BLAKE'S 7 PROPS AT CROMFORD MILLS

 

Some more photos of the table displays at the recent Cromford Mills event, and this time it’s the turn of Blake’s 7, and some items from Gary Holland’s collection.

Investigator Reeve’s bullet firing gun used on Virn, in the episode, Sand. Virn is a soulless planet covered in green sand where it never rains.  Electro- magnetic activity affects circuitry on the planet which means old-fashioned bullets are more reliable than ray-guns. Not that that helps Investigator Reeve much!

The titular ‘sand’ isn’t quite what it seems of course, which leads to a ‘romantic’ liaison between arch –enemies, Del Tarrant and Servalan.  Some of the dialogue between them is quite telling –

 “I’m just the girl next door, Tarrant” says an innocent looking Servalan.

 “If you were the girl next door I’d move”, Tarrant replies curtly.

“Where too, Tarrant?” , asks Servalan.

“Next door!”  Replies Tarrant.

An original ‘Liberator’ Teleport Bracelet: This was described at the event as a replica, however Gary explained he hadn't had chance to print a new label.   As they appear to be relatively simple to make for the average modeller, and some of the parts are apparently still available if you can get hold of a copy of the BBC design drawing, consequently there’s no shortage of replica teleport bracelets in circulation.  Quite important equipment if you want to get back on board ship, but remarkably fragile.  Consequently, crew members lose them fairly frequently and space villains like to crush them. 

A replica ‘Liberator’ hand gun.  I think I prefer the unique design of the ‘Liberator’ Hand Gun over the more standard looking ‘Scorpio’ guns.  Plenty of super replicas about of course, getting the Perspex parts right sort the men from the boys I imagine as you’d need to get them machined.

I believe the handle is from an old Black & Decker electric drill.

A replica ‘Scorpio’ hand gun:  I always found these more or less generic looking hand guns and not particularly futuristic, but thinking about it I suppose gun design in general hasn’t really changed that much over the years.

A replica ‘Scorpio’ bracelet: Ironically, these looked a more practical and robust design than the Liberator bracelets, but less unique and the kind of thing that wouldn’t look out of place among the tat in a H.Samuel  shop window!

Screen used Blake’s Gun from the final episode, Blake.  Blake uses his gun to fire three shots at a flyer in the episode, although for most of the time it tends to stay shoved into his belt. The episode has Blake in his guise as a Bounty Hunter on the planet of Gauda Prime, Blake  uses  a Federation gun for his capture of apparent fugitive, Arlen , and later uses Tarrant’s own gun when he appears to double cross him. But then as every Blake 7 fan knows everything is double crossed in that final episode.

A replica Federation Guard Rifle (or should that be ’Paragun’): There was some wonderful pyrotechnics when they fired, although watching the series’ most Federation Troopers couldn’t hit a fish in a barrel with one of these things.  Unsurprisingly, this is another prop popular with modellers.

This is the screen used ‘Baby’ Orac from the episode, ‘Gambit’.   Avon and Villa trick Orac into shrinking itself, so they can use its abilities to cheat the gambling computers in Freedom City, described by Servanlan as a ‘pestilential rathole’. 

There was no shortage of original helmets used in the series, but this one worn by Space Major Provine in the season 2 episode, Countdown caught my eye as it looks slightly different to the normal troopers helmets.  Provine doesn’t wear it too often, removing it at any opportunity, as he desperately tries to leave the planet of Albion before a Federation radioactive time bomb explodes and wipes out all life there. 

Gary also brought along several original Blake’s 7 costumes from his collection:

        Costume worn by Paul Darrow as Kerr Avon in episodes, Assassin, Games, Sand, and Gold.

       From the June Hudson Blake's 7 collection, a costume worn by Paul Darrow in various episodes.

Costume worn by guest artist, Roy Kinnear in the episode, Gold.

Costume worn by Sally Kynvette in the episode, Gambit.

From the June Hudson Blake's 7 collection costume worn by guest artist, John Bennett as Coser in the episode, Weapon.

                              Costume worn by Paul Darrow as Avon in various episodes.

                       Costume worn by Paul Darrow as Avon in the episode, Deliverance.

                  Costume worn by guest artist Lynda Bellingham as Vena in episode, Headhunter. 

Costume worn by Steven Pacey as Tarrant in various episodes.

     Finally, costume worn by Jacqueline Pearce as Servalan in episodes, Project Avalon &             Deliverance.

More photos from the Cromford Mills displays soon.