GOLD AND SILVER MODEL DROIDS CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF STAR WARS

SMN report:

Coming up soon is the 35th anniversary of Star Wars Episiode IV: A New Hope, the first movie in the epic science-fiction movie saga, first shown on May 25, 1977. We’ve been fans ever since experiencing that mighty roar of an Imperial Star Destroyer sliding down the screen after the text-crawl intro, one of the best movie-openers ever made. Now here’s your chance to buy a bit of history, in the form of precious-metal miniatures of the famed robotic pair, 3PO and R2D2.

Droids ahead

Over the years there have been hundreds (if not thousands) or kits and collectibles, toys and trivia, all celebrating the famed science-fiction series. And two of the best-known names from Star Wars are the the two robots or droids: the tall, golden C3PO and the tubby little R2D2.

Display dome

The movie’s maker, Lucasfilms, has licensed the collectible to end all collectibles - a pair of 1:35 scale miniature droids, one coated in gold, the other silver. And each is placed inside its own glass display dome, for an excellent dust-proof presentation.

Cost considerations

These droids are hardly cheap, as they are designed to be a highly limited pair - scale: 1:35, weight: 35 gr (1.2 oz), edition: 35. It’s a pity the prices don’t more nearly match those numbers though, as the silver R2D2 costs some $1800 USD, the gold C3PO more than triple that, at $6000 USD.

Summation

These look a terrific little pair of collectibles, and we love the military model scale, but the price means they won’t arrive for decoration-duty in SMN Towers. A pity - still, at least we’ve left the way open for a hard-core Star Wars fan who wants to complete a collection.

Star Wars kits and collectibles here.

There’s more

SMN is a screen-only read, yet the desktop computer itself dates back only to that first Star Wars year, for the Apple II and Commodore PET computers (below) were both launched in 1977. They were state of the art machines, yet had small mono screens and no mouse, for the plastic rodent wasn’t yet a part of the mainstream computing landscape.

LEGO IN SPACE - ASTRONAUT BUILDS MODEL ISS IN ORBIT

SMN report:

After posting news on LEGO’s upcoming R2D2 last week, we were sent a link to LEGO in space, for real this time. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) recently assembled a one-off model as part of an education linkup between the space agency NASA and the Danish LEGO company.

Japanese space builder

Building a Lego model in the weightless conditions of the ISS wasn’t exactly child’s play, as untended bricks would float around, free to clog up vital vents and hatches. Also, plastics can be a fire-risk, especially if they drift close to warm machinery. So, the solution adopted by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa was to build the biggish - 600 mm (24 in) - Lego ISS using a scientific glovebox. Inside the transparent walls of the box went the Lego bricks, while Furukawa built his model using special manipulator gloves, a bit like the Marigolds used for kitchen sink washing-up duties.

Floating away

Furukawa managed to complete the Lego build in only two hours or so - a far cry from the dozen years the real thing took to assemble. Mind you, the ISS is nearly 110 m (360 ft) long and took the combined efforts of a dozen countries to put together! When the model was built, Furukawa took it out of the glovebox and used it in a series of educational videos, beamed down to school classrooms back on Earth. 

Fragile model

The finished model floated about nicely in the micro-gravity environment of the ISS, but was a fragile thing that would have not have survived a return to Earth, where it would most likely have collapsed under the gravity pull here. After the show was over, Furukawa took the ISS model apart, and stored the pieces safely away.

More models

The ISS was just one of a number that Furukawa built in orbit. He also built Lego models of Moon and Mars rovers, the Hubble Space telescope, and a GPS satellite. Lego has a strong presence with its Space range, and it’s worth having a look, especially if you know some younger space enthusiasts.

Summation

The mini-ISS was a one-off model, designed for the NASA-Lego linkup, and it’s a pity that Lego don’t do an Earth-gravity version. The best bet if you want a decent model of the ISS comes from Revell, which makes a 1:144 scale version, shown below. 

Visit the Lego space collection here.

Heaps of Lego space stuff here.

Revell 1:144 scale ISS here.

Heads-up on LEGO in space courtesy Martin Postranecky, University College, London.

STAR WARS R2D2 - LEGO MEGA-MODEL COMING SOON

SMN update:

Here’s the LEGO take on the company’s upcoming Star Wars release: “Presenting the iconic R2-D2 as you've never seen him before! Everyone's favorite droid from the Star Wars galaxy is now part of the Ultimate Collector Series and features fantastic detailing, such as retractable third leg, front panels that open to reveal a universal computer interface arm and a circular saw, rotating head...”

More details

Whoa, there LEGO, your PR department sounds like it’s had too many energy drinks: “... and two fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms. With the included fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure, this diminutive model is the perfect addition to your LEGO® Star Wars™ collection!”

Designing a new LEGO kit

Still, as avid Star Wars fans since the first movie soared across the silver screen back in 1977, we have to agree with LEGO that the little bot is definitely: “the best-loved droid in the Star Wars galaxy!” As you’ll see from the LEGO YouTube video (below) a lot of thought goes into producing a new kit.

Ace kit, high price

The R2D2 kit looks fantastic actually, with a humongously-huge 2127 parts-count that builds to make a detailed robot, standing more than 310 mm (12 in) high. It’s not cheap mind, with a US price starting at $179.99 USD (£149.99 GBP) which makes it a rich dad or confirmed Star Wars fan purchase - no wonder LEGO targets it at ages 16-plus. The LEGO R2D2 arrives in May 2012.

LEGO Star Wars R2D2 stats (exclamations courtesy LEGO):
• Measures over 12″ (31 cm) high and 7″ (18 cm) wide!
• Features retractable third leg!
• Front panels open to reveal a universal computer interface arm and circular saw!
• Features realistic rotating head!
• R2-D2 features 2 fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms!
• Includes fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure!
• Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2™!

Nifty blueprint of R2D2 (above) from The Official Star Wars Blog here.

LEGO Space site here.

More LEGO Star wars stuff here.

DESIGNER ADDS A CRUTCHBOT TO THE ROBOT HORDES

Science fiction fans generally have something of a love affair with robots. Whether they are small and helpful (R2D2), tall and shiny (C3PO), or deadly enemies (Transformer Decepticons), there seems to be just ‘something’ about a mechanical man that appeals, even more so if it’s a dangerous clockwork killer. And in Texas, designer-photographer Adam Voorhes has joined in robomania with the damaged machine-man shown above (top), its mobility-aid an old-fashioned wooden crutch under the arm. Adam’s even given a title to his creation: ‘Something seems to be missing’...

Japan is ground-zero for robotics, both real and fictional, and robo-culture there is sometimes obsessed with them. Magazines such as the excellent Hobby Japan run big features, and Euro-comics such as the UK’s 2000AD run strips based on robo-themes. The diorama here shows an excellent ABC Warrior from the strip of the same name, wreaking havoc while on display at a model show.

We recently reported on the T700 robot to 1:18 scale which came with the Terminator Hunter-Killer robo-flyer. But of course the small-scale T700 is just one of a seemingly endless horde of robots on sale, any of which would look great in a sci-fi based diorama. Some of the bigger ones are on offer at massive post-Christmas discounts, so it’s worth hunting around to see what’s available, meantime the T800 endoskeleton (bottom pic) is generally available in stores and online.

Visit Adam Voorhes here.

Terminator robots are available here.

And you can see more robots here.