This May Not Be Canon, But That is One Big Cannon!

 Part 1: Episode 48

Welcome back, Readers!  Now that summer is over, it's time for serious modeling again!  During this time, I had been watching various Gundam series and working on various other model projects but finishing nothing.  During a break between projects, I realized I haven't built a mobile suit model in quite a while, so I began to look for a suitable subject.  Besides anime series, I also have many Japanese model magazines (although they are more like books...).   An issue of Hobby Japan (#210), from November 1986,  features special North Africa themed models.  The section simply titled "Rommel" had the custom-built models of the Dwadge, Desert Zakus, a Zaku Tanker and a figure of Rommel himself.  (This article was also included in a special "ZZ Gundam" edition of Hobby Japan).  Next I watched Episode 25, "The Face of Rommel" (the source of the magazines' feature), for more background. At the end of the episode, I thought, "What if Rommel had survived Judau's attack?"  Full of rage, he sets about rebuilding his mobile suit from whatever he can find in the desert and other sources, with the ultimate goal of luring that bratty kid back to the desert and exacting revenge in his now ultimate weapon:

In the original episode, Commander 'Desert' Rommel is hiding in a village somewhere in North Africa (no wonder I like this episode...) with his 'Zeon Remnants', a handful of soldiers from the One Year War of 0079.  It's now 0088 and he gets word there are Gundams crossing the desert.  He musters his corps; Ensign Niki, (who has a wife and son), Ensign Calahan, and 11 other soldiers and pilots.  The battle that follows results in the Rommel Corps total defeat.  A loss of all 6 Desert Zakus, and Rommel himself in his custom Dwadge, all by just a bunch of spotty kids in a Shiki, Z-Gundam, ZZ-Gundam and MegaRider.  (Rommel was defeated by 14 year old Judau Ashta in the Zeta Gundam).  The remnants of the Zeon remnants now include only 7 soldiers and a Zaku Tanker.  The episode ends with a grieving widow sobbing over her now dead husband Niki's grave.  End of Desert Rommel, or is it...?

She weeps over her husband's grave, but there is no body.  On the third night after the battle, she sees a figure approaching slowly from the desert.   She doesn't run; could it be her Niki returning?  But as the  shape enters the light, it is in fact Commander Rommel!  He is limping on a broken left leg, badly burned on his left side & head, a broken arm held against his chest, and missing his left eye.  "Take me to my men at once!" he demands.  She helps him back to the Zaku Tanker where he is treated for his wounds in the medical bay.  His painful recovery takes almost a year, but eventually he is fit, and only has to contend with some burn scarring and the loss of an eye.  He calls his men together, only 7 remaining souls now who have been waiting patiently.  "We are going to avenge our fallen comrades and eliminate those brats who took my eye!  Sieg Zeon!"   The response is not so energetic as before; the remnants where hoping for a normal life and leave the war behind.  But they are Zeon after all, and must do their commanders bidding.

Rommel's plan is to rebuild his Dwadge  by salvaging anything he can from the desert and the scrapyard just outside of town.  They set out in the tanker and scour the sands, searching for the wreckage left over from the battle.  One day, they are out many kilometers past familiar territory.  Over a dune they see it half buried in the sand.  An MS-06K Zaku Cannon, probably from the early days of the invasion in the One Year War.  They approach cautiously...

It's been out here for almost ten years, and is pretty banged up.  Nothing is salvageable due to exposure from the elements.  Rommel instead orders to leave it be.  The Zeon Remnants Remnants make a cross from some rusted metal as a marker to the unknown soldier.  The tanker moves on.  Eventually they have collected bits and pieces from all the six destroyed Desert Zaku's (making a cross at each site), and a good chunk of the Dwadge.  Back at the scrapyard, work has already begun on the new mobile suit.  It is hard work in the heat with only a handful of men and limited resources; even Niki's son helps as vengeance is on his mind too.  (Don't tell him...).  It takes another six years, but at the end of it all, a large, formidable mobile suit stands ready for battle!  Behold the MS-09RR Junkyard Dwadge!

