Great work! Just watched the movie for the 100th time two nights ago. It never occurred to me the inner layers of the saucer, but I liked the shape of the ship cause it resembled a radical design from the 50s. Thank you.
I love this movie, and I think you did a really great job explaining the spaceship! Great modeling and explanation! Thank you so much. I'm going to look at all your models, they are very interesting and entertaining. Bravo!
I realize you haven't posted recently. But I'd love to see your interpretation of the ship from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (50's version.) The movie had both exterior and interior shots, to give you a good head start.
From the production notes available, the starship was made of cast aluminum with clearly defined texturing across the hull, similar to azdecing seen on more recent miniatures. When the ship is shown returning to earth and entering the Earth's atmosphere, alcohol was sprayed over the bow and then ignited to simulate the intense heat of a vessel traveling through air at tremendous speeds. It was a very heavy miniature.
I think you must've read my articles on the film...or an article based on my writings. Actually it was a type of mineral oil that was sprayed on the model of the ship which had been cast in iron and heated in a kiln until it was "cherry red-hot". That heated surface ignited the oil as it made contact with the hot metal surface. The model used for most of the shots was very light weight. The iron casting (which consisted only of the upper half of the entire model) was only used for the one group of "thermal barrier" shots, and was indeed the "very heavy miniature" you mention.
Great work, Steve! Particularly like the refinements, especially the shape of the bridge to reflect the saucer's exterior. It never even occured to me that the conversion tubes rising up made no sense but, of course, it's another oversight on the part of the set designer. Any chance you could add an 'observation' walkway? In my mind's eye it's just a corridor that runs around the rim of the saucer and the outer hull wall and would be punctuated by those large portholes we see on the exterior.
Please, Steve, don't fall into this common misconception among non-aviation people about "piper cubs." The airplane in those scenes was a Stinson Station Wagon: a four seat airplane with control yokes and a 108-HP engine. Very different from a Piper J-3 "cub." You need to check the details and find out what effect it may have on the extrapolated dimensions of the Metalunan ship, Thank you for being conscientious.
ScifiSteve, your modifications were well conceived and executed. Those rotating rings moving into themselves could have been some kind of stabilization unit for the anti-gravity magnetic field or a saucer flight stability monitor. Just a thought. I enjoyed the video.Thanks !!
Did anyone mention artificial gravity ? This was almost 70 years ago and I would love to see this film remade using CGI along with an ''A'' list actor, the 3D mapping is quite good considering its guess work, I would have liked to have seen how thick the bulkheads were with a human standing by for size, the windows and of course how many people would it require to fly this ship
Great job! I like the way you re-thought some things to make more sense than in the movie. One question: Wouldn't there have to be converter tubes for everyone aboard? It appeared they had to do this when accelerating and then decelerating. Or maybe that was the C-57D? Maybe they had to use the tubes to enter/leave Metaluna? Anyone who didn't have a tube would end up like that Mutant whom they left outside when departing Metaluna. So, for the whole passenger list, if you had a bunk, you'd have to have a tube, too. RIght? Now, I'm gonna find your C-57D tour!
The tubes changed the passengers for the environment of the target planet. So in the movie we saw crew members being changed followed byour heroes. So the crew was changed a few at a time. But, your right if your converted to survive in the target world, the ship's environment would need to match so when you stepped out you could live. Conclusion the entire crew and passengers would have to be done all at once. The process automated because no one could be left out side to operate the controls. Nice point.
Maybe Metaluna was bigger than Earth. So the converter tubes adjusted your molecular structure to the different sized planets. Exeter stated that his planets difference was like going under earth's deepest oceans.If not converted humans would be smashed by the difference.
I accept that the dimensions are the same. But another fan of the film, who knew his single-engine two-seaters, pointed out to me years ago the true make and model of that aircraft. Dimensions are one thing; appearance is another.
Fun stuff. A couple of notes, for what they might be worth: Those aren't supposed to be "windows" on the ship. The design was inspired by a couple of things from real life, including a supposed flying saucer sighting (which might be, ahem, better designated as being from "real" life) that occurred around the time production began. Not sure why a "glass shot" would be better than a matte painting. Can you expand on that? The interior set/control room is oblong, which, perhaps, justifies the teardrop shape (tho it could just as well be speculated that it is that shape for any number of other reasons not specified in the film. Productions often play with spacial relationships that aren't always internally consistent, but work for more generalized aesthetic or even budgetary reasons). Thanks for the graphics! Pretty cool.
I'll pull up some reference and send (takes a few days/am tied up on a project without much time next few days to get to anything). If you are on facebook, you could look me up there (under the name here) and I could communicate some information directly to you, if you are interested. I'd prefer to do this as a personal FB message rather than in an open forum like this, if possible.
