Saturday, 17 May 2025
Rob's SpaceX Line Drawing
A SpaceX Colouring Book?
I'd have loved a SpaceX colouring book as a kid.
Thinking about it, there are quite a few SpaceX-style line drawings in other colouring books to probably create one!
The Man on the Moon colouring books contain quite a few - which Wotan Bill found - and I think there are more finds on the blog of SpaceX-style line drawings.
There's also new-fangled online trickery which allows you to convert pictures to line drawings. Here's a sketchy backing card one I did this morning.
If such a Triang SpaceX/ Golden Astronaut colouring book existed then it would need a cover.
Any ideas?
Your Concept drawings, lay-outs, mock-ups and photos and sketches welcomed readers!
Newsflash! Art Lives!
It's the
SpaceX and Golden Astronaut
Art Day
Friday, 16 May 2025
THIS IS THE DROID YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
Star Wars, besides coining the term 'droid', has become famous for its robotic lead characters. From the remote controlled dustbin of Artoo, to the prissy golden Oscar of Threepio, the franchise has given us some of the most iconic designs - and performances - by artificial characters in the history of cinema. Recent Disney series such as 'The Mandalorian' and 'Ahsoka' have given us memorable new droids such as the Jedi Knight Trainer, 'Huyang' (voiced by the great David Tennant) who helped every knight with building their personal lightsaber, IG-11, the assassin droid sent to hunt bounty and the cute and personable B2EMO from the latest incarnation of Disney spinoffs, 'Andor'.
Andor is a two season series detailing in minute detail, the events leading up to the cinematic feature film 'Rogue One'. Rogue One takes place just prior to the very first Star Wars film and shows the mission to steal the plans for the superweapon; the Death Star and introduces the eponymous character Cassian Andor. Rogue One was a gritty and action packed film directed by Gareth Edwards, who also brought out 'The Creator' recently. Given that the plot of Rogue One has a quite tragic end, specifically for Andor, Disney commissioned the series of the same name, which developed his backstory and recorded the development of the character prior to the film.
The series has just released the finale, the last episode of a two season, 24 episode run, which dovetails precisely with the opening of the feauture film. It is a rare departure for Star Wars, in that it is a solemn, politically driven plot, heavy with tense human drama and characterisation. Whereas previous series have been airy space operas with lots of flamboyant quipping heroics and extravagant action, Andor is gripping and methodically scripted, with some wonderful performances by the cast.
Besides the lead protagonists, played by Diego Luna and Stellan Starsgard, with support from Genevieve O'Reilly, Andy Serkis and Forrest Whittaker, the show features another standout perfomance, but from an entirely non-human persona. Rogue One introduces Andor's sidekick and pilot - a re-programmed Imperial Enforcer Droid, designated K-2SO or 'K' for short. The later episodes of the second season show how K-2SO comes to be working with Andor and again, fleshes out - or builds out - the background of the droid.
The eight foot high, skeletal form of the Enforcer droid is mechanically and digitally realised and is voiced by Alan Tudyk , who also voiced the artificial being in 'I, Robot'. Tudyk is best know for his comedic performances and his interpretation of K2SO, is naturally drily funny and sarcastic. However in Andor, we see a different side to the droid, as originally being part of imperial military forces, it is seen in action. Without giving any spoilers, the Enforcer droid is initially seen as part of a group of droids, deployed as crowd control, Watching the towering, menacing form striding along and picking up people like rag dolls and tossing them aside, is truly frightening. Not unlike Gigers Alien, with its faceless menace, K2SOs visage lacks expression, aside from the unblinking, staring white photoreceptors, which give it a predatory, carious air. The finale depicts K cutting a swathe through an imperial strike team, using the body of a trooper as a shield and is reminiscent of the 1880 Punch cartoon image of a stylised Jack the Ripper.
K2SO and Andor have raised the bar for the flagging Disney Star Wars franchise, which like the Marvel films and series, has struggled with critical reception in recent years. However, writer Tony Gilroy's brilliant script and memorable performances from the cast elevate the series and indirectly, the feature film, to the level of must watch tv and cinema, irrespective of its space opera baggage and direction. Even if you are not a fan of sci-fi, the drama and action in the oevre are really worth watching as credible and intense drama.Jolly Seven Again!
I love seeing clones of the Fireball XL5/ Johnny Seven toy rifles, what I call Jolly Sevens after the Japanese version.
Here's another I saw on auction: The Automatic Machine Gun. Not sure of the make.
Thursday, 15 May 2025
This Week's Mixed Catch
This week's haul at the local boot sale is a mish mash of different stuff.
See what you think.
This little fella is by Marx and as yet is unidentified. I have his legs.
I spent about a tenner on this lot. Great fun as always looking for old toys.
See anything you like? Can you ID the mysteries?
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CHECKLISTS BY BRAND (FOR COUNTRY BY COUNTRY SEE TOP OF BLOG)
PROJECT SWORD SPACEX TIMELINE
- 1968 SPACEX LT10 CONCEPT
- 1966 SPACE GLIDER REAL THING
- 1969 LUNAR CLIMBER & MOONSHIP
- 1968 PROJECT SWORD ANNUAL
- 1968 TV21 #168 PROJECT SWORD PHASE 2
- 1968 PLEASURE CRUISER CONCEPT
- 1968 CENTURY 21 TOY MANUAL
- 1967 SCOUT 1 CONCEPT
- 1967 NUCLEAR FERRY TOY AD
- 1967 SWORD TOY AD
- 1967 SWORD TOY AD
- 1966 SPACE GLIDER CONCEPT
- 1966 HOVERTANK IN COMIC
- 1966 NUKE PULSE NEEDLEPROBE IN COMIC
- 1966 ZERO X FILM DEBUT
- 1966 MOONBUS IN COMIC
- 1966 SPACE PATROL 1
- 1966 P3 HELICOPTER IN COMIC
- 1966 SAND FLEA AND SNOW TRAIN
- 1966 MOBILE LAUNCH PAD IN COMIC
- 1965 SPACEX MOONBASE CONCEPT
- 1965 APOLLO FIRST UK TOY AD
- 1962 NOVA CONCEPT
- 1962 MOONBUS CONCEPT
- 1961 MOON PROSPECTOR CONCEPT
- 1953 MOLAB CONCEPT