THE WORLD OF SPECIAL EFFECTS
Given that so much is CGI (Computer Generated Images) these days you could be forgiven to assume that nothing is now done 'for real'! However the world of FX miniatures (and special effects in general) is still alive and well and is invariably used in conjunction with a computerised system to put in backgrounds; add lights and exhausts and remove those pesky wires! However many traditional techniques are still used - with or without CGI - and these illustrations demonstrate a few..

THIS PAGE SHOWS SOME PHOTOS THAT - MAYBE - HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN BEFORE - OR NOT FOR A LONG TIME

Front Axial Projector - FAPBlake's 7 - Liberator

The Liberator flies again, from a sequence in BLAKE'S 7 Series Two. Here the background has been added using Front Axial Projection, (left) an old film technique now somewhat surpassed with CGI, but it is the way Superman flew in the first movie, and provided the African backgrounds for the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The halo around the Liberator is caused by the light bouncing back off of the highly reflective screen. FAP could be used to combine a still or moving image - in this case the former, with the background art-work painted by noted British space artist, David Hardy

Doctor Who - The Face of Evil

DOCTOR WHO - THE FACE OF EVIL
OK which is 'The Face of Evil'? Left is the miniature landscape with the face of The Doctor (a life-mask cast from Tom Baker) built into the hillside. On the right is the FX Designer - peering past the spaceship

Warriors Gate - GatewayWarriors Gate - Privateer

DOCTOR WHO - WARRIORS' GATE
(left) The miniature 'Gate' of the title, cast in a weak mix of Plaster of Paris.
(right) The remains of the Privateer space ship - after the explosions.

The Pyramids of Mars -MarconiscopeThe Invisible Enemy

(left) DOCTOR WHO - THE PYRAMIDS OF MARS
The Marconiscope - a classic example of a Whovian special effects working prop

(right) DOCTOR WHO - THE INVISIBLE ENEMY - A rare shot of both scales of the Hospital Ship

Space Vets - DispensibleSpace Vets - Space Base

SPACE VETS
Invariably known as the 'Junior RED DWARF', Space Vets went to three seasons.
The Star Ship was the Dispensible - built for the series. Other 'Guest Ships' tended to be 'borrowed' - so when a prison ship was required for one episode - there was a quick re-use of the London! (left).
(right) Mainly seen in Series 1 - the Space Base started life as (possibly) some part of the space station from Moonraker, then becoming Kryton's ship before the basis was modified into what you see here.
Note that in true special effects fashion, tiny ships from others series were added - the top of the ring has a Thunderbird 1; Eagle and UFO Interceptor, while the grab (centre right - below the ring) holds a Star Trek Shuttlecraft.

Moonbase 3 - MoonbaseMoonbase 3 - Moon Buggy - full sizeMoonbase 3 - Moon Buggy - miniature

MOONBASE 3
Originally intended for a run of 13, only six episiodes were made.
Very little photographic material has survived, and these are all from Polaroids.
(top left) The miniature Moonbase, with the two small Moon Buggies (centre right).
(top right) The full size 'scenery' Moon Buggy.
(above) the larger miniature Moon Buggy at the end of its 'crash' sequence.

Storytime - HouseStorytime - winter

STORYTIME
Storytime was a children's series - though it used cinema-style techniques to create its title sequence.
(left) The 'House' was filmed in 35mm with a motion control set-up. The monitor with the programming sequence on the screen is on the left, the 35mm film camera on the right. No its not a gun on the front - its a very long periscope lens.
(right) The miniature landscape and 'House' re-dressed for a winter scene - complete with 'snow' and a Christmas tree.

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