I have drawings from the production that match several pictures of a 1953 ufo sighting. I knew the film's producer, director, writers, model builders etc.. They wanted to base the saucer on something "real" (to the extent that such sightings are "real"!) Since I have written a very very extensive "making of" about the film---which I will be self-publishing within a year or so (edited versions of which have already been published years ago)---I am somewhat reluctant to go into much detail here as I would be sort of "scooping" myself (as if anyone else would care!).. My retrospective article will explain the "windows", reveal why the interior space is a fairly good fit for the exterior and such. From the photos I have, there is plenty of room for those conversion tubes to fit without violating the ship's exterior limits, tho close. You are quite on target, of course, as to the dimensions of the ship. The model you present here doesn't exactly reflect the way the top and bottom meet: they "feather together at the front end, and become blunt-edged toward the rear, tho that is not easily visible in the film. Several models were made, the main one being aluminum. The matte paintings in the film were all done on glass and composited optically and not done as perspective-glass shots, true enough. Not sure if this helps at all, but...for what it might be (or not be) worth. I'm just glad to see that interest remains in these long-ago-made films, done at a time when fewer tools and much much much less money was being invested in their production. I DO appreciate seeing your model and hearing your thoughts on it. I think of it all as a fun experiment in imaginative thinking; very cool, and very thoughtful. At least, if made me think about this ship all over again! good wishes!
Well thanks Thats always nice to hear, Is there anything you would add or remove?. Any thoughts on what the next 3D tour should be? Im working on the Lost in Space saucer right now.
The only thing I'd disagree with is that here you enter the bridge from behind the tubes, but the entrance was across the room, where the lady scientist in the tube could observe the mutant entering the bridge- Otherwise, very cool. I also thought that the model (or one of them) was metal, as witnessed by the model in flames going thru the thermal barrier
+Lee White You're correct, and in "Saucer Fleet" the ramp from the lower deck is described as entering the bridge on the forward right. An elevator was shown but bot used in the movie, so I placed it so it could be used and entered thru the aft end of the bridge. There were several models, some wood, plaster and metal. I found out about the metal one after the drawing was posted. So thats 2 for you and none for me. Ha HA. Good eye by the way AND thanks for actually listing!
As of right now Neutrino particles are believed to me massless particles. Massless particles do not interact with massive particles (protons, electrons, neutrons) atoms. The long and short of it, a ray of neutrinos would simply pass thru atoms without any affect.
Sorry about the sound quality. It works on some PC/Macs but not so well on others. Of course to fix it I would need to recreate the entire video. And that means a chance to re-draw the entire thing. I'm a compulsive fixer upper.
Well Scifisteve1954 I truly like the thought you put into your work. The full interior would be interesting to think about and the control room may be doable BUT the way it works to me is that it is not a ship at all. The box is a Portal and that the interior is on a planet somewhere.
Great work! Just watched the movie for the 100th time two nights ago. It never occurred to me the inner layers of the saucer, but I liked the shape of the ship cause it resembled a radical design from the 50s. Thank you.
Really glad you enjoyed it. My dad and I were fans. I'm currently re-doing the C57D, but I have several additions I want to do to this one.
Every thing said about Exeter’s ship is correct. Great rendition of the ship... well done..
I love this movie, and I think you did a really great job explaining the spaceship! Great modeling and explanation! Thank you so much. I'm going to look at all your models, they are very interesting and entertaining. Bravo!
Love this movie. Thanks for the info.
The airplane in that movie was a Stinson Voyager, not a Piper Cub. I should know, my dad owned two Stinsons. A 1946 and a 1947 Voyager.
I realize you haven't posted recently. But I'd love to see your interpretation of the ship from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (50's version.) The movie had both exterior and interior shots, to give you a good head start.
Ty for this. I hope to watch all your videos! I love these movies: I saw them when they were originally released!!
The ship always reminds me on the bridge module of the Enterprise D
"This island earth can be yours if the price is right"
-tom servo
From the production notes available, the starship was made of cast aluminum with clearly defined texturing across the hull, similar to azdecing seen on more recent miniatures. When the ship is shown returning to earth and entering the Earth's atmosphere, alcohol was sprayed over the bow and then ignited to simulate the intense heat of a vessel traveling through air at tremendous speeds. It was a very heavy miniature.
I think you must've read my articles on the film...or an article based on my writings. Actually it was a type of mineral oil that was sprayed on the model of the ship which had been cast in iron and heated in a kiln until it was "cherry red-hot". That heated surface ignited the oil as it made contact with the hot metal surface. The model used for most of the shots was very light weight. The iron casting (which consisted only of the upper half of the entire model) was only used for the one group of "thermal barrier" shots, and was indeed the "very heavy miniature" you mention.
