Sculpting a Galaxy : review

[DARKSIDE72]

It's an ok book as far as a few nice photographs. Nothing is really new or revealing to a model maker however, this aspect of the book really stunk IMO. The PT junk took up too much of the book just as the 365 days book did. I wanted to see something different and new I guess, something with better photographs of the models and ILM creating the models in the shop. :thumbsdown

 

[Dymerski]

Yup...stinks. no insite in to anything..... some of the pics are soooo blurry. :cry

 

[KevVader]

:$ ...jeez...I got mine a few days ago and I really like it. One of the few Star Wars books that I will actually read. Maybe because I'm not as familiar with the SS stuff....but I'm really enjoying it.

 

[cobywan]

I loved the shots from the SE A New Hope that were labeled as model work.

 

[BobFett]

I agree. This book blows.

 

[GKvfx]

Well, it was never intended to rival the "Chronicles" book. It's an art book. The kind you would get if the models were on display at a high end art museum and you bought one of their exhibit catalogs. Also, take a look at the "Dressing A Galaxy" book and the other titles in the publisher's line. This is exactly the type of book they put out. Personally, I think of these miniatures as works of art in their own right (as do many RPF'ers), so the book fits that bill nicely.

But it is most definately not a Model Builder's Reference Guide type book. Though I did notice a few things in the extreme closeups that I didn't notice before.

Would I like to see a "365 Days.." sized book exclusively on the ILM modelshop? You bet. But I really like the way this book was laid out - both in format and in the chapters. As far as I'm concerned, there's room on the bookshelf for both..........

OK - stepping off the soapbox -

Ironically, most of the stuff the really hardcore model guys (I'm one....) want to see will be included on the DVD. I managed to get a sneak preview of it. It runs about 60 minutes total. Part of that (20 minutes or so) is comprised of some of the web documentaries from the prequels. I've been told that some of them weren't included on the prequel DVD's, so they are new-ish. The bulk of the disk is a series of slideshows that are narrated by Lorne. The slides cover the establishment of ILM, the modelshop, filming, and life at ILM in general. I'd say there are something like 500 or so slides total, about half of which pertain directly to the models (the rest cover the people who worked there, some other off hours activities, and the move up to San Rafael). That is almost exclusively Ep. IV as well - not much on Empire and nothing on Jedi.

The Limited Edition won't be out for another month or so I've been told. Apart from the DVD, and another book on the digital models from Ep's II & III, the book itself is pretty much the same. There are some other gatefolds with new content, but the bulk of the book is the same as the version out now. I haven't seen that version. I'm hoping we can have one at the booksigning, but we'll just have to wait and see........

GK

 

[ralphee]

Well on that note i have to say im glad i dropped my order to the std version, had real high hopes for this, bit of a dampener really, really wanted some new pics of the Nebulon B too :cry

lee

 

[DARKSIDE72]

Well is should have rivaled the Chronicles. The way the book was made each model should have had four pages covering it's construction etc, followed by detailed pictures in the gate/foldout.

If someone gets the DVD they should break it down into hi rez captures, sell them for $50 a pop and make up the costs for the overpriced special edition really quick. :angel I'd be happy to pay for those slides, that is of course if they are any good.



<div class='quotetop'>(GKvfx @ Nov 17 2006, 08:40 PM) [snapback]1360248[/snapback]</div>

Well, it was never intended to rival the "Chronicles" book. It's an art book. The kind you would get if the models were on display at a high end art museum and you bought one of their exhibit catalogs. Also, take a look at the "Dressing A Galaxy" book and the other titles in the publisher's line. This is exactly the type of book they put out. Personally, I think of these miniatures as works of art in their own right (as do many RPF'ers), so the book fits that bill nicely.

But it is most definately not a Model Builder's Reference Guide type book. Though I did notice a few things in the extreme closeups that I didn't notice before.

Would I like to see a "365 Days.." sized book exclusively on the ILM modelshop? You bet. But I really like the way this book was laid out - both in format and in the chapters. As far as I'm concerned, there's room on the bookshelf for both..........

OK - stepping off the soapbox -

Ironically, most of the stuff the really hardcore model guys (I'm one....) want to see will be included on the DVD. I managed to get a sneak preview of it. It runs about 60 minutes total. Part of that (20 minutes or so) is comprised of some of the web documentaries from the prequels. I've been told that some of them weren't included on the prequel DVD's, so they are new-ish. The bulk of the disk is a series of slideshows that are narrated by Lorne. The slides cover the establishment of ILM, the modelshop, filming, and life at ILM in general. I'd say there are something like 500 or so slides total, about half of which pertain directly to the models (the rest cover the people who worked there, some other off hours activities, and the move up to San Rafael). That is almost exclusively Ep. IV as well - not much on Empire and nothing on Jedi.

The Limited Edition won't be out for another month or so I've been told. Apart from the DVD, and another book on the digital models from Ep's II & III, the book itself is pretty much the same. There are some other gatefolds with new content, but the bulk of the book is the same as the version out now. I haven't seen that version. I'm hoping we can have one at the booksigning, but we'll just have to wait and see........

GK
[/b]

 

[PHArchivist]

That's what I was afraid of -- having to pay $300 extra just for a DVD to get any real photographic value...

On the other hand, (at least for Southern California folks) though the content of the book may not be blowing our sirts up, the chance to have it signed by Lorne makes up for quite a bit.

 

[useful idiot]

The book is alright. It does have some closeups that I have not seen before. In the closeup of the Slave 1, is that the actual size?

 

[mb1k]

Just received this in the mail. I little bit of a dissapointment if you've already got "From Star Wars to Indiana Jones", "365" or "The Star Wars Chronicles" on your bookshelf. Otherwise worth the money.

