The Thing Behind the Fridge

 This is an odd one; when we moved our fridge we saw this strange dark stain on the wall behind.

It immediately made me think of the tripods in the War of the Worlds!

All tentacles and heads,

It recalls the fabulous inky monsters of renowned artist Terence Cuneo that Wotan Bill introduced Moonbase to nearly 15 years ago in his Scary Monsters and Super Creeps Scary Monsters and Super Creeps post.

Have you got anything randomly sci-fi or creepy spooky or futuristic going on in the home?

Kev's Tripods

Here's my scratchbuild of the tripod from the Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds album.

Ooh lah,

Kevin

UK

Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds: Martian Arts

I've been listening to an LP Junior got me, Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds.

It's an LP I know as I had a battered copy. Junior upgraded me.

It's a great album, both prog and futuristic yet Victorian as well. The ensemble cast are fabulous, my faves being Richard Burton the narrator and David Essex the artillery man.

There are many fine things in the production. The close following of HG Wells book, the different phases of the Martian invasion, the stark suffering of humanity and the sound effects.

The most startling is the Oo Laa sound of the Martian death rays. This was achieved with a guitar voice box and works really well.

In some ways the Martian war soundscape recalls the hellish fray in Rush's By Tor and the. snow Dog with it's snarling and screams created on guitars.

I'd no idea just how successful this LP was or is. One the best selling if all time and often cited as the best sci-fi album. Do you agree?

I had the chance to get cover artist Mike Trim to sign my battered copy in 2010 at the TV21 con. I took a Project SWORD box instead and asked Mike to sign that, as well as a few other guests there. I still have that box, the Cape Kennedy set.

Do you like War of the Worlds readers?

The Exodus: Max's War of the Worlds

Hi ,

Max from Max's Models has been busy, building a large diorama and film set in 1/48th scale, and making a film based on the 1953 version of War of the Worlds. Mainly stills, with commentary. Really well done, and very atmospheric. The film is called The Exodus, and is certainly worth a look.

The Exodus - YouTube

What do you think?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Great Martian War 1913-17

Woodsy

Sitting here watching You Tube videos, I have just come across a short film called The Great Martian War 1913-17, which is just under 8 minutes long. 

It combines old newsreel film from WW1, with shots of Martian tripods, to create a newsreel history of the war against the Martians. 

It is stunning - if the Martians had invaded Earth a hundred years ago, this is exactly what it would have looked like. 

The makers have done a perfect job, making the film look like a real newsreel from the period. Have you seen this ? 

I am still shaken, it is rare to see a film of such quality and power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijPeKgL22n8

Paul Adams NZ

THE BBC'S WAR OF THE WORLDS

The BBC's War of the Worlds series has finished.

Just 3 episodes!

I expected more!

I enjoyed the 3 episodes though but I felt it was rushed. The decision to interplay the present and the future was a mistake I thought as it distracted from the story going forward.

More episodes would have allowed a longer narrative.

One highlight were the creatures. These were excellent and loathsome. They reminded me of a human torso with three spiky spider legs. Quite gross!

What did you think of this series?

IN FACT ITS COLD AS HELL

Just been listening to Elton John's Rocket Man. I like the realistic lines about space in it, especially the line 'In fact its cold as hell." 

I suppose its part of the same pool of space-race pop from which the earlier Space Oddity and Starman sprang. Bowie's line 'Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows' always tugs the heartstrings as I expect space will be a lonely place once we get back up there and yes, cold as hell.

Speaking of cold, I heard one of my favourite lines in all science fiction again this week, "intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this Earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us."

This is of course the last line of the blood-chilling opening to HG Wells's War of the Worlds. The BBC are airing their new grand Victorian tripod-fest this winter and it strode into view on Sunday night. I myself was blown away. I thought the whole thing was superb and I'm already looking forward to episode 2 next Sunday.

There was another reminder of the cold vast cosmos on TV this week when I caught the re-run of Wonders of the Solar System with the ultra-hip Prof Brian Cox. Infectiously enthusiastic about space, Prof Cox, gave us a fabulous glimpse of what sunrise would be like on Sedna.

Sedna is one of the farthest dwarf planets from our sun, a distant neighbour at the brink of our system where its vast and cool. Exotic, remote and unfathomably far away, Sedna is still in the grip of the sun's gravity, despite our star being just a pin-prick of light rising and setting on its horizon. Sedna will be at Perihelion in 2075 and even though I will not be around to see this mysterious world come its closest to the sun and its inner solar family my Grandson will. He'll be 58, the age I am now! Sedna won't be back for another 11,000 years!

What are your thoughts on being in space or being visited from space readers?

