Posts Tagged ‘models’

After months of teasing, QMx has finally brought out their biggest project yet: the film-quality, made-to-order Serenity model.

Measuring 19"x12"x7", or 1:180 scale, this baby is incredibly screen-accurate right down to the bolts and weathering. Over 250 parts, hand-painted, with built-in lighting and engine effects. It doesn't get any more accurate than this.

When it came time to develop this replica, we could do no less. Every bolt, every seam and every asymmetrical plate has been recreated with exacting detail in this first and only screen-accurate replica. Years of intense effort have gone into all aspects of this model, from the sculpture taken directly from the movie CG master files to the paint job created to match not just the colors of the ship, but the materials as well.

Each one is made to order, and you can choose whether to have the lighting included or not. You can also choose various personal touches, like the position of the engines, whether the shuttles are docked or not, the name on the captain's plate and more.

No more than 500 will be made. They'll start taking orders September 30, 2009, which is a nice touch. I also note that a price is not listed anywhere on the page, but I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or relieved at this point

Go and gaze, and check out the video of the lighting effects. It'll be on display at the Sideshow Collectibles booth at Comic-Con (#1929) along with their other new launch, the Enterprise replica.

In other news, QMx has a frickin' amazing Enterprise replica.

QMx has been working diligently on creating the ultimate Serenity model, and over at FireflyShipWorks.com (where you can follow the progress) they've posted the first shots of the paint tests. And it's looking pretty sweet. The attention spent to give each panel of armor-plating its own look is insanely detailed, and for a good reason.

This is where you can start to really see the difference between a mass-produced replica and a professionally-made film-quality replica: Artistry. Someone completely immersed in Serenity’s design for months, who knows her intimately and with mad skills of simulation, will personally see to it your Serenity will be able to fool even the unforgiving eye of the camera.  Remember, before CG there were individually-handcrafted film models. And that’s what creating here.

Alex Kung spent two years crafting an extremely drool-worthy Serenity model. It has lights. It has movable engines. It's a foot long (note Serenity ornament in foreground, for comparison). And it can be yours, if you win the auction. Alex built this one for the Toronto Can't Stop the Serenity screening and all proceeds will go to Equality Now. You can see more pictures (and a video) here.

You want this. I want this. So when you bid, bid low, and don't worry about hanging around the last few minutes of the auction. Really, it'll be fine…

OK, you really need to be checking out FireflyShipWorks.com. Lots of details are coming out in the comments section. Some highlights:

- The ship will be to 1:180 scale of the size defined by the Serenity blueprints, the most accurate ones to date. The model will be 18" long.

- Each one will be hand-cast, hand-wired, hand-assembled, hand-painted. It will be weathered appropriately, based on the surface map from the actual 3D model.

- There will be a limited number, they won't be cheap, and they may or may not be out this year.

- The build is being done by The FX Company. This is a good thing. They're even more scary obsessive than you are. The model itself will be made by QMx.

Go there and pester them for more answers. And demand T-shirts.

So this gent named RoboGeek worked at a plaxe that used a Spectrum Z510 3D printer. And whever it was worked on, they ran a test file. And his boss was also a sci-fi fan and let him run his own files though. And so, along with some funky geometrical shapes and a few other familiar looking ships, he produced this beauty from Sean Kennedy's poly mesh.

Head over to MAKE Magazine to see his other creations, and because MAKE Magazine is just generally cool anyway.

After spending months building this 3-foot model of Serenity, from over 200 individual pieces of paper, this gentleman is selling her on eBay. It's mounted to lightweight foamboard with pictures of the ship.

Created from Sean White's plans, this is a beautiful recreation of our favorite ship. You could make your own, of course, but this might save you some time and, if you're as fumble-fingered as I am, some heartbreak and property damage.

He's also including a set of the Firefly trading cards.

If you just can't wait till July for your variant Serenity ornament, you can always make your own.

Chris Doyle, he of the amazing LEGO Serenity and the snack-sized Serenity, has produced plans and parts lists to make your very own Reaverized version. 

But that ain't all. Thanks to a generous donation of a few truckloads of bricks Chris has started on several ambitious projects. First, he's rebuilding his big ship and documenting it along the way so you can see how to make your own. Second, he's working on an even bigger one that's to scale with his Big Damn LEGO Heroes. And he's creating a 'versy town for them to visit.

Check out the Browncoat Central section of his LEGO page for details, along with pics of his amazing LEGO Mule.

Some interesting tidbits just popped up at the QMx blog about their proposed 20" model:

She’ll be approximately 20? long, will feature the blue/grey deco and detailing as seen in Serenity, and will basically rule the display shelf in your home.

Why wait for the plastic and resin versions? Print out and assemble your very own bulk transport ship with Jorge A. García's paper Serenity kit. It's free, and pretty damn awesome.

Warning: the instructions aren't in English, but there are plenty of pictures to follow. Be sure to scroll all the way down the page; there's also instructions for making a movie version.

There's another version, based on this one, by Sean White. You can follow his progress and download the files at his blog, or download the files from summerglau.co.uk).

Thomas Models, a company known for its excellent line of Trek-type resin kits, model conversion kits, and accessories, is working on a model of our favorite ship. After working up a plan for "114 resin parts, 4 clear resin, 4 clear vac form, 185 photo-etched brass parts, plug n' play animated drive lighting, and color decals in glorious 1/87 HO scale," plans were later scaled back to 1/120 scale to make casting easier and the price more reasonable.

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