The Last SS Model?
- Thread starter BrianM
- Start date
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
I know the Enterprise E was the last Trek ship to built as a model, but was only used in First Contact, to my knowledge, before becomign fully CGI
However, that was also the same year that Independence Day was released, which used heavy model work, which suggests there were at least a few more years left before the major switchover
However, that was also the same year that Independence Day was released, which used heavy model work, which suggests there were at least a few more years left before the major switchover
mktodd
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>(BrianM @ Jul 18 2006, 07:41 AM) [snapback]1283078[/snapback]</div>
Episode 1 Used miniatures for almost all the major ships. The federation fighters were cg though. The N1 fighters were sometimes cg too, though not in all shots...
Maybe ID4 WAS the last to use models exclusively....
shame...
Episode 1 Used miniatures for almost all the major ships. The federation fighters were cg though. The N1 fighters were sometimes cg too, though not in all shots...
Maybe ID4 WAS the last to use models exclusively....
shame...
DrStranglove
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>(Talisen @ Jul 18 2006, 12:04 PM) [snapback]1283119[/snapback]</div>
Yes so throw that movie out.
Yes so throw that movie out.
Jestefarean
Sr Member
Godzilla vs Mothra
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Hell, even the Director's Cut of ST:TMP uses a CG Ent...
Well, let's see......
ID4 was released in 1996.
Since then, we've seen:
Armageddon
Deep Impact
Mission to Mars
Red Planet
(and my favorite) Battlefield Earth
All of which featured some pretty heavy duty miniature work (along with a fair amount of CG). And, of course, the aforementioned Star Wars prequels.
Miniatures in movies aren't dead. Just different now. The age of kluging together a miniature out of model kit parts and some PVC pipe and sticking it on a C-stand in front of a bluescreen and filming it....well, those days are gone (and I, too, lament their passing to a degree). But miniatures are still heavily used. It may no longer be the only way of getting a design on the screen, but depending on what you are trying to accomplish, it may still be a viable option.
One outfit that has made a serious effort to keep utilizing miniatures is New Deal Studios. These guys started out by working at a company called Stetson Visual Services and when he closed down, they formed their own company. They do most of their business in miniatures - not neccessarily the Star Wars/Star Trek/Space:1999 variety - but miniatures nonetheless. Check out this link:
http://www.aviatorvfx.com/index.php
This site focuses on the VFX for The Aviator (2004). You will be amazed at how many miniatures were constructed for the film. Perhaps not a sci-fi film, but it still shows that the old techniques of large sized models, forced perspective, foreground miniatures - all the stuff that was the "cutting edge" of film technology when we were growing up - still works. It just augments newer technology.
Already CG technology is changing. One day, maybe there will be a forum lamenting the passing of digitizing an object with a tablet and a plotter.........(but I doubt it).
GK
ID4 was released in 1996.
Since then, we've seen:
Armageddon
Deep Impact
Mission to Mars
Red Planet
(and my favorite) Battlefield Earth
All of which featured some pretty heavy duty miniature work (along with a fair amount of CG). And, of course, the aforementioned Star Wars prequels.
Miniatures in movies aren't dead. Just different now. The age of kluging together a miniature out of model kit parts and some PVC pipe and sticking it on a C-stand in front of a bluescreen and filming it....well, those days are gone (and I, too, lament their passing to a degree). But miniatures are still heavily used. It may no longer be the only way of getting a design on the screen, but depending on what you are trying to accomplish, it may still be a viable option.
One outfit that has made a serious effort to keep utilizing miniatures is New Deal Studios. These guys started out by working at a company called Stetson Visual Services and when he closed down, they formed their own company. They do most of their business in miniatures - not neccessarily the Star Wars/Star Trek/Space:1999 variety - but miniatures nonetheless. Check out this link:
http://www.aviatorvfx.com/index.php
This site focuses on the VFX for The Aviator (2004). You will be amazed at how many miniatures were constructed for the film. Perhaps not a sci-fi film, but it still shows that the old techniques of large sized models, forced perspective, foreground miniatures - all the stuff that was the "cutting edge" of film technology when we were growing up - still works. It just augments newer technology.
Already CG technology is changing. One day, maybe there will be a forum lamenting the passing of digitizing an object with a tablet and a plotter.........(but I doubt it).
GK
Commander Max
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'></div>
That will be the day when the artist will say to the computer, "Want pritty space ship."
In seconds there is the ship. In a few more seconds it's on screen. The next few seconds it will be all over the RPF. 30 seconds later the model is availble(paint still needs time to dry).
31 seconds later it's recast and on E-bay(billed as a screen used prop). :lol :lol :lol
That will be the day when the artist will say to the computer, "Want pritty space ship."
In seconds there is the ship. In a few more seconds it's on screen. The next few seconds it will be all over the RPF. 30 seconds later the model is availble(paint still needs time to dry).
31 seconds later it's recast and on E-bay(billed as a screen used prop). :lol :lol :lol
Which brings up another interesting point - models created using the digital files from the movie. Would those be considered "studio scale"?
