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