It is now UC 0095.  It has taken longer than expected to rebuild Rommel's Dwadge, but hopefully his adversary is still alive somewhere.  During the reconstruction, spies were sent to neighboring towns and cities to find any information they could on the Z Gundam pilot.  Also lots of time spent on the radio between other Zeon factions.  Eventually they get a name, Judau Ashta.  He is now 21 and working around Jupiter somewhere.  Rommel records a message and transmits it 24/7.

Judau Ashta

Meet me at (a set of coordinates in North Africa)

Rommel

And so he waits.  A few months pass, and then a simple reply over the radio:

I'm coming....

Judea is piloting an older Core Booster and is now approaching Earth.  He remembers the battle of 0088 and recognizes the location.  He descends over Africa and out in the middle of the desert, a small town appears.  He has arrived.

Judau circles the area searching for Rommel.  No one is answering his transmissions, and the air is heavy in Minovsky particles.  But Rommel is nearby watching the skies, partially buried in the sand, and sees the fighter fly overhead with his good eye.  Almost there....

Without warning, Rommel lets loose a volley of projectiles from his custom 430mm 'Brat Buster'!  But being a New Type, Ashta dodges the surprise attack easily and continues circling.  His Core Booster only has one weapon, and Judau does not want to use it.  This war has gone on far too long.  (It's at this point, Dear Readers, where I'm afraid you'll have to use your imagination to fill in the rest of this altercation, as I didn't do any photographs of the battle).

Try as he might, Rommel can't shoot him down.  The missiles, the big cannon, the 120mm, Judau evades them all.  "Fight me you coward!" screams Rommel as his Dwadge skims madly across the sand in pursuit.  "I don't want to fight you," pleads Judau, "I just want to talk!"  This goes on for several more minutes, until Rommel sees the core booster suddenly spiral in and land a kilometer away in the desert.  Is it a trap?  When he arrives at the landing zone, Judau is out of his fighter and on the sand, exposed and unarmed, with his arms raised.

"Last time we fought, I called you rash", says Judau.  "I gave you the opportunity to walk away, but you didn't.  You left me no choice!  We can now make amends and you can have a new life away from all this.  No one has to die today!"  How can he fire on an unarmed man.  He is still a kid despite the war, but he does talk too much...

"You and your meddling kids took everything from me!  My men, my home, my honour!" rebukes Rommel.  It would be so easy to blast his ass and shut him up for good.  "Talk is what lost us the war when those cowards surrendered our forces 15 years ago!"  

(And now, Dear Readers, I'm going to ask you for another favor.   I can't decide how I want to end the story, so I will let you decide from the options I present to you now!)

Option 01:

There is a long silence; nothing happens.  The quiet of the desert is broken by a loud click and the pilot's hatch on the Dwadge opens.  Rommel descends to the desert.  He limps over to Judau, and stands 10 meters from him.  They glare at each other for a time, then Rommel speaks.  "I can never forgive you; I will always hate you for who you are and what you did to my Corps.  I salute you today for your bravery, but if we ever meet again, I will not hesitate to kill you!"  Judau smiles and returns the salute.  "I can only say I am truly sorry for what I did and hope someday you can find peace."  The two warriors eye each other for a little while longer and then they both turn and head back to their machines.  Rommel watches from the Dwadge as Judau disappears into the sky.  Without his vengeance and rage, what is an old soldier left to do...?

Option 02:

There is a long silence; nothing happens.  The quiet of the desert is broken by a loud click.  Judau is horrified; that sound was the main cannon activating!!!  He doesn't even have time to lower his arms before Rommel fires the large gun.  Rommel screams in rage as he empties the magazine.  Before him now is a large crater and smoking wreckage where a Core Booster and a naive & idealistic individual stood only minutes ago.  He begins to sob.  What has his rage accomplished.  Is he a coward for shooting an unarmed man?  Is there any honour left in me?  Rommel stares at his handiwork for hours until the sun sets behind the dunes.  He then returns back to the town.  But one thing he does not realize is that the towns people and his remaining men have been watching all this from afar.  Perhaps there will be one more casualty today...

The End - Roll the Credits!

Part 2: Junkyard Dwadge, Core Booster, and a Rusty Hulk in the Sand!