THE MASSACRE OF MANKIND

Hello Woodsy 

I expect the book I'm reading was encouraged by the new War of the Worlds TV series from the UK. 

I was scared by the 1954 movie, read the Classics Illustrated comic, then was drawn to the book back in the 50's. 

A few years ago Osprey publishers of Military histories and reference books came out with their version as The Anglo-Martian War of 1895 which matched the real UK military units of that time with the action of the book. 

It's a fascinating read. 

The present authorised sequel The Massacre of Mankind is such a hard read. I will plough through it eventually but I'm put off by one of the first characters introduced named Eric Eden. To me he's a Dan Dare artist and it breaks my concentration reading it!

Terranova47

NYC

Arto's Nomura Cosmic Ray Machine Gun and H.G.Wells

Hello Woodsy

Took those piccies of the Nomura Cosmic-Ray Machine Gun (Just hope Bill won't blow his fuse - TINPLATE AGAIN!) 

The octopi-like aliens found on the barrel feature also on this Japanese sonosheet by Morinag on Ebay.

Arto

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Woodsy adds: here's the entry for the toy gun on Alphadrome, where the alien motif is mentioned but unidentified

http://www.danefield.com/data/displayimage-23-3070.html

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Woodsy also adds: the octopus alien looks just like the ones Bill posted a while back too!

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2018/10/life-off-mars.html

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As for its identity, all these are based on this original French illustration by M. Dudouyt, an engraving from a 1917 edition of War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells [thanks Bill.]

THE TENTACLED WAR

I've been off-blog for two weeks but I'm slowly easing my way back now. The first week was official RnR, the second an unwelcome bad cold!

Bill's last post about those beautiful and delicate War of the Worlds [WoW] miniatures from Japan immediately brought to my mind images of Samurai helmets and motifs.

The tentacled base featured on ancient tsuba or sword guards like this gorgeous octopoidal swirl.

The skull-like top of the WoW miniatures recall the skulls found in the designs of Okimono or ornaments. This smooth one is festooned with a curling snake.

Overall Bill's WoW pieces reminded me of a Japanese Samurai's helmet or Kabuto resting on a tall stand or Yoroi.

Beautiful objects all don't you think?

Do you collect Japanese miniatures or objects?

Intellects Vast and Cool and Unsympathetic regarded this Earth with Envious Eyes

Hi,

Just saw Terranova47's post of a martian walking machine on a model railway layout. 

Here is my own version of same!

Kevin

THERE'S A MARTIAN ON THE TRACKS

Hello Woodsy 

Funny thing, I always thought of this Martian War machine as a Tripod when in fact it has four legs plus two that are clockwork powered to make it walk. So, in fact it has six legs and is a hexapod not a tripod! 

The Martians have invaded 'Northern Heights' my OO layout circa 1950's. The army gets ready while the Martians contemplate a dockside crane. 

I counted buses on 'Northern Heights' and there are 35 double deckers, two are Morestone (London Made) copies of the Dinky (Liverpool Made) and one is a Budgie Routemaster. There are 10 single deckers and two sometimes three operating trams. Not bad for a model train layout with four operating trains at any one time.. 

Terranova47

NYC

USA

LANCE'S TOWERING TRIPOD

Hey Woodsy,

Loving the WoW posts and seeing all the different takes on the Martian machines. 

I sent you mine if you'd like to see and share them with the rest of gang. Sadly I have not gotten it to actually walk so it is just a static model. But at least it towers and glows a bit!

Lance

USA

JUNK MARTIAN MACHINE

This could almost qualify for my Johnny Lemon brand of household fantasy modelling.

Here's a War of the Worlds Tom Cruise Tripod made from scraps and cheap toys. Its a short film and the modeler, MAKE:, has kept the film short and sweet.

What do you think?

TOM CRUISES'S WAR OF THE WORLD'S TOY PROPS

I had to chuckle when I saw these War of the Worlds props on icollector.

Yet they also gave me a chill as they're so commonplace.

From the set of Tom Cruises's modern re-make they are described as Little Tikes toy cars and the lucky winners got them still covered in alien blood vines!

For some reason the toy police car went for 5 times as much as the red and yellow one.

Not sure which scenes they are from in the movie. Are you?

Would you have bought these props readers?

Well's Tripods Watched Walking in Woking

wikimedia

Blog friend Paul V kindly sent in the link for this fabulous statue of one of the Tripods.

Its in Woking in Southern England where H.G.Well's War of the Worlds was centred.

There's more Martian street art there too.

To see the full article by Richard Hawkins and his photographs then click here: Sci Fi UK Review

JOSEPH SVEC'S WAR OF THE WORLDS SCRATCH DIORAMA

Greetings Woodsy and Moonbase readers

Here is my H.G.Wells War of the Worlds diorama as displayed in a local bookstore window in Jackson California. 

