Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Dec 5, 2019 7:11:44 GMT
Props from "UFO" and "Space 1999" do often pop up at TV& Film "Cosplay" events - and also on certain auction sites.
However - with the auction sites, you can never be really sure how authentic they are - as there are a couple of enthusiasts making accurate replica representations.
Nowadays, modellers use 3D printing and CNC laser cutters - so making props is reasonably easy.
Back then used had to use Craft knives, glue and good old patience!
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Post by Dirty Epic on Dec 5, 2019 8:02:59 GMT
Wow those pictures are brilliant Sparky.
They give a flavour of what went into the production and as you say they achieved so much with the models and special effects on UFO, Space 1999 etc. that Hollywood lured the likes of Derek Meddings, Brian Johnson etc. to things like Star Wars, Alien and many other things they pioneered working with Anderson.
Also great you saved a lot of this stuff from the skip too... I know the industry doesn't really value it but surely even by 1997 Carlton should've realised even if some of this stuff wasn't sellable to collectors it could be donated to colleges, libarary's, musuem's etc. as pieces of TV history - especially in the Elstree and Midlands areas. For instance when I was in Milan earlier this year a fair bit of Rai and other historical TV stuff was collected at one of the Museum's I visited. It's not just film/television companies which skip valuable stuff as junk record companies have chucked out valuable demo tapes, promo's, photo's press, memorabilia etc. too. They probably don't think it's valuable at the time but...
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Dec 5, 2019 8:07:50 GMT
Interesting stuff and an insight into the work which went into these programmes, I find modelling interesting anyway. I saw bits of UFO on one of the sky channels when it was repeated, probably late 90s/early 00s, didn't remember it at the time it was originally on.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Dec 5, 2019 9:40:26 GMT
I never really sat and watched "UFO" properly, though it's always been on in the background when it was repeated. What amused me a little was that - the first series was made in 1969, aired in 1970. The series was set in 1980.... I just loved the ideas for what life would be like 10 years later!!
Many people (apart from all on this forum) don't realise that many, if not all, of these series were made here in the UK - using our money, staff and studios. ATV/ITC were lucky to have the financial 'clout' to be able to tempt US stars over here to work.
Then we also had Lew Grade - a man who could sell Snow to Eskimos. So he could chuck as much money at a series as he felt, and not worry about getting it back - as he knew he could sell a series abroad to the US at least.
People also forget, films such as "Starwars", "Indiana Jones" were also made over here too. Even a lot of the the recent "Fast and Furious" was shot at Ferrybridge Power Station, before it was blown up in October.
What I love about our drama/action series, they always have that "Britishness" about them- even if the entire cast is American!
Didn't David Wickes say have a similar take on this too?
Just a question to any of the forums Car Enthusiasts...
The cars used in UFO were obviously modified/customised - were they actual cars beforehand, if so what?
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Dec 5, 2019 10:23:15 GMT
I never really sat and watched "UFO" properly, though it's always been on in the background when it was repeated. What amused me a little was that - the first series was made in 1969, aired in 1970. The series was set in 1980.... I just loved the ideas for what life would be like 10 years later!!
Many people (apart from all on this forum) don't realise that many, if not all, of these series were made here in the UK - using our money, staff and studios. ATV/ITC were lucky to have the financial 'clout' to be able to tempt US stars over here to work.
Then we also had Lew Grade - a man who could sell Snow to Eskimos. So he could chuck as much money at a series as he felt, and not worry about getting it back - as he knew he could sell a series abroad to the US at least.
People also forget, films such as "Starwars", "Indiana Jones" were also made over here too. Even a lot of the the recent "Fast and Furious" was shot at Ferrybridge Power Station, before it was blown up in October.
What I love about our drama/action series, they always have that "Britishness" about them- even if the entire cast is American!
Didn't David Wickes say have a similar take on this too?
Just a question to any of the forums Car Enthusiasts...
The cars used in UFO were obviously modified/customised - were they actual cars beforehand, if so what?
Found this www.hemmings.com/blog/2013/12/10/a-childhood-dream-realized-as-a-tv-car-rises-again/
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Dec 5, 2019 10:36:50 GMT
Bloody hell! That needed some serious work.
I wasn't aware that DLT had used it. Shame it was sat in a yard for years on end deteriorating. Some amazing work with the body mouldings.
Is the car back in action now then?
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Post by Dirty Epic on Dec 5, 2019 10:55:17 GMT
It's interesting that Straker's car was based on a 1.3 Escort too as size wise that looks much bigger than a MK1 Escort, suppose mechanicals and filming can make it look different too.
I suppose Straker should've been driving this in 1980, couldn't resist it.
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Dec 5, 2019 11:00:25 GMT
Bloody hell! That needed some serious work.
I wasn't aware that DLT had used it. Shame it was sat in a yard for years on end deteriorating. Some amazing work with the body mouldings.
Is the car back in action now then?
Not sure, I thought I found something a couple of years ago but can't re-find it.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Dec 5, 2019 12:06:09 GMT
I always think programmes like UFO, which were set in the not too distant future portray it as a slightly exaggerated version of what was the latest trends of the time they were being filmed.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Dec 5, 2019 13:50:46 GMT
I always think programmes like UFO, which were set in the not too distant future portray it as a slightly exaggerated version of what was the latest trends of the time they were being filmed. The film Back to the Future did quite a bit of research of what it could be like in 2015....
Some things they got right - some totally far fetched (and still are today).
The "Digital 3D" cinema in Back to the Future 2 (in 2015) isn't far off what we have now.
We still haven't invented Time Travel though.... (Though it is possible - on paper according to Tesla and Einstien).
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