Junkyard Dwadge

This project was never meant to be another production, but as per usual, the concept and scope went out of control.   Since it was going to be built from all sorts of bits & pieces salvaged from across the local desert, (Frankenstein style), I utilized the original 1/144 MS-09G Dwadge from 1986.  I also had an even older original MSV Desert DOM in 1/100.  No HG or snap kits here folks; just good old 20th century modeling!

Besides the two basic kits, there was going to be a lot of other mecha parts thrown in.  Armour & tank greeblies, left overs bits from other mecha kits, assorted plastic shapes, and salvage from previous models built many years ago all found their way into the mobile suit.  It took several weeks of scrounging and trial & error, until a final model was partially assembled on the workbench.

The primary mecha is a hybrid of the two kits.  I wanted a very chunky mobile suit with recognizable and unfamiliar parts.  Remember it is built from whatever was found in the desert, and other bits & pieces from the village junkyard (which unfortunately was not seen in the original episode, but trust me, it's there...).  I did end up 3D printing one part though, the head.  I found the kit versions too bulbous, so I did some modifications to a Thingiverse file of a Dom Tropen.  It looks much better.
  

Long term visitors to this site should recognize some familiar well used parts.  Two eggs; a Zaini and classic Kinder Egg.  Plus 3 toothbrush covers which make up the back pack.  That black 'skirt' under the orange egg is actually part of a dead computer mouse.  The yellow shoulder is from a cheap dollar store toy dump truck.  

That blue rectangle (which holds spare weapons and a missile launcher), was made from two 'Zoids' utility knife cases.  (In the story they are old ammo crates).  With all the parts ready to go, it was prime time.

Choosing a colour scheme slowed me down a bit.  Since it is built from junkyard parts, I was going to go with a very rusty appearance all round, but thought it too extreme in the end.  Next I repainted it in my favourite desert yellow, but I felt I was stuck in a rut, so went instead with various degrees of medium & dark green, muted red accents and rust effects.  I think I chose wisely...

The greens and the various tones of rust work well together, with the added shades of gun metals & metallics on the weaponry.  Lately I have also been using brass and bronze for accents, and of course for the ammo belt.

As per usual, I neglected to keep a record of the painting and weathering processes.  Nothing really new here, just the same old paints (mostly acrylics), dry brushing, pastels & pigments, and various washes.  

I had to glue the model to a wooden base because it is so heavy and off-balance I can't stand up on its own.

The 430mm rapid-fire cannon "Brat Buster" was made from various tank parts and the giant bazooka from the 1/100 kit.  There is also a pen for the muzzle.  The ammo chain is something I had in the parts box, and there is a 120mm machine gun slung under the barrel.  

Other weapons include a standard giant bazooka, beam sabre, and missile launcher attached to the large shield.  Spare ammo for the 120mm can be seen inside the shield in some angles.  Inside the knees are smoke grenades and crackers. You notice those tank treads on the mech and shield?  I got that idea from "Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance" Episode 3 'Junkyard'.  (The town scrapyard had some busted up Magella tanks, so tread links were salvaged and welded on for extra armour).  

The intakes on the lower legs for the ground hovering engines is more akin to a Dom Tropen (from 0083), but in an issue of 'Gundam Mechanics' I saw where a basic MS-09 had been retro fit.  (Makes sense as the Tropen predates the Dwadge.  That's the problem with prequels, sequels, and side stories).  The final feature was the phrase "Sieg Zeon" on the rear skirt.  Nothing like nostalgia!

And that is the story of the Junkyard Dawg; sorry, Junkyard Dwadge!  (See what I did there...?).  I had planned on doing a Desert Zaku rebuild/salvage as well to back up Commander Rommel, but opted instead to simplify things.  

Zaku Wreckage 

To build the second model, I used a very old Zaku kit (from the original 0079 series), which was in the 'Second Life' box, the afore mentioned collection of kits built way back in the '80s.  Making this was a nice change.  After I posed it, I used a Dremel and distressed the #$@% out of it!  It was hot glued to a slab of foam core as it was to be buried in the sand for the photo shoot.  The model was then ready for priming.

