the sona battle ship

 

 

 

the first pass

 

pass 2 determined that this shape was more suited for the collector

the approved design sketch

 

basic plans

top and bottom views

the underside detail view

 

the color pass

thank you, thank you, thank you, Mark for the fan boy piece

This one was a really fun ship to work on because I was always wanted to make something out of a boomerang, It didn’t start with that idea but after a couple of sketches, that was where it wound up! Being this was a new race there were no rules or boundaries to follow as far as the architecture went so the use of yard toys were the inspiration for everything Sona. Horseshoes, boomerangs, badminton birdies and lawn darts, were all used to guide the designs. in the earliest of sketches the birdie was the main idea but in the end that idea was used for the collector which was also driven by these begging drawings. With the battle ship it was based on a flat forward flying boomerang, incorporating the Grand Piano string details that were also  incorporated and established as trademark detail in Ruoffo’s ship. the following drawings and especially the orthos were drawn for the CG modelers at Santa Barbara studios to be modeled and composited. When the film came out I was surprised at how few shots there were of this one and it was more of distant pov so you never really got to see what the vessel was made of. The big highlight for me on any Trek project was to sneak over and Watch Jerry Goldsmith score the film. There was a little couch hidden under the sound board right next to the window looking into the studio and I would bring my pad over and draw away out of site from the producers that probably would have frowned upon this. HAAAA! anyways It was always a treat to talk to Jerry, he always wanted copies of my sketches for his Trek collection which Always made me giddy when he would ask what’s new today. He gave me one the  sheets of music that he had written for First Contact and he signed it to!!! HEY-HOWDY-HEY!!! I still remember that awesome day like it was yesterday!!! My Friend Mark Banning was the art director over at Cresendo records and he new I was a big fan of Jerry’s music and I can’t thank him enough for putting the plan drawings of the Sona Battle ship on the CD. That was another giddy fan boy moment.

The fall of Rome

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Marshal George Lucas

 

unarmed storm troopers only because they are bad shots to begin with!!!

stamps by Drew Struzen

 

 

first event to celebrate ST's 40th

2007 marked the 30th of Star Wars and to celebrate this historical year George Lucas himself was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and followed by a garrison of Storm troopers, January 1st started a glorious year of conventions, parties,  and celebrations. In May of the same year the USPS released a sheet of exquisite stamps depicting characters from all the Star Wars films. The USPS also created a very special cancellation stamp to celebrate the anniversary. One  year earlier, 2006 marked the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek. Star Trek is the grand mother of making Science Fiction as popular as it is today. 11 films and 6 series have been created and a world of loyal fans follow with eager anticipation of what is coming next. To celebrate the 40th, Paramount and CBS cancelled Enterprise at the end of it’s 4th season just a couple of episodes shy of the magic 100th show. Next they pulled from  their warehouse all of the costumes sets, props and models that have been hidden away for years, but not to display or put them on a tour, but to clean house. Christie’s Auction house, and it’s a wrap Hollywood both set up auctions to sell off Television and motion Picture history with no regard to the significants or  importance of the treasure that was entrusted to the new executives of the Studio. To end the 40th with a bang, a demolition derby would be the last hooray and what was left was bulldozed.  It is a sad time when history has no meaning and is thrown away.

Various Trek sets

 

the torpedo launcher from the NX-01

the NX-01 view screen

OS bridge pieces

 

let the derby begin

I tried to stop this guy but he speak-a no english!!

 

torpedo room pieces

I was trying to get a truck over to try and and in less than two hours it was all gone!

 

and within two hours it was all gone