- battlestar-plans-02.jpg (33.86 KiB) Viewed 1534 times
- battlestar-plans-02.jpg (33.86 KiB) Viewed 1534 times
The first thing I had to do was track down new source material. The "Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Epic Series" DVD box set had been out for some time and served as a good bounce-off point, but really wasn't too much better than my old VHS tapes. An extensive web search found a few additional resources, including some original Apogee photos from Cloudster and photos from one of the first studio-scale replicas1 of the original filming model from Jim Creveling.
Using Jim's fairly detailed photos, I created a framework in which to fill the details, but I also continued the search for photos of the original. Eventually, while trolling through the various forums I frequent and posting my progress on this project, I was contacted by several people who were involved with the restoration of the filming model who were agreeable to volunteering some photographs that were taken when it was in their care. They recognized my serious interest in the subject and that I wasn't just some leech looking for a hand-out and offered these photos in exchange for my promise not to reveal them to the general public, an agreement to which I adhere to this day. I jumped on the chance to finally have access to photographs that only a handful of people had access to - and they answered a TON of questions I had about the model.
Several problems I had to overcome:
- General perspective distortion (called "foreshortening" in the art world). The model was so big (over 6 feet long, if I recall correctly), and lens/perspective distortion really played havoc with orthographically reconciling all 6 profiles.
- The asymmetrical nature of the hand-made original miniature made it literally impossible to perfectly reproduce in a digital medium.
- Conflicting reports and photographs from multiple sources having had access to the model.
- Thickness, position and dimensions of connecting pylons for the landing bays.
- Steepness of angle of the top of the "neck" and sides of the "head".
- Did the bottom of the "head", or "chin", hang below the hangar bays, was it at the same level or slightly above?
- Detailing of the underside was not well documented, particularly the "cap" that covered the ventral mounting point for the filming support armature.
- Detailing of the top of the "neck" was also quite sparse.
- Glen Larson - The Father Creator. ‘Nuff Said!
- Richard Hatch - "Captain Apollo" in the original show and "Tom Zarek" in the new show; for keeping the dream alive all these years when nobody else would listen.
- Ralph McQuarrie - Conceptual Artist responsible for the original Galactica design.
- John Dykstra - The model master who, with his team of former ILM wizards, brought the "Big G" to life 30 years ago in the Apogee studios.
- Jim Creveling - Builder of one of the first studio-scale Galactica's.
- Ed Miarecki, Mark Bradley & Mark Dickson – Individuals responsible for restoring the studio model for Universal Studios and archiving their progress.
- Kurt Kuhn - Provider of fantastic photographic source information as archived by the two Mark's.
- Charles Adams - Administrator/moderator of the late "Starship Builder" forums, who shared my passion for this design. I never used your stuff Charles - promise!
- Gary Cannavo - Current owner of the Galactica and several other original filming miniatures. Thank you for giving them a good home, Gary!
- Ron Moore and David Eick - For creating the new show and, in doing so, bringing Battlestar Galactica back into the collective pop culture consciousness, providing a means by which my humble little pencil scribblings from so many years ago made it to the airwaves and inspiring me to upgrade them for the Battlestar Galactica Community.