Now I could go crazy with rust!  Various tones of reds and browns using the sponge method, applying pigments & pastels, and then a quick black wash.  

Some of you keen-eyed mecha fans out there may recognize the influence for this model.  It is based on the wreckage of Combat Armour Dougram, from another '80s mecha series "Fang of the Sun Dougram".  It is a nod to the mechanical designer on both Gundam 0079 and Dougram, Kunio Okawara.  

Judau's Core Booster

The main point of this fake episode was the rematch between Ashta and Rommel.  I had to decide what kind of machine Judau would choose for this confrontation.  Should it be in the Z Gundam as before, or a different advanced/current mobile suit, as this battle is taking place 7 years later in UC 0095?   I opted for a peaceful approach (as Judau is not coming to fight, only to apologize...), and settled on a Core Booster, albeit an older model, with minimal weaponry.  Luckily I had the original Bandai 1/144 Core Booster from 0079 in the warehouse...

I did not want to build it stock (at this point I don't think I'm capable of doing so anyway...).  After a search on the internet for variations on the subject,  I settled on the FF-X7-Bst II Core Booster II Interceptor (quite a mouthful) from "Gundam:  MS IGLOO", yet another prequel series.  Basically built right out of the box with minimal modifications.  Just added some extra fins, tanks large & small, and a few greeblies here and there.  Only a few evenings work and it was ready for prime time.

Not much different to show with the primer.  A few more evenings of paint, mostly by brush.  I wanted to stick to mostly light greys and blue tones, as red had been used a lot in the other two previous models, but I still managed to sneak it nonetheless!

Red oxide for the large propellant tanks, Space Shuttle style!  All the boosters came from the original kit and the leftovers parts from the two DOM kits used for the Dwadge.  Painted them in dark metallic grey.

Only one gun on this ship, as it's supposed to be a peaceful confrontation, or so Judau thinks....  The final stage in finishing were some light washes to bring out the details and the streaking was made using pigments and pastels.  

The remaining piece was a figure of Judau in space suit (which you can see in the official episode photos above).  It was made using a British N scale figure, which is 1/148 scale.  Very convenient!

Part Three: Epilogue

So, did you choose wisely, or did you choose poorly?  (Don't tell me...)  In closing, it was a fun project and I was able to use up some more models in the inventory and parts box.  I'll try not to wait another five months for the next post, whatever that will be.  Last pic of the day, a behind the scenes of how I did the photos for the main story.  Yep, that's real sand!

Have a Better One, Readers!

Space: 2022 - Episode Twelve

 "Even in space, be sure to get a receipt!"

Hot on the heels of my last post a few days ago, I have another "Alternate Anderson" adaption of a Year Two episode.  I was working on the guest model for this installment about the same time as I was "tweaking" the previous three episodes (9-10-11), so I guess I did lie about the paint fumes...

Tonight I am altering "The Taybor", a rather weak story about a travelling salesman & con man.  Found it hard to watch while reviewing the story structure for this post, but wasn't that basically what most of Season Two was like?  I'll get into that later, and of course the history and construction of the guest model.  So hide your debit cards and enjoy!

The PHOENIX is cruising along, minding its own business, when suddenly it is enveloped in (yet another...) psychedelic light show,  but this time it has a (very loud) soundtrack to accompany it.  "What is that noise", shouts Alan over the music.  "It's 'The Star and Stripes Forever' " replies VICTOR, "an old American marching song!"  Who the hell out here would be playing that?  "Ahoy there Skipper", booms over the radio.  "Quite an entrance don't you think?"  They are all perplexed as to who or what is playing an Earth song.  The swirling colours disperse, normal space briefly returns, and then another coloured vortex appears directly in front of them, revealing a bizarre spaceship.  "Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Taybor the Trader, formerly Colonel Taylor Borazon of the United States Air Force!  My ship is the S.S. Emporium, and I have many interesting things to offer you!  Permission to come aboard?"  "Granted", replies Alan, although somewhat reluctantly.

