Kitbashing and Scratchbuilding

Hi!  I know it’s been a while, but since my laptop screen was damaged a few months ago and I sold my own camcorder for a Telecaster, I haven’t had much to report.

Right now, though, I’ve had a few great ideas that I want to get to work on.  Both of them are Sci Fi stories, one a fairly straight ahead “six people on a spaceship meeting weirdos” thing a la Star Trek and Firefly, and the other is a wild and crazy Republic Serials-inspired “Nazi Moon Men” serial. 

The former’s concept has led me to the world of building ships from scratch, or modifying models or household items to look like spaceships.  For years, especially since seeing “SP FX:  The Empire Strikes Back” on CBS back in 1980, I’ve been fascinated by this world, and never knew it had a name: kitbashing.  Some call it Scratchbuilding, but that’s primarily for people who, oddly enough, build stuff from scratch using model kits, etc.

Yes, I know this is 2008.  I have Blender 3d and AnimeStudio on my laptop.  However, like using the manual typewriter and microcassette recorder, there’s something reassuring about holding the actual thing in your hands and turning it over.

Hopefully, in the future I can put up some experiments in this form.  Thanks to the people at Rebel Cafe, I’ve found the right terms, and even the right searches on eBay to use.  Links to sites that have been helpful to me so far are below.

“SP FX: Empire Strikes Back” on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbK_8NMOy3U

Shipbuilding on Rebel Cafe’: http://rebelsguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1455&postdays=0&postorder=asc

LyzardStomp’s informative series: http://www.lyzrdstomp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=216&Itemid=86

Lyzrdstomp’s forum on Kitbashing:  http://www.lyzrdstomp.com/lyzrdforum/index.php?board=6.0

Cars, Clothes and Drugs

This was supposed to be a review of the Amo Joy/Derek Lambert/Beati Paoli show last Thursday at the Haunted Basement, however I didn’t end up seeing that show, because I had to go to work.

In its place, some facts that may be interesting to the people at that show:

–Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo was released in 1984.

–Ozone was played by Shabba-Doo and Turbo was played by Boogaloo Shrimp.

–The breakdancing on the walls and ceiling scene used the same ‘rotating room’ as the first Nightmare on Elm Street movie.

–This film might set a record for the shortest time between sequels-less than a year.

…If this is some sort of underground trend for bands playing the H.B., I’m finding a VHS copy of Xanadu, and you people will know the REAL meaning of pain!

LarryGhost