Vallley Forge from Silent Running

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I'm building this CG model actual size to the original studio miniature. The dome is approx 25 inches across, slightly wider with the "skirt" surrounding it. I did this so I could figure out the actual dimensions of all the details. For example, the railing on the underside is Plastruct T-molding. I was able to recreate this exactly and use it as a measuring stick of sorts to determine the sizes of the other parts.

The top surface of the dome is a 3/8 geodesic dome. The frequency chosen was 12 which seems to closely match the original. I realize the actual dome structure on the studio model was "cheated" for effect, but I wanted to build a real geodesic structure. Once this was done, I discovered the actual dome on the studio miniature was a bit taller than a "real" geodesic dome would have been, so I stretched it vertically until it looked right.

[star-art]

I had actually already built the dome connectors. This is what I am calling the tube-like structures that connect the domes to the main spine framework. I found it very tricky to work all this out using only photos as a guide. (In fact, everything you are seeing here was made completely from scratch using only photos. While I do have some blueprints and renders of another CG model available, I chose to work from the photos as much as possible so I could ensure the most accurate results.)

After some trial and error, I discovered the "clamps" that hold each dome in place are in two symmetrical halves. Together they form a hexagonal cross section. Each half has three "leaves" that fold together and lock in place. It appears they built two versions of these clamps -- one closed and the other open. The reason I guessed this is because the detail inside each clamp is so small (even on a 26-foot miniature) it would be impractical to make a working hinge for each one.

BTW, I built one connecting structure with the clamps closed and another one with open clamps. Only the one with the closed clamps is shown here.

Once the clamps were done, I finished the connectors and installed them inside the spine framework. There is a bracket attaching the central core pipe in the rear, but that hasn't been added to my model just yet. The area where this pipe connects to the front of the framework is hard to make out in the reference images. It's obscured by a bunch of those geometric solids mounted inside the spine framework. I'll have to figure that part out.

All that's really left to finish the front of the ship is now the antenna on the bow. This is a very tricky looking structure -- mostly because it is hard to see in any of the reference images I have. I've ordered the DVD and am hoping I can get a better look at it by watching that.

I'll be taking a break from this for the remainder of the week. Then I'll be working on the stern section next. Once that's completed, I'lll tackle the central command section. I'm still hoping to find that American Cinematographer issue I hear has some good images or perhaps someone who can send me high-res scans. That command wedge looks pretty complicated!

PS, to make my domes more closely match the originals, the next step would be to add the standoffs to one section, then connect those with line segments. This would strictly be for the purpose of generating accurate blueprints and not for "show." Once the lines were added representing the copper wire, the whole thing could be cloned all around the dome. This detail could then be inserted into each view. . .

[Helot]

Nice job so far - looks real good.

I actually had an opportunity to correspond with Douglas Trumbull, a couple of years back, about the VF model. He was very open to questions, at the time, but was apologetic that no plans or detailed info on the ship survive today.

He knew of the Cinefax piece and agreed that the article they did had the most information available on the work done on producing the ship.

The kits use were mostly 1/35 scale if that helps (a Cinefax photo of a pile of tank kits show that).

Sean Kennedy did a pretty good version some years ago which can be seen here.

[star-art]

Thanks! If that's the model that was posted over at the LW3D User's site, it's amazing. I can totally appreciate all the work he put into it. He built every little detail, including all those bolt heads. Since I'm making a model to create plans/patterns for a scaled replica and not a full-scale recreation, I was able to omit those kinds of fine details for now.

I'd be a bit surprised if all the tank parts were 1/35 scale. Several sources mention "large scale tank kits" and that typically means 1/24 or even 1/16 or 1/15 scale. Of course, it's very hard to judge sizes accurately from photos, so I could be totally wrong. . .

At any rate, I have a lot of tank kits for my Galactica project so I'll check it out.

I'm on the lookout for that Cinefex issue. Those are getting really hard to find! I'm still hoping to get scans from it if I can't find the actual issue in hardcopy. Same goes for the American Cinematographer issue on Silent Running.

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BTW, anyone interested in the Valley Forge should check out LunaDude's awesome reference site here:

Valley Forge - Plans

This is the best site I've ever seen for reference on this miniature. Be sure to check out the Models page. He just posted a boatload of awesome reference pics. These are linked at the very bottom of the page. . .

[Helot]

All the images found in the Cinefex #8 article are found on Starshipmodeler.com's reference page if you have not yet been there.

I could be wrong (more often than - well, usually) but when this movie was made the most common tank kit scales were 1/72, 1/48, and 1/35. The size of the kit boxes (as seen in the images referenced above), the manufacturer of the kits in same said images and the tanks apparently used would be 1/35. Even today the larger (R/C scale) kits only have very limited tanks and not of the type seen in the images.

[star-art]

I saw a pic with all the boxes. Now I know what you mean! Like I said, it can be really hard to judge size from photos.

I was told recently that 1/48 kits from Tamiya, now being newly manufactured, used to be available in the early '70s as well. Working mostly with 1/35 kits, I wasn't familiar with this fact. So, it could either be 1/48 or 1/35! I'll have to check the fit against some parts in my collection to try and narrow it down. . .

Thanks!

[3DCGMOD]

Pretty awesome
I built the ship a couple years ago have lots of reference images, pics


Michael

[chrono]

A member did one of these in LW a few years ago. E-something... was their name.