I've really gotten into HeroClix. My latest acquisition is the Star Trek Away Team. The set includes Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Uhuru, Checkov and Sulu with a badass katana. Now that the Bat Cube is finished I'm working on a tricorder carrying/display case for these figures.
I'm building it at 1:1 scale. That will fit all the figures if I put Kirk behind the speaker grille. I thought about making it large enough that all the figures would fit in the lower compartment, but even at 115% it becomes unwieldy. So, I'm making it where the whole front half of the tricorder up to the display head compartment slides off. The display compartment will swivel like it us supposed to and the other doors will open like they should. I'll put the character cards in the lower compartment. I thought about lighting it, but decided that would be another level of complexity I don't want to get into. After it is constructed I'll coat it in fiberglass resin, detail and finish it. It should make a nice prop by itself. Folks will be surprised when I pull off the front to reveal my HeroClix inside.
Check out this slideshow of my plans for the project.
Now that the Batcube is finished I can begin work on a new Heroclix transport case just for my seven Away Team members. I'm going to make a 1:1 replica of the TOS tricorder to house my figures.
At 1:1 there is enough room to hold them all if I put Kirk on top, behind the speaker grill. I thought about building it a little larger, say at 115% to fit all the figures inside the lower body of the tricorder, but even at that scale it starts to become unwieldy.
By keeping it 1:1 I can have a nice TOS prop to display by its own merits, yet still have a functional carrying case for my Heroclix figures. The tricorder will have the little opening doors and rotating viewer. The whole front half of the tricorder below the display head compartment will slip off to reveal the characters.
As you can see, there is enough room within the tricorder housing to fit all seven figures without changing the scale.
Here is a picture of my newest set of Heroclix. The Star Trek Away Team set. It consists of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhuru and Checkov. (Click each character's name for a complete description of that game piece.) The Enterprise is one of the models my wife gave me for Christmas last year. The Asteroid is just a squnched up and painted Styrofoam ball. Only the mist was composited in Photoshop. Everything else was really in the shot. I used Dollar Store finger lights as miniature colored spots.
This has to be the coolest Google Doodle ever. It celebrates the birth of Star Trek 46 years ago today. You can play with an interactive copy of the doodle at this site in the Netherlands. Just click around on it for a little Trekkie Fun.
I'm still feeling a bit gut-punched from the passing of Neil Armstrong. It isn't every day you lose one of your childhood heroes. And a true American hero he was too-- not a thrill seeker, not a glory-hound, but a soft-spoken engineer who sought to expand the realm of human knowledge by flinging himself off the face of the Earth at great peril to himself and his companions. He stepped out upon an new world, the first human being to do so, and left his footprint quite indelibly upon its surface. That same footprint was left indelibly upon my four-year old imagination. I looked on his heroic feat (feat not feet) with wonder that grew into a lifelong love of science and space exploration. Here's to you Neil Armstrong, you were the real-deal with the right stuff and mankind will be forever in your debt for the giant leap you took on our behalf. Thank you sir. Rest well.
The actor William Windom passed away Thursday last. He is remembered fondly by Trekkies everywhere as Commodore Matt Decker, the captain of the ill-fated starship U.S.S Constellation which met it's end in the maw of the doomsday machine.
"The Doomsday Machine" easily makes the top five of my favorite Star Trek episodes. I must have been three or four when I saw it in first-run with my big brother. It scared the Hell out of me. I clung to the edge of my seat as I watched, totally enthralled. I loved it and I was hooked. It impressed itself so indelibly on my tender engrams it is no wonder that I became a life-long fan.
Windom was sometimes criticized for overacting in this episode and I don't think it was a performance he was proudest of, but I think he gave a fine portrayal of a man coming unhinged in a crisis. Mr. Windom reprised his role as Matt Decker in the the Star Trek fan production Star Trek Phase II in their inaugural episode "In Harm's Way." That may have been his last performance.
Star Trek Phase II gets underway with a new actor, Brian Gross taking over the role of Captain Kirk. There are exciting new design changes for the Enterprise herself-- An experimental refit of engines that are a masterful synthesis of the original series engines and the ones which appear for the first time in "Star Trek The Motion Picture." The graphics, as always, are breathtaking. There are a few winks and nods to other TOS characters in this vingette, but the most delightful surprise for me was seeing Mr. Arex from the animated series on duty at the navigator's station. That put an ear-to-ear grin on my face. Arex was always one of my favorite characters and it was a big kick to see him again. And from what I understand, he's voiced by Chris Doohan. (who has a few things up his tunic sleeve himself.) I can't wait to see what other surprises they have in store.
