We’re used to marveling at the painted concept art that comes out alongside a big space epic. The incredible spaceship images, the gorgeous planetscapes. But back in the day, practical model builders created some views that were just as lovely.
https://gizmodo.com/the-best-of-io9s-concept-art-week-5570195
You can see the results on screen: Star Trek II’s battle scene in the Mutara Nebula looks like a painting come to life. But sometimes you catch a glimpse of a set photo or behind-the-scenes image, and it looks just as good. And you suddenly realize: these practical effects makers were creating these vistas in real life, with no tinkering afterwards.
Here are some of our favorite photos of model effects that look just as awesome as a painting.
As always, click to enlarge and see the full image — or right-click and select “open link in new tab.”
Top image: Ship miniature by Scott Schneider for Alien Resurrection at conceptships.blogspot.com
“V-The Final Battle” mothership, model by Greg Jein. Photo from Stipes’ Universe
Romulan Spaceship by Greg Jein for Mike Okuda. Photo at Drex Files.
Reaverized Serenity model used for hard the landing sequence by Grant McCune Design, Inc. Photo by Keelhauler FFP 01 at Flickr
The Nostromo’s landing craft from Alien, by Visual Effects Supervisor Brian Johnson, supervising modelmaker Martin Bower, and their team at Bray Studios, based on combinations of Ridley Scott’s storyboards and Ron Cobb’s conceptual drawings. Photo from therpf.com
The refinery from Alien, photo from http://www.zen171398.zen.co.uk
Spaceship 3 by Will112 at deviantART
Mars by Matthew Albanese at behance.net
Ship miniature by Scott Schneider for Alien Resurrection at conceptships.blogspot.com
Ship miniature by Scott Schneider for Alien Resurrection at conceptships.blogspot.com
Enterprise model, on display at the National Air and Space Museum
Enterprise D four foot miniature. Photo from Drex Files
Enterprise D shuttle miniature by Greg Jein, photo from Drex Files
Bajoran raider studio model, photo from Memory Alpha
Voyager model, photo from Memory Alpha
Kazon fighter model from Star Trek: Voyager, photo from Memory Alpha
Concept ship model by Arne Beck at Concept Ships
AT-ATs from The Empire Strikes Back, photo from Vanity Fair
Dennis Murren in the Battle of Yavin IV, photo at May 25th, 1977
George Lucas and the Death Star, photo from Insight Editions
TIE Fighter test shot, from the rpf
Star Destroyer tower, photo from Insight Editions
Agroship from the original Battlestar Galactica, by Universal Hartland
War of the Gods Light Ship from the original Battlestar Galactica, at Universal Hartland
Cylon Raider and Viper models from the original Battlestar Galactica, at Galacticaa.net
Replica of the 6-foot-long model from the original Battlestar Galactica, photo from Fine Scale Modeler
Gemini Freight and Theta Station from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, photo from Universal Hartland
Sinaloa from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, photo from Universal Hartland
Transporter from Space:1999, photo from Starship Modeler
The Hawk from Space:1999, photo from Starship Modeler
Minas Tirith by Weta