A few years ago, I made up a bunch of the Lightcycle kits from TRON for the FX guys (I worked with them, and they still dig the movie). The guy who sold the kits to me told me that they were from the same "CG" files as the movie. Well, that was a load of hooey. The "CG" files from TRON were 1) lost a long time ago (nobody really archived the tapes), and 2) the method by which they built the models back then would not be compatible with more modern methods of converting digital files to a physical model. Likely, the "CG" files they used were created using screen grabs and a bunch of orthographic views of the Lightcycle that were rendered out during the show. Still, the model was pretty accurate and everyone was very happy with the kit, but it also makes you wonder about what we will do in the future with CG models.
GK
A few years ago, I made up a bunch of the Lightcycle kits from TRON for the FX guys (I worked with them, and they still dig the movie). The guy who sold the kits to me told me that they were from the same "CG" files as the movie. Well, that was a load of hooey. The "CG" files from TRON were 1) lost a long time ago (nobody really archived the tapes), and 2) the method by which they built the models back then would not be compatible with more modern methods of converting digital files to a physical model. Likely, the "CG" files they used were created using screen grabs and a bunch of orthographic views of the Lightcycle that were rendered out during the show. Still, the model was pretty accurate and everyone was very happy with the kit, but it also makes you wonder about what we will do in the future with CG models.
GK
Commander Max
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'></div>
That is an interesting point. CG models have dimension, you can scale a digital file at will. Even paint it at will.
In some respect they are studio scale models. That (for me) takes the fun out of it. I like something I can touch , I don't have to turn on the computer to see it. Or here is a pic I printed from the computer. In that case wouldn't a screen grab be the same thing.
I have downloaded a bunch of CG models over the years. I wonder if the B5 models were copies of the originals.
<div class='quotetop'></div>
They are going to be used to print(make) real models. (I have this technology in my living room.) You are going to buy a CG model then send it over to your 3D printer.
That is an interesting point. CG models have dimension, you can scale a digital file at will. Even paint it at will.
In some respect they are studio scale models. That (for me) takes the fun out of it. I like something I can touch , I don't have to turn on the computer to see it. Or here is a pic I printed from the computer. In that case wouldn't a screen grab be the same thing.
I have downloaded a bunch of CG models over the years. I wonder if the B5 models were copies of the originals.
<div class='quotetop'></div>
They are going to be used to print(make) real models. (I have this technology in my living room.) You are going to buy a CG model then send it over to your 3D printer.
trooperprop
Well-Known Member
May I suggest ...............STARSHIP TROOPERS ???
To my knowlage no cgi ships, only cgi bugs
Greetings from the Netherlands,
BasD
To my knowlage no cgi ships, only cgi bugs
Greetings from the Netherlands,
BasD
I was thinking that possibly onew of the earlier aliens movies like ...Aliens might have been all models. there weren't that many space shots, and all of them I can remeber I know they built a model for...
Jedi Dade
<div class='quotetop'>(staermose @ Aug 4 2006, 07:57 AM) [snapback]1293606[/snapback]</div>
Both of these movies had so much CGI in them...
Jedi Dade
<div class='quotetop'>(staermose @ Aug 4 2006, 07:57 AM) [snapback]1293606[/snapback]</div>
Both of these movies had so much CGI in them...
tgreco
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>(trooperprop @ Jul 26 2006, 09:33 AM) [snapback]1288186[/snapback]</div>
Actually I know that's not true. I remember reading somewhere that the Athena model that was built, was built to such tight tolerances, that they used photos of the model to skin the CGI versions of it. So there were models built, but there were cgi ships thrown in the mix as well
May I suggest ...............STARSHIP TROOPERS ???
To my knowlage no cgi ships, only cgi bugs
[/b]
Actually I know that's not true. I remember reading somewhere that the Athena model that was built, was built to such tight tolerances, that they used photos of the model to skin the CGI versions of it. So there were models built, but there were cgi ships thrown in the mix as well
minieffects
Well-Known Member
Hey GKvfx, you forgot Supernova. lots of miniatures in that one. Oh and The X-files movie, Titanic, Coneheads, and who could forget such classics as Down Periscope.
Its hard to really say what film was the last one in the digital age. Ever since vfx went into the computer there has allways been some digital interaction at one level or another. To ask the question as to what was the last film to use all miniatures, well you might have to go back to films that were optically composited. Gkvfx might agree with me on this.
Sad to see the decline as this has been my career for 19 years. Now I have to stand on a corner with a sign that says "will build vfx models for food"
minieffects
Its hard to really say what film was the last one in the digital age. Ever since vfx went into the computer there has allways been some digital interaction at one level or another. To ask the question as to what was the last film to use all miniatures, well you might have to go back to films that were optically composited. Gkvfx might agree with me on this.
Sad to see the decline as this has been my career for 19 years. Now I have to stand on a corner with a sign that says "will build vfx models for food"
minieffects