For those on mobile devices, scan the QR code above to jump to NASA's Mobile TV feed. It's also good for those on slower connections. Click this link for the feed.
I'm thinking of a movie that sees Earth threatened by collision with a giant asteroid. There is only one hope for survival, a team must be dispatched to plant nuclear charges on the asteroid and blast it to smithereens. There is only one man with the knowledge and experience to lead that team. But he holds a grudge against his primary rival and second in command over a previous mission failure caused by recklessness. Will the irascible curmudgeon be convinced to head the mission, especially when lady-conflict is thrown into the mix?
Wow! What a groovy... Uh, rocket.
Am I thinking of "Armageddon" from 1998, starring Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck as the battling spacemen? Nope. I'm thinking of "The Green Slime" an MGM outing from 1968 and reeled off in Japan under the direction of Kinji Fukasaku.
Now I'm thinking of a movie that sets a desperate crew of space travelers against an alien menace unwittingly brought aboard ship by a crew member. The alien travels through air ducts and service passageways killing off crew members one at a time. As its life cycle progresses it evolves into a larger and more menacing form. Can the remaining crew kill this menace before it completely destroys their outpost and is brought to Earth?
You were NOT invited to our table races. Somebody get Hot-Lips!
Am I thinking about Ridley Scott's 1979 masterpiece,"Alien?" Nope. Once again I'm thinking of "The Green Slime," a campy, classic example of bad sci/fi from the 1960's starring Robert Horton as Commander Jack Rankin and Richard Jaeckel as Commander Vince Elliott, the testosterone infused heroes at odds with each other and in love with the same girl, Italian actress Luciana Paluzzi as Dr. Lisa Benson. (Benson?)
Don't get your hopes up. No skin-tight spacesuit for you!
The movie itself is much less interesting than its production or the truly trippy theme song written by Charles Fox who wrote the music for "Barbarella" and penned the theme song for the "Wonder Woman" television show.
"The Green Slime" came forth from the wellspring of talent which included the mysterious Tom Rowe, Bill Finger, the man who refined Bob Kane's rough idea of Batman into the more familiar icon we know today, and who created The Riddler, The Penguin, Catwoman, et al and Charles Sinclair who wrote for the "Batman" TV show. Story credit goes to Ivan Reiner, who penned its stylistic older sibling, "The Wild, Wild Planet."
Wheeeeeee!
The movie was produced in Japan at Toei Studios. The less than stellar special effects were created by ex Toho Studios employees who previously had worked for the "father of Japanese special effects," Eiji Tsuburaya. The monster suits were peopled by children and an odd mixture of American fashion models, Germans, Turks and even United States Air Force personnel from Yokota Air Base rounded out the cast of B-actors.
Take that, you one-eyed whatever-the-heck-you-are!
The Japanese version was released on December 19th, 1968 (The Japanese have a time-honored tradition of dropping bombs in December.) under the title, "Ganmā Daisan Gō: Uchū Daisakusen?" which translates to, "Help! Sid And Marty Croft Have Taken Over Our Space Station." It was shown as part of the Toei Children's Festival with the brilliant "Pinocchio in Outer-Space" as the main feature. The U.S. premiere came in May of 1969 and met with resounding boos. The movie later achieved legendary status as riff material for the un-aired pilot for "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
If you haven't seen this with your own giant eyeball you must rush out today, crushing small children beneath you to purchase it. Or you could just order it off the internet. It is a popcorn-muncher that is a lot of fun to watch if you dig kids in rubber monster suits fighting guys in spacesuits flown in on wires. Lots of bad spaceship models (with real flames!) and blinking lights add to the visual thrills. If you were a kid in the 60's or a midnight movie goer in the 70's you have a special place in your heart for shlock like this.
And the legacy of "The Green Slime?"
Family resemblance? I'm just sayin'.
Here's a little treat in case you didn't get a big enough dose of the "Wonder Woman" theme. How about an alternate version-- with Wonder Girl to boot!
Check out the Buzz Aldrin/Crystal Method mash-up I cobbled together from my interview with Dr. Aldrin below. I call it "Buzz Method." The full audio of that interview appears later in this post.