Superb work! Love to see your work done on the Spindrift or the Invaders ships.....
Thanks much
I do not know Spindrift. The Invaders maybe. I have a couple more for this series.
Thanks again
Great work, Steve! Particularly like the refinements, especially the shape of the bridge to reflect the saucer's exterior. It never even occured to me that the conversion tubes rising up made no sense but, of course, it's another oversight on the part of the set designer. Any chance you could add an 'observation' walkway? In my mind's eye it's just a corridor that runs around the rim of the saucer and the outer hull wall and would be punctuated by those large portholes we see on the exterior.
Awesome video. Thanks.
Please, Steve, don't fall into this common misconception among non-aviation people about "piper cubs." The airplane in those scenes was a Stinson Station Wagon: a four seat airplane with control yokes and a 108-HP engine. Very different from a Piper J-3 "cub." You need to check the details and find out what effect it may have on the extrapolated dimensions of the Metalunan ship, Thank you for being conscientious.
ScifiSteve, your modifications were well conceived and executed. Those rotating rings moving into themselves could have been some kind of stabilization unit for the anti-gravity magnetic field or a saucer flight stability monitor. Just a thought. I enjoyed the video.Thanks !!
Thank You.
Did anyone mention artificial gravity ? This was almost 70 years ago and I would love to see this film remade using CGI along with an ''A'' list actor, the 3D mapping is quite good considering its guess work, I would have liked to have seen how thick the bulkheads were with a human standing by for size, the windows and of course how many people would it require to fly this ship
Great job! I like the way you re-thought some things to make more sense than in the movie.
One question: Wouldn't there have to be converter tubes for everyone aboard?
It appeared they had to do this when accelerating and then decelerating. Or maybe that was the C-57D? Maybe they had to use the tubes to enter/leave Metaluna?
Anyone who didn't have a tube would end up like that Mutant whom they left outside when departing Metaluna.
So, for the whole passenger list, if you had a bunk, you'd have to have a tube, too.
RIght?
Now, I'm gonna find your C-57D tour!
The tubes changed the passengers for the environment of the target planet. So in the movie we saw crew members being changed followed byour heroes. So the crew was changed a few at a time.
But, your right if your converted to survive in the target world, the ship's environment would need to match so when you stepped out you could live. Conclusion the entire crew and passengers would have to be done all at once. The process automated because no one could be left out side to operate the controls.
Nice point.
Maybe Metaluna was bigger than Earth.
So the converter tubes adjusted your molecular structure to the different sized planets. Exeter stated that his planets difference was like going under earth's deepest oceans.If not converted humans would be smashed by the difference.
Not a Piper Cub. An Aeronca Chief. The dimensions should be roughly the same, however--a single-engine two-seater.
I accept that the dimensions are the same. But another fan of the film, who knew his single-engine two-seaters, pointed out to me years ago the true make and model of that aircraft. Dimensions are one thing; appearance is another.
Not a Piper Cub or a Aeronca Chief it was a Stinson Voyager...Look at the tail,,,
Fun stuff. A couple of notes, for what they might be worth:
Those aren't supposed to be "windows" on the ship.
The design was inspired by a couple of things from real life, including a supposed flying saucer sighting (which might be, ahem, better designated as being from "real" life) that occurred around the time production began.
Not sure why a "glass shot" would be better than a matte painting. Can you expand on that?
The interior set/control room is oblong, which, perhaps, justifies the teardrop shape (tho it could just as well be speculated that it is that shape for any number of other reasons not specified in the film. Productions often play with spacial relationships that aren't always internally consistent, but work for more generalized aesthetic or even budgetary reasons).
Thanks for the graphics! Pretty cool.
Wow, I never heard that one. Any sights I may look at and possible be inspired?
I'll pull up some reference and send (takes a few days/am tied up on a project without much time next few days to get to anything). If you are on facebook, you could look me up there (under the name here) and I could communicate some information directly to you, if you are interested. I'd prefer to do this as a personal FB message rather than in an open forum like this, if possible.
I have drawings from the production that match several pictures of a 1953 ufo sighting. I knew the film's producer, director, writers, model builders etc.. They wanted to base the saucer on something "real" (to the extent that such sightings are "real"!) Since I have written a very very extensive "making of" about the film---which I will be self-publishing within a year or so (edited versions of which have already been published years ago)---I am somewhat reluctant to go into much detail here as I would be sort of "scooping" myself (as if anyone else would care!).. My retrospective article will explain the "windows", reveal why the interior space is a fairly good fit for the exterior and such. From the photos I have, there is plenty of room for those conversion tubes to fit without violating the ship's exterior limits, tho close. You are quite on target, of course, as to the dimensions of the ship. The model you present here doesn't exactly reflect the way the top and bottom meet: they "feather together at the front end, and become blunt-edged toward the rear, tho that is not easily visible in the film. Several models were made, the main one being aluminum.