At 8' x 2.5', it has approximately 45 hand painted 1890's British infantry figures plus several civilians. I also added the scene when the Martian cylinder has opened up and the humans encounter the Martians for the first time. 

The Martian figures that are coming out of the cylinder and the downed tripod are based on a 1890's book illustration. I also added more tentacles to the martian tripods, and one of them has grabbed an unfortunate soldier.

This version also features more building debris and Martian red weed. The martian tripods are based on the book rather than the 1950's or 2005 movie versions. The buildings in the diorama are from 21st century. 

The river was made by Pegasus Hobbies. The martian tripods are homemade. The martian red weed plants are from an aquarium supply store!

Joseph Svec

2014

First posted in 2014 as a series of posts.

MIGNOT WAR OF THE WORLDS DIORAMA 1925

Well done Arto! That's it! The MIGNOT War of the Worlds Diorama made in 1925. Here's the only pic I can find on the web - from the cool Toy Ray Gun site.

Arto jogged my memory as to where I'd also seen the old WoW set, in the cool hardback book Blast Off! by Mark Young, Steve Duin and Mike Richardson. 

And quickly raiding my toy book 'library' [i.e bookcase] lo and behold, there it is! And to prove I'm not going completely loopy, it contains a photograph of Mignot's 'Big Red Box', which the diorama was housed in. 

I'd forgotten how amazing the set is close-up, the photograph's in the book are truly stunning. If you like 1950's space toys like Archer and Tudor Rose this is the book for you. 

Like me and Arto, I think Bill B has the limited edition boxed version of the book as well. 

There's a brilliant online account on Scoop from 2002 of how the book's author and Mignot owner [a rarified group for sure!] Mark Young came to acquire this unique piece of merchandise, which made in 1925, is surely the forerunner of all sci fi and fantasy toys. Or?

Read an extract below:

"Do you have a story of a particularly rewarding hunt for a specific item - or a "one that got away" story?

The best item in my collection is War of the World Diorama. I believe this is the first space toy as Henri Mignot, the renowned French toy soldier maker, made it in 1925. We discuss the piece quite extensively in Blast Off! 

The story behind this piece is an example of a toy that was hiding in plain sight. I mentioned earlier that I use to read O'Brien's toy soldier book religiously. At the back of the 2nd Edition is a small photo of the War of the Worlds. 

The photo is small and the item shown is so big (about the dimensions of a small coffee table) that it is virtually impossible to see anything in the diorama clearly. I would often get out a magnifying glass and try to get a better idea of what the details looked like. 

If there was one piece that I really wanted it was this one but I had a sinking feeling that there was absolutely no way. Why? Because in my mind, the War of the Worlds was the Holy Grail of space figure collecting. I remember calling everyone I knew. 

When I contacted Steve Balkin at Burlington Toys in New York he told me that he had actually handled the piece for several different buyers, but he did not know who currently had it. Since, obtaining the War of the Worlds was a pipe dream anyway I put the matter to rest (at least I thought I did). 

A number of years went by and then in 1998 I made my annual trek to the OTSN show in Chicago. During one of the early days of room trading, a dealer that had known for some time started chatting with me. I asked him whether he had any space items for sale and he said, "Well, I think it's time for me to part with my War of the Worlds set." 

I said, "Oh, you mean you have an Archer War of the Worlds set?" And he said, "No, I mean the Mignot set. I have had it for years." You could have knocked me over with a feather. Here was a guy that I had known for almost a decade and I had no idea that he had been secretly harboring the set. 

In fact, no one else knew either. After a long series of negotiations I was finally able to obtain the set. I look at this diorama every day. It is truly a masterpiece".

Mark Young, 2002

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this is a re-posting of a post from 2010

MIKE TRIM'S AND JEFF WAYNE'S WORLDS

Check out Mike Trim's art and design. We mentioned Mike on this month's radio SWORDcast.

He illustrated the exciting cover of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds album 

as well as many many fabulous vehicle and building designs for Gerry Anderson.

His website art gallery link is http://www.miketrimart.com/tinc?key=W5YzDwnU&fs_settings=,index,1,8,800,740

Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds score is celebrating 40 years.

The musical included Forever Autumn sung by Justin Hayward, a haunting song most people will have heard.

Courtesy of You Tube here he is singing it.

Do you like Mike Trim's art and Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds?

Kev's War of the Worlds Scratchbuilds

Hi,

I think you've seen these images before, but here are my two War of the Worlds fighting machines. Looking forward to the BBC version!

Take care,

Kevin