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I was four years old when Apollo 11 touched down in the Sea of Tranquility and man first impressed his footprint upon the moon. I was captivated. The images of the lunar module on the surface of the moon, of Neil Armstrong taking that historic first step, of Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag are burned indelibly in my mind. I couldn't get enough moon, NASA or astronauts, clearly a chronic case of Moon Fever that stays with me to this day. While I may never get to press my footprint into the dusty lunar soil, I
could, with enough cash, turn my backyard into a replica Tranquility
Base. Here's a company that will not only rent you the appropriate spacesuit, but a full sized lunar module and a command capsule. Honey, call the neighbors and chain up the dog, the Eagle has landed!
In September of 2006 I had the great fortune to interview Buzz Aldrin
one of my childhood heroes and the second man on the moon. Listen to Dr.
Aldrin describe that historic event in his own words.
Artwork from the independently financed "Space Command."
Check out their trailer/VFX reel. I am SO jazzed about this-- what they used to call, "high adventure." It is set in a world where good prevails over evil, folks look to the future with optimism and rocket-jockeys zip around in cool retro space ships. I love everything about this!
I was four years old when Apollo XI lifted off on it's historical journey. Even as a little kid I watched every bit of news coverage I could find. I couldn't get enough. I had been stricken by a bad case of Moon Fever. It was so bad that I wouldn't let my daddy gas up the car anyplace but the local Gulf station because they were giving out fold-up paper models of the lunar module with every fill up. Remember those?
Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, we can relive the joy of inserting tab A into slot B. Here is a high resolution copy of that wonderful childhood memory that you can print onto card stock and make yourself.
Moebius Jupiter 2 with fully lit interior, Lighted engine and upper Bubble Custom Paint scheme and Custom Lunar Models 1/35 Figures by Mark Myers, Composite Image by Jeff Summers!
My mouth just hung open in awe when I looked at this gentleman's model work. I especially liked his Lost in Space stuff. Wow. I can only aspire to build something half as elegant. And ogle this fantastic image by Jeff Summers. Again, I'm just blown away. Check out some of Mark's crazy modeling skills in his Facebook wall photos below.
Oh HELLS yeah! I am all about this, especially the Mu-tant with his Interocitor. Sweet! My next favorite is The Invisible Man, followed by The Phantom of The Opera and his massive organ.
Revenge of Universal Monsters!
There are a lot of traditions that happen every Halloween, but Diamond Select Toys has created a new one -- 7-inch Universal Monsters action figures! DST has put out two series of Universal Monsters 7-inch figures in the past two years, and this year will see that tradition continue with five new figures due out this September! At comic shops and specialty stores, horror fans will be able to pick up a highly detailed Metaluna Mutant from 1955's This Island Earth. With his bulging brain and claws, he conveys all the menace of the movie creature, and he even comes with the Interocitor, the device that allows humans to contact the Metalunans. Alongside the Metaluna Mutant will be the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera (1925), complete with his massive organ, which he plays in the catacombs of the opera house. Both will be available in the oversized Select display packaging, with side panel art perfect for storing on a shelf.
Toys "R" Us will get their own exclusive figure in the Invisible Man, from the 1933 film of the same name. Jack Griffin is depicted with his goggles and false nose, and comes with a small display base. Toys "R" Us will also get a variation on the Phantom, one that wears a coat and mask, and comes with a violin and music stand instead of the organ. There will also be a more basic version of the Mutant at Toys "R" Us, minus the Interocitor. All of these figures will come in smaller blister-card packaging.
Check out the photos below, and pre-order the two Select figures today at your local comic shop or your favorite online retailer.
To find your nearest comic shop, visit comicshoplocator.com! And get regular DST updates on Facebook and Twitter!
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I was four years old when Apollo 11 touched down in the Sea of Tranquility and man first impressed his footprint upon the moon. I was captivated. The images of the lunar module on the surface of the moon, of Neil Armstrong taking that historic first step, of Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag are burned indelibly in my mind. I couldn't get enough moon, NASA or astronauts, clearly a chronic case of Moon Fever that stays with me to this day. While I may never get to press my footprint into the dusty lunar soil, I
could, with enough cash, turn my backyard into a replica Tranquility
Base. Here's a company that will not only rent you the appropriate spacesuit, but a full sized lunar module and a command capsule. Honey, call the neighbors and chain up the dog, the Eagle has landed!
At comic shops and specialty stores, horror fans will be able to pick up a highly detailed Metaluna Mutant from 1955's This Island Earth. With his bulging brain and claws, he conveys all the menace of the movie creature, and he even comes with the Interocitor, the device that allows humans to contact the Metalunans. Alongside the Metaluna Mutant will be the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera (1925), complete with his massive organ, which he plays in the catacombs of the opera house. Both will be available in the oversized Select display packaging, with side panel art perfect for storing on a shelf.