The matte paintings in the film were all done on glass and composited optically and not done as perspective-glass shots, true enough.
Not sure if this helps at all, but...for what it might be (or not be) worth. I'm just glad to see that interest remains in these long-ago-made films, done at a time when fewer tools and much much much less money was being invested in their production. I DO appreciate seeing your model and hearing your thoughts on it. I think of it all as a fun experiment in imaginative thinking; very cool, and very thoughtful. At least, if made me think about this ship all over again! good wishes!
Great vid. Thanks. Seems movie makers constantly discount continuity of starship interiors and exteriors. Just look at Lucas' Falcon... LOL
Was looking for C57D materials and found this vid. Cool!
Clearly its Serendipity.
wow, like seeing how the actually make the spaceship and explain.
They were propelled by anti gravity and not magnetic fields
Well thanks
Thats always nice to hear, Is there anything you would add or remove?.
Any thoughts on what the next 3D tour should be?
Im working on the Lost in Space saucer right now.
It's 2019 and we still don't have a working interocitor. I feel gypped.
Did you know the actress in this movie was Howard Hughes girlfriend at one time along with Ava Gardner???
Trump built one in 2016.
well done!
Always good to hear. Thanks!
The only thing I'd disagree with is that here you enter the bridge from behind the tubes, but the entrance was across the room, where the lady scientist in the tube could observe the mutant entering the bridge- Otherwise, very cool. I also thought that the model (or one of them) was metal, as witnessed by the model in flames going thru the thermal barrier
+Lee White You're correct, and in "Saucer Fleet" the ramp from the lower deck is described as entering the bridge on the forward right. An elevator was shown but bot used in the movie, so I placed it so it could be used and entered thru the aft end of the bridge.
There were several models, some wood, plaster and metal. I found out about the metal one after the drawing was posted. So thats 2 for you and none for me. Ha HA. Good eye by the way AND thanks for actually listing!
+Scifisteve1954 ...And thank YOU for creating this digital model and critique of the spacecraft! :)
It wasn't a Piper Cub.... it was a Tailorcraft.
Very interesting, thanks.
I suppose moving out of the cutaway view we were going to normal view, Normal View, NORMAL VIEW!!!!!?
They got sucked up into a Jiffy Lube.
One of these days, we will find out these were all real Documentaries
The airplane is neither a Cup or Aeronca Chief. It is a Stinson Voyager. I owned one.
I stand Corrected!
It was not a piper cub they brought in, it was a stinson voyager. It is larger and seats four
See "Terry Hurlbut" 3 years ago.
Great imagination. Hollywood is going to pick this guy up.
thank you
Could you make this a stl file so it can be printed
Maybe put it on thingiverse.
Instead of landing gear it has hover struts
Not a cub, a cesssna 180, with side by side seating.
Very well done indeed but you really should use the metric system for the measurements.
Friends don't let friends use metric.
LOL
Cal dont go, cal this stinks to high heaven
Ok, but where's the cafeteria?
You mean where is the galley yes that is a good question would have to be somewhere on the middle deck
The weapons were neutrino rays in the movie.
As of right now Neutrino particles are believed to me massless particles. Massless particles do not interact with massive particles (protons, electrons, neutrons) atoms. The long and short of it, a ray of neutrinos would simply pass thru atoms without any affect.
Neutrinos were called the "missing link between matter and energy" - today it is the Higg's Boson
LOL
And Thanks
Exeter thought he could squeeze one more trip to earth out of this jalopy.
8:00. Obviously a Mopar ship.
I never met a Luna i didn’t like 😂
Is someone fidgeting while the narrator is speaking? Those fidgeting sounds are extremely annoying.
Sorry about the sound quality. It works on some PC/Macs but not so well on others. Of course to fix it I would need to recreate the entire video. And that means a chance to re-draw the entire thing. I'm a compulsive fixer upper.
interocitor!
I wonder what you would do with a TARDIS. I know what I would do. That would be too....well i will keep that to me for now.
With the dimentional shift within the box, the possibilities virtually unlimited.
And I have no idea what it would take to manipulate time.
Well Scifisteve1954 I truly like the thought you put into your work. The full interior would be interesting to think about and the control room may be doable BUT the way it works to me is that it is not a ship at all. The box is a Portal and that the interior is on a planet somewhere.
Nice try but fundamentally and mostly incorrect. Stick to cartoons.
Zoo much bs.