There is a flash of colour, and a middle-aged, somewhat portly gentlemen appears on the bridge, dressed in a loose fitting robe.  Alan goes to shake his hand, but there is no substance.  "You'll have to settle for a hologram for now, Skipper", says Taybor.  "My ship is unable to dock with your fine vessel, and getting into a space suit is not as easy as it used to be!"  "Your ship, looks like an old space shuttle from the 20th century", asks VICTOR.  "Right you are, sir!  But I have made many modifications since then!"  "We have no record of you or your flight, Colonel" asks Alan.  "Yes, it was supposed to be that way.  Guess you all deserve an explanation."  The Taybor recounts his story.

It was 1987, and war was raging on Earth.  Col. Borazon and two others were dispatched in an unregistered military shuttle to deploy an orbital atomic weapon, despite a global treaty banning such actions.  The shuttle was hit by a rogue magnetic wave, and the nuke detonated, vaporizing the shuttle and all aboard.  "I woke up I don't know how long later," states Taybor, but the rest of my crew was gone.  Perhaps it was because I happened to be in a space suit, but the others weren't so fortunate.  The shuttle was badly damaged but functional.  I had no idea where or when I was, I just know I was lucky somehow.  I limped along for months, rationing what food and water I had left, and by some miracle encountered a desolate planet.  But on this rock was, of all things, a huge scrapyard of ships from God knows where!"  Able to land the ship, he met the Junkman, who over the course of several months, helped rebuild his ship.  "This is quite the story", says Alan.  "Why don't you join us for dinner later?  Tell us more if you feel up to it.  We don't entertain many visitors from Earth very often!  I'm sure we have some items on the menu you haven't had in a while."  "I will partake of your table and hospitality, Skipper!", and the Taybor hologram vanishes.  The Emporium adjusts its course and pulls up along side the PHOENIX.  Guess who's coming to dinner?

A few hours later, Taybor emerges from the main airlock in his EVA suit.  It is like his ship, familiar but with a lot of modifications.  He is rather casually dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and sandals.  "I don't get out much these days", he says to Alan,  "Best I can do on short notice!"  Alan escorts him to the dining area in the spinning habitat module.  Already seated is Maya, Helena, Tony, and John.  VICTOR is present on a wall screen.  Taybor sits next to Maya.  Over a simple meal of hydroponic veggies, paired with a nice Pinot Noir (which was to have been for the post launch celebration that never happened...), Taybor recounts more of his tale, and the other guests exchange stories of their last months in space as well.  Listening intently to Maya's tragic tale; Taybor has become quite smitten with her, and places his hand on her knee.  "A sign of friendship", he says to her and winks.  

"So how did you become an outer space travelling salesman?"  asks John.  "I had to find a way to support myself.  As no doubt you have discovered, there is very little charity out here."  Taybor has been peddling for 10 years.  "I can offer you many exotic items.  Here is my catalogue."  Col Borazon produces an iridescent dodecahedron.  "Touch any side!"  Tony is first.  He presses a surface and a hologram of an item appears above.  "Just scroll through until you find something you like!"  The other guests watch too.  "But I can offer you more than just trinkets," says Taybor.  "I have gravity generators to stop you from floating around in here, matter converters to make food, parts to modify your ship, and of course weapons!"   Tony suddenly interrupts, as he recognizes something he was not expecting.  "Colonel, you have Coca-Cola!?  How is that possible?"  Taybor replies "It's surprisingly very popular out here, and I get it directly from the source!"  The guests are speechless.  "Oh, did I forget to tell you, Skipper?  I know the exact location of Earth!"

Questions fly in from all directions.  (I'll synopsize).  The cylindrical object above the fuselage on Taybor's ship is a hyperspace generator, superior to the Q-Drive in many ways.  It can operate for several days, fuel is derived from interstellar gases, and travel is almost instantaneous.  They could finally get home, but as the conversation progresses, (like any good thing), there is a catch.  "I have to make a living, Skipper", says Taybor.  "I can sell you the plans and the parts; I have everything in stock!  I can even offer my know how to help you to put it all together.  The cherry on top will be the ultimate location of Earth!"  But it's been a long night, and Taybor hasn't had this much wine in a very long time.  It's a long wibbly wobbly walk back to the airlock.  Taybor suits up, and returns to the Emporium.

