War of the Worlds Martian Vessel

[airdave]

Well I'm back at this Martian craft!

Not sure if I will ever finish it...but I have yet to see another version
or an updated version, so I'm kinda stuck with this one.

(Unless I want to design my own...which I am too designing dumb and lazy to do!)

I commented on this model before...and it wasn't pretty.
I recognize the fact that this is a prototype and still needed refinement.
I also recognize that I may be the one and only person to ever attempt it!

...but since it IS the only version, I can only comment on what I have to work with.

The original kit includes about three pages of parts.
They are coloured, but not very well.
(I had planned to repaint and airbrush this model)

There are no instructions
other than a couple of diagrams that, to be honest, don't seem to match the actual parts construction.

The best thing you have to work with is a simple diagram of the original War ship and a "parts numbering diagram"



This is where it got weird and difficult.
With no instruction it was a lot of dry fitting pats trying to figure out what went where.
The biggest hurdle is the fact that there are no two parts alike.
Its obvious that this craft is symmetrical.
Right and left sides are exactly the same, and you would expect the model to be the same (construction wise).
But it isn't even close.
The two sides of the craft are assemble in a completely different configuration.
And because of the compound shape, there are a few small very complicated shaped pieces that fill in the final gaps.

I'm sorry to say, for a model with only a dozen parts, it was an absolute hair-pulling experience and I don't want to have to try it again without an instructions sheet! (very stupidly, I forgot to take photos as I was building to record part placement)

Anyway, when I was done with the main body, it looked like this:



Oh, I printed the original parts without ink...but a couple of replacement parts were printed on scrap (preprinted) card...thats why the odd colouring.

The top of the craft doesn't look too bad...its the rear and underside which turned out the worst.

I have decided to surface putty the worst areas and fill in the gaps as best as possible.
I started by spraying the entire craft with primer
and applying putty to the underside.
(I may leave the top as is, and just putty the edges and major gaps)



The upper telescoping arm/weapon assembly was completely scratchbuilt around coat hanger wire. Its a little choppy/boxy but I'm quite comfortable with it.
The coat hanger also serves as the support for the model, which will be hidden by a Tree when I am finished the model.
I plan on making a small diorama with the War ship hovering over a Tree with a Sherman Tank below.
(Thats why I built my mini Sherman!)


I don't know how long this model will take or if it will ever get completed (lol) but I'll definately keep you updated.
Dave

[TheWebdude]

Ouch. Looks painful.
Where did this one originate?
It's "not" the only one.
Have one in the files that's much nicer on the eyes (and fingers I suspect).

Clean curves and butt-joint construction but there's no author information on the kit and my CRS is kicking in hard today....:D

[Gixergs]

I built this a while ago and have it printed out ready for another go.It is a challenge to say the least I found the division of the parts frustrating little pieces left separate where they could of been joined to the main BUT it is the only one out there.It can be found on here http://jleslie48.com/gallery_models_scifi.html It would be nice to have a cleaner easier version. Good Luck with it!

[Bomarc]

".....He's their top man in astro-physics!"

I do hope you can work the kinks out of this model. George Pal's WoW is my absolute favorite SciFi movie.

I can see the diorama now....

Mike

[jleslie48]

I know its a weak model, but as you noted, its the only one that is even close.

It begs for someone to clean it up.

I did my best to get some colors onto it, but that's about as far as I could take it.

- Jon
lhvcc.org

the LHVCC egiftshop

[airdave]

Originally Posted by TheWebdude

Ouch. Looks painful.
Where did this one originate?
It's "not" the only one.
Have one in the files that's much nicer on the eyes (and fingers I suspect).

Clean curves and butt-joint construction but there's no author information on the kit and my CRS is kicking in hard today....:D

please share this, if you can

[airdave]

Originally Posted by Bomarc

".....He's their top man in astro-physics!"
I do hope you can work the kinks out of this model. George Pal's WoW is my absolute favorite SciFi movie.
I can see the diorama now....
Mike

yes, it is definately a classic and one of the "important" classic Sci-Fi films
but I'm sorry to say, not my favorite.
I think it was a pretty poor Americanized version of the story (based around the great Orson Welles radioplay)
...the original story, retold in Jeff Wayne's musical, is much more dramatic.

but the craft in the '53 film are without a doubt, the greatest design!
and the miniature work was fabulous.

-don't get me started talking about what could have been a great remake
(had they not hired TommyCruiser and DakotaFanning) ...what a slap in the face that was to SciFi fans!!

on a side note...for a good read...try Christopher Priest's "The Space Machine"
["homage to H.G.Wells...a mutation between The Time Machine and War of the Worlds"]

[jleslie48]

Originally Posted by airdave

please share this, if you can

I too would be very interested in any better version of the model.

[ARMORMAN]

Dave,

I designed it. I have not gotten back to it as I have not had time. Judging from the thumbnails (why did you password protect access to your gallery?), it looks like you failed to use the small top center piece which is the back (very back - tail, if you will) of the ship.

I was planning a higher poly count model to be released later on, but life got in the way.

If you think the multipart one was tough, you should have tried the one piece version that PK generated for me the first time.

[SCEtoAUX]

That movie was on TV just the other day.

I like the Martian tripod model at Cut & Paste Sci-Fi.