue as to what it actually is. Excellent use of red without it being too bright. Fantastic chipping and weathering too. I shall call him Mincer - on account of his hands - not in a "oh get her" kind of way

That is nice actually, very nice. How you managed to cut through those grill things and keep it intact is masterful

Ta again blokes

Totally get and agree with everything you said there buddy, Hayden is King Plank of the Plank people. I wonder though, playing Devils Advocate...if you are of the right age when Star Wars was first released, you had the toys and it was your world....could the prequels have ever lived up to expectation? I didn't like the JJ Trek at first - found it brash and a bit silly - the very white bridge all perfectly shiny and brightly coloured and the non-canon-ness of it. I thought the space battle bits were messy and chaotic. But I really enjoyed Into Darkness (I REALLY like the the design of the Klingon ships and what they have done with the make up - I expect thy will be the main baddies of number 3) so I have dropped my nerdy nit picking and decided to like them for what they are. I think it helps when you get actors with gravitas to help take it seriously, and Benedict Cumberbatch I thought was brilliant. Funny you say that Ravens recently read exactly the same thing as Wookies live on a forest planet too. But they were dropped for being too technically advanced??!!! Wotevs beardy! (@G Lucas lol)

Superb subtle weathering on that. I find you have to be careful with anything grey lest it look like its made of stone innit.

I found a load more pics actually, some of the more scenic end too, forgive the colours my camera seems to make everything much brighter in colour than it actually is. Some of this is train close ups too when they were work in progress:

Thanks guys, not sure why the video isn't working - it must of at some point as there comments. I don't own it alas, I was behind the layout (I can hear myself - major cringe!) and someone posted that so not much I can do. Will try the link again but will take out what makes it a link, please just add www or google the link: youtube.com/watch?v=BrXppxfLdSg Thanks about the figures, I took a great deal of time to think about how to pose them - the problem being many of the same ones are seen on other layouts though partially resolved by the fact that all the factory made ones were repainted. Thanks about the pic Enzo but my absolute favourite is this: Something about the cold light and I suppose the figures I think made this hyper realistic, and I very rarely say that or praise my own stuff as with a lot of modellers (I'm sure many can relate!) all I normally see are annoying faults.

I can see what you mean about the lighting, it can go horribly wrong. I have found in my research (my main love is Star Trek models) that it seems that a lot of the studio models (which often look terrible!) don't actually have very much lighting if any and it's all added in post-production so you would never be able to recreate it. I can only imagine how many drill bits you would break going through thick resin too. I think Randy cooper does a studio sized Romulan warbird too, also amazing.

Good point too, could teddy bear savages really take on a trained imperial force. Though - quote from Obi ""And these blast points, too accurate for sand people. Only imperial storm troopers are so precise" - really? Seemed to me they couldn't hit sh*t! apart from Leia's arm - once! Also they were cloned from an apparent Aussie (or possibly a Kiwi) and all had Aussie/Kiwi accents, clearly this was deemed annoying and bred out. How many died after saying "G'Day Lord Vader mate!, can you use that pointy red thing to open me tinnie mate!" Oh the laughs......

Haha when it was exhibited for the 1st time we had issues and knocked up a sign saying no trains due to wet leaves!