The previous night's conversation continues on the bridge, with command staff and Taybor communicating through his hologram again.  "If you can get back to Earth, why do you stay out here?" asks Alan.  "Why?  I like it out here!  I've made a good life for myself with lots of satisfied and repeat customers."  So what is this venture going to cost?  Taybor recommends they inventory a list of all they have, which will hopefully include something he needs or wants.  "As a sign of good faith," says the Colonel, "I'll throw in this map of the galaxy with locations of a few friendly planets, free of charge!"  Another dodecahedron of orange perspex materializes on a nearby console.  It's a start...  "When you have compiled your list, have Maya bring it over to my ship.  Be sure to include a bottle of that grape juice as a sign of your good faith!   She can also inspect my hyperdrive and see how it all works."

Maya reluctantly suits up and heads for Taybor's ship.  The inner door opens and the Colonel is beaming.  "Hi", he says, with a bit of a leer.  But Maya is all business.  "Here is the manifest you asked for, and the wine too.  Now please, just show me the hyperdrive..."  "Oh patience, Maya.  Relax and let me show you around.  I rarely get visitors in my ship."  Maya agrees and Taybor shows her around the ship.  It is a bit tatty, with rubbish, crates and other items piled everywhere, but she holds her tongue.  "Somewhat cramped, isn't it?" she asks.  "Big enough for one," says Taybor.  "I also converted the old ESA lab into a bachelor apartment, so it could easily hold two..."  Maya whirls around just in time to see a sinister smirk on the Colonels' face.  He snaps his fingers three times, and suddenly the ship starts to shimmer.  It was a ruse all along.  From the bridge of the PHOENIX, they see the Emporium engulfed in a rainbow haze, and the ship disappears.

"I told you not to trust him!" rages Tony "He had no intention in helping us.  He was after Maya all along!"  But this is all academic now.  Maya has been kidnapped and there is absolutely no way to find her.  "They could be half way across the galaxy by now!"  an obvious statement by Carter.  But they need ideas, and fast.  "I think I may have a way..." says Tony.  "We can use Psyche to track her!  It's the best bloodhound in the universe!"  Maya had been teaching Tony how to copilot her ship.  Since the craft is operated by psychic waves, it would have a pattern of Maya's brain patterns.  "Fraser, link your navigation to Maya's ship and let it do the driving!"  Psyche is piloting now, and activates the Q-Drive.  

"Return me at once, Taybor!"  Maya is furious.  "That's no way for a bride to act on her wedding day!" replies Taybor.  "Just think!  We can cruise the galaxy together as Mr. and Mrs. Taybor!  I can take you places you couldn't possibly imagine!  I will shower you with jewels and gifts.  And maybe, someday, we might find those missing Psychons out there, including your brother!"  "The price is too high," replies Maya, "You leave me no choice!"  Taybors' eyes bulge out of his sockets as Maya turns into a very large dog, a Great Dane to be precise!  She chases him and he locks himself inside his 'apartment'.  "You never said you were a transmorph!"  says the Colonel through some heavy breathing.  But Taybor is now realizing he may have hit the jackpot; Maya could become other woman for him.  He licks his lips at the thought...  All he has to do is convince her.  "I'm not coming out until you change back!  I can stay in here for days and there is no way you can take control of my ship!"  Maya surrenders for now, and the Colonel opens the door.  She has to think of some other way out of this.  "Much better Maya.  You should never deny me your beauty!"  I think she may have a weapon there...

The PHOENIX, controlled by Psyche, is hot on the trail and is pushing the ship to it's limits.  "We only have seven minutes before we have to shut down the drive..." warns Alan.  

Beauty.  That's the key!   Maya has an idea.  She transforms into another woman, just as Taybor had wanted.  But instead, she has become a grotesque mirror of the colonel.  Short and plump, she rushes to embrace him.  "I will stay with you, Taybor!  As a female reflection of you!  We will live and love together, forever!"  "Arrgh!  Noooo!" screams Taybor.  "Please change back!  I can offer you the entire universe!"  But Maya won't have it.  She laughs hysterically while Taybor begins to wimper in the corner.  Suddenly, a voice booms over the radio.  "Taybor, surrender and release Maya immediately!"  Seems he has no choice but to comply.