Many of the shots of the Millenium Falcon look as though they've been photo-copied from a physical print. Given the excellent online recources from the traveling SW shows, it's inexcusable that the photo quality in this book is graining and slightly out of focus.

Phase_pistol was able to capture images a hundred times more crisp using his digital camera at the Christie's auction than what's in this book. This was a great opportunity to do some crisp close-ups of the Super Star Destroyer "city scape" details, the ROTJ Death Star photo-etched filagree <sp> detail and many other areas commonly known in our circle that need further documentation.

Most of the stuff is rehashed existing photos such as the Darth Vader two-page spread. I mean, it's stock images. I just put down money on this book, and I've got a hardcover coffee table book of images I've already seen in ads and magazines? My SW pop-up children's book has better images of the blockade runner than this release.

The good stuff? Lot's and lot's of good information from Lorne Peterson (corrected :lol ) right from the horse's mouth for us modelers. Got stories and some never before seen stuff. The "mystery" ship from the space battle in ROTJ. An "ok" page on the SS Tie Fighter and write up. In all, worth the price if you preordered from Amazon.com as I did. Otherwise, look at a copy at the local bookstore and make your own decision.

<div class='quotetop'>(ralphee @ Nov 18 2006, 06:13 AM) [snapback]1360479[/snapback]</div>

Well on that note i have to say im glad i dropped my order to the std version, had real high hopes for this, bit of a dampener really, really wanted some new pics of the Nebulon B too :cry

lee
[/b]

Sorry...

Nebulon pics -grainy.
MF pics -grainy.
Death Star II Pic -grainy
A-Wing pics -grainy, and recycled
X-wing pics -grainy, small and seen before (with the exception of the Blue One concept model -sorty neat that one).

etc.

 

[cobywan]

Lorne Green's been dead for over a decade.

 

[mb1k]

<div class='quotetop'>(cobywan @ Nov 20 2006, 12:06 AM) [snapback]1361699[/snapback]</div>

Lorne Green's been dead for over a decade.
[/b]

"...much better than the one with Lorne Green. I love your blue'ish glo and your drunk XO.."

New Crew In Town

Sorry, can't get that BSG fan song out of my head.

 

[Stormy320]

Guys - I looked at the book on Friday and wasn't planning on getting it based of these reviews and was pleasantly surprised.

You guys are off the mark. It has some cool stuff in it. Perhaps not as detailed as we would like, but none the less worth it.

Too much prequel stuff. I think it is further evidence that either the talent of those who worked on the prequels was not as good or too much input from Lucas and CGI made the designs less interesting.

 

[Tony]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stormy320 @ Nov 26 2006, 06:15 PM) [snapback]1365972[/snapback]</div>

......It has some cool stuff in it.
[/b]

'Some' just isn't good enough. The stuff in that book has to be ALL COOL.
I was expecting the book to rival and excel the original Chronicals book and I am so glad I cancelled my order.

If DARKSIDE72 ain't happy by that new book then you know it's pretty much useless to studio scale model freaks.
I'll probably pick it up when it hits the bargain bin.

 

[Stormy320]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tony @ Nov 27 2006, 03:56 PM) [snapback]1366511[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stormy320 @ Nov 26 2006, 06:15 PM) [snapback]1365972[/snapback]

......It has some cool stuff in it.
[/b]

'Some' just isn't good enough. The stuff in that book has to be ALL COOL.
I was expecting the book to rival and excel the original Chronicals book and I am so glad I cancelled my order.

If DARKSIDE72 ain't happy by that new book then you know it's pretty much useless to studio scale model freaks.
I'll probably pick it up when it hits the bargain bin.
[/b][/quote]

You're crazy dude.

There are some shots in it that I haven't seen. It's a cool book.

 

[Clerval]

It's a waste of money. If you haven't seen some things, fine, but you should probably just look a bit more on-line. For folks who've been tracking this stuff and know what's out there, even in the main publications, this is a c-suck.

For folks talking about the stuff that's on tour and getting shots from there, the stated intent of this was to chronicle the ships as they were built, not as they've been re-hashed, mostly poorly, over the years.

 

[streetjudge79]

Get the Winston effect instead, that book totally rocks. I picked up sculpting as well and it did blow. At least I only paid $ 32.00 for mine. I would have been really pissed if I blew $ 300 for it.

 

[STEVE THE SWEDE]

I can't believe you guys think it sucks that much...??? I love it. Sure, it's not the SS modelers bibel BUT it's a VERY beutiful book. IMO it's one of the best designed Star Wars books made, EXTREMLY nice pictures (although most have been seen before) and I found Lornes writing extremly entertaining and interesting. For me there were lots of cool info an anecdotes that I've never heard before.

There were some pictures that I've never seen before and the ones I had had been blown up larger and printed more beutiful that I've seen them presented before.

I totally disagree with you, if you have any love for the Star Wars models this book is a must have. At least IMO.

Steve.

 

[Red Five]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(STEVE THE SWEDE @ Nov 28 2006, 10:52 AM) [snapback]1366937[/snapback]</div>

I can't believe you guys think it sucks that much...??? I love it. Sure, it's not the SS modelers bibel BUT it's a VERY beutiful book. IMO it's one of the best designed Star Wars books made, EXTREMLY nice pictures (although most have been seen before) and I found Lornes writing extremly entertaining and interesting. For me there were lots of cool info an anecdotes that I've never heard before.

There were some pictures that I've never seen before and the ones I had had been blown up larger and printed more beutiful that I've seen them presented before.

I totally disagree with you, if you have any love for the Star Wars models this book is a must have. At least IMO.

Steve.
[/b]

Yeah, what he said.