Maya returns to the PHOENIX.  "You can keep the bottle." she says to Taybor as she exits his ship.  Tony embraces her when she arrives, and Alan opens up a channel.  "It would appear our transaction is null and void." he says to the colonel. "I trust our paths will never cross again?"   "No problem there, Skipper.  You're not worth the trouble."  The Emporium shimmers  and vanishes, and the gift of the galactic map disappears too.  "Typical" mutters Alan.  "Oh I wouldn't worry about it much, dear Alan." assures VICTOR, "I happened to make a holographic copy of it while it was on the ship!"  The crew are all smiles as the Q-drive is activated.

Hidden in hyperspace, Colonel Taylor Borazon (ret) watches as the PHOENIX disappears into the void.  He is livid.  "You think you won, Maya?  It's a big universe, and I found you once.  You will be mine, someday...."  

Epilogue

Quite different from the original transmitted episode, wasn't it readers?  It's an average episode, typical of Year Two, and after this retelling, I doubt I will ever watch it again.  I did not like the character of Taybor (as portrayed by Willoughby Goddard).  He was too much of a buffoon and he did not project enough of a threat to the Alphans as he was supposed to, but they fell for it anyway.  Maya, although rather central to the story, sat there most of the time barely reacting to the situation.  Was she a robot already?  And that was another plot device which came out of nowhere.  When (or where) did Helena acquire the skills to build an android?  Did the robots on Vega (One Moment of Humanity) teach her the skills during the ad breaks, and did she salvage the spare parts when they all blew their fuse at the end of that episode?  I know it wasn't supposed to be an exact duplicate, but she did manage to create an adequate sex doll.

The trading of trinkets throughout the episode was unnecessary for my adaption, and were omitted.  It was basically meet up with (yet another) lost Earth mission and the conflict arising therein. Having 'one their own' screw them over was better for the plot.  Just because we are all from Earth doesn't mean we are going to get along.  The reason for the Americanization of the Taybor character is because the ship used was an American space vehicle.  See next section for more info.  In the original episode, Taybor was the character's name, but since he was changed to an Earthman, I again made another alteration.  Taylor (for the first 3 letters), and Borazon (for the last 3 letters).  I liked the word borazon (its just an industrial abrasive by the way), but I first heard it way back in 1971 when it was mentioned in the film "Quatermass and the Pit".  It was apt too, as in "You're a hard man, Taylor, just like your name!" as Alan said during negotiations.  

Recasting for the role I had to come up with a portly American actor working in the UK at the time (remember this fake series was filmed in the fake mid 70's at fake Pinewood), and then I remembered William Hootkins.  That's right, good old Jek Porkins!  He had the range to pull it off, based on several other roles I had seen him in, and not just as Red 6.

Fun fact:  What some of you out there may not know, was that "Star Wars" was filming around the same time as they were doing Year Two.  So many guests stars on the show were played by "Star Wars" veterans.  Actors such as Angus MacInnes, Richard LeParmentier, and even the dark one himself, David Prowse.  Plus several more; you can look it up if you want to know who.  

Well, that about wraps it up for "The Taybor".  I have more to rant about for Year Two, but that is for another blogg when I chop up scripts to make more fake episodes.  I have taken up a lot of your time already, but feel free to move on to the next section where I relate the story of the making of the guest model.  

Building the S.S. Emporium

The concept for this model came about 15 years ago.  It was Christmas 2011, and I received the gift I had hoped for, 'Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss'.  240 glorious glossy pages of his art and his history in a 10"x12" hardcover.  (I have also been knighted him by the way, so from now it's Sir Chris!).  My favourite SF artist; I already had his previous two art books.  I politely excused myself, and curled up on the couch by the wood stove.  Many of his paintings I had already seen, but there were still many more I hadn't.  And when I got to the end of the film concept art section, (which included Dune, Alien, and Superman), I noticed several images from a movie I had never heard of.  It was called "Die Sturzflieger", a German sci-fi comedy made in 1995.  I know nothing of the story, but I did know there was extensive miniature work done for the film.  There was a sketch and photo of the hero ship, the 'Kowalski Cargo', which was built from a Space Shuttle.

I knew absolutely nothing about this film;  I couldn't find any reference to it on the net at the time.  I just knew I was going to build it someday.  So after Christmas, I found a 1/144 Revell kit of the Space Shuttle somewhere.  It was put in the model warehouse all safe and sound in a large cardboard box with dozens of other future projects.  Until a month ago, when the parts bag was finally opened.

As to when or why I conceived this bizarre shuttle to be part of my fake "Space: 2022" series, I have no idea.  As it was a cargo vessel; I eventually decided to use it as the guest model when I 'altered' the episode you have just read.  But just doing the model as in the German film would not be enough; it would be a homage, and not a replica. I also wanted to integrate elements from the original 'Taybor' miniature.  A Bastard from Outer Space it was to be!  Here is the original Taybor model from the episode.  Apparently is was 30" tall but it didn't do much beyond the view you see now.  

It was the paint job I was most interested in duplicating.  But where to find references and photos for the shuttle conversion beyond Sir Chris's book?  Searching on the net I did find a documentary on the miniatures for "Sturzflieger" on YouTube.  But the best resource came from a modelling site in Germany.  Two chaps make up 'Katanga Models', and they have built many models from not just "Sturzflieger", but from other major and familiar series as well.  I referenced their photos of their 'Kowalski Cargo' models to aid in the building of my version; I am indebted to them.  I highly recommend you visit their site!

The first 'shifts' were for scrounging, digging through all those bankers boxes and totes, finding all the right greeblies & other model parts, lids, plumbing fittings, and other assorted items which were about to be reborn.  I spent about two weeks assembling this 3D collage.  I even used some left over 3D printed parts.  Once happy with the final assembly, one last look, and then it was prime time.

As usual, I neglected to keep a photo record of the next steps.  Paint used were various rattlers from several sources, and primarily acrylics from again many sources.  For weathering I used washes, pastels & pigments, dry brushing, and the graphics came from surplus decals (the original decals fell apart due to age).  All that was about another two weeks of work.  And as you can see from the final model, it is not my typical colour palette...

Most of the kit was built right out of the box, although some areas and/or parts were a little worn from over-manufacturing.  I had a tail fin from another shuttle kit in the parts box, so I decided to split the tail otherwise the blast from the hyperspace motor would vaporize it!

The hyperspace engine was made from some plumbing fittings and greeblies.  The forward section was actually the ESA lab from the model.  The flexible pipe is a long coil spring.

Most of the pipework is repurposed sprue, the nicer ones with the curved corners.  Also used some styrene tubes.  The bulk of the pipes is in the engine core, but there are some on the underside which you can view later when I flip the model over!

That's a lot of boosters!  Final total is 12.  (There are 4 on the underside for lift)  I figured there may be times when the Colonel would have to get out of a failed transaction in quite a hurry!  

Some keen eyes may have noticed some blue patches on the shuttle.  One above there on the starboard wing, the other on the port side.  Just some hastily repaired damage from a dissatisfied customer!

I had originally planned to do more flame effects, but I think just having it at the front was enough.  Otherwise it would have been way to busy.  The flames were painted by hand; no decals.

Scale of the model is 1/144.  It is about 10" in length.  The PHOENIX is 1/96 scale but it shouldn't be a problem as we can adjust them optically in post!

I used a radial motor from some old WW2 airplane model.  That's how the hyperspace engine works.  The magnetic swirl sucks in all the interstellar gasses, which is why it has almost unlimited range.

I kept the underside detail rather sparse, as it wasn't going to be viewed much from underneath.  Just some greeblies and the four boosters.  Some skid plates made from textured styrene sheet.  At least here you can see the rear cargo door.  The lower hull section is half of a battleship hull.

Final rear view showing the cargo door again.  Most of Taybor's transactions were done on planets, and not in space.

And there it was, the Space Shuttle Emporium!  A 1940's hot rod in outer space complete with stylized flames!  Will Colonel Borazon return?  That's one thing "1999" did not have, a recurring villain or adversary!  We are now half way through the season; 12 episodes to go...

Have a better one!