Brian Johnson, Special Effects Artist Behind 'Space: 1999,' Dies At 86 (gerryanderson.com)
- Reference: 0183951502
- News link: https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/26/06/18/0048244/brian-johnson-special-effects-artist-behind-space-1999-dies-at-86
- Source link: https://gerryanderson.com/en-ca/blogs/blog/brian-johnson-has-died
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Johnson_(special_effects_artist)
[2] https://gerryanderson.com/en-ca/blogs/blog/brian-johnson-has-died
[3] https://catacombs.space1999.net/main/cguide/umeagle.html
[4] https://slashdot.org/~sandbagger
The Eagle (Score:5, Insightful)
Let's look at the various aspects of the Eagle design.
1. It was "designed to work in space" so wasn't designed to be aerodynamic
2. It was modular
3. Mass was kept to a minimum without compromising strength, which is precisely what you would want if your job is to carry a significant mass in space and be able to manoever without ripping apart
4. Cockpits were functional and minimal, not glamorous or more advanced than necessary to do the job
There were terrible aspects as well (nowhere to keep fuel, for example), but if you were going to design a sci-fi ship that is intended to be a simple short-range transport, then the design for the Eagle is close to perfect in a way that most sci-fi vessels really aren't.
Brian Johnson really did a superb job of actually making something LOOK like a practical workhorse.
Re:The Eagle (Score:4, Informative)
The entire body could be swapped in and out depending on the mission too, like as a cargo bay, or science lab. Moonbase Alpha lost 10 eagles across the two series, so they were probably cheap to replace too. The pilot having a big step down into their seat was an odd choice, but did look more dramatic when throwing themselves into it, readying for a quick takeoff.
Re: (Score:3)
> The entire body could be swapped in and out depending on the mission too, like as a cargo bay, or science lab. Moonbase Alpha lost 10 eagles across the two series, so they were probably cheap to replace too. The pilot having a big step down into their seat was an odd choice, but did look more dramatic when throwing themselves into it, readying for a quick takeoff.
The pilot stepping down could be viewed as practical. On a landable craft, you'd want someone to have good visibility of the ground on away missions in unfamiliar territory, and the Eagle was large enough that the step-down to reach that visibility is a believable component of the craft. It's an altogether well thought out design that I wish more sci-fi shows had mimicked over the decades since.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
You forgot
5. It was made-up crap with no feasible way to make any of it work
Re: (Score:3)
> Let's look at the various aspects of the Eagle design.
> 1. It was "designed to work in space" so wasn't designed to be aerodynamic
Except, of course, for the front part, which was weirdly aerodynamic
> 2. It was modular
Easy to do when you have no fuel tanks.
> 3. Mass was kept to a minimum without compromising strength, which is precisely what you would want if your job is to carry a significant mass in space and be able to manoever without ripping apart
I have no idea how you calculated mass. But about a third of the vehicle (not including the detachable part) seems to be the landing pads, which doesn't seem very optimum.
> There were terrible aspects as well (nowhere to keep fuel, for example),
Yes, the lack of fuel tanks is a real problem. Also, how do they fly? They only have engines in back, but they skim over the surface of the moon like they are levitating. What holds them up? When they blast off to go into deep space,
Re: (Score:2)
There were the four pods, two at the front and two at the rear, above the landing struts, though. But in any case, whatever fuel source they were using must have been extremely compact. Something nuclear-based, perhaps.
Re: (Score:2)
I guess it could have used some heavy landing thrusters. The attitude jets on the side may work to land and take off from the moon but won't help much on a planet.
But I think I only ever watched one or two episodes.
Re: (Score:2)
5. it wasn't built by Boeing.
Re: (Score:2)
I love the design. I just wish they'd worked out the floor level in the interior into the command module, because it doesn't line up.
Welp (Score:2, Funny)
I guess that's the end of AC/DC.
Re: (Score:2)
Lol, you beat be too it. I hope they don't invite Axl Rose back.
Re: (Score:2)
Damn, my thoughts exactly!
Re: (Score:2)
See, this is the comment I was looking for. Well done!
Model Kit Version? (Score:2)
I seem to have a vague memory of building a model kit version when I was younger, but with memories being what they are...
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, did an Eagle model kit in the late '70s, along with some Enterprises (original and -A), X-Wing fighter, and Millenium Falcon.
Man, I was a fool for polystyrene back then.
Probably a good thing I only came across X-Ray Spex in the '90s.
Re: (Score:2)
Were the X-Wing and millennium falcon kits out by the late seventies? For some reason I thought we didn't get those until the 80s. Although I never really built kits until I got into gunpla. I guess I did do a few Macross kits back in the day. I seem to remember the Star wars kids being kind of pricey. At least initially
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, the Star Wars kits were out in late '70s but can't remember if they were AMT or Revell.
I had all these models hanging up on my room in 1979, the year mom splurged for one of those wall murals of the [1]Earthrise seen from the Moon [muralsyourway.com], with triangular rock in the foreground.
Somewhere I have fading to blue photos all the ships against that mural, with my crappy attempts at blacking out the fishing line holding them up.
[1] https://www.muralsyourway.com/earthrise-mural/p?srsltid=AfmBOopdOiW6IeIR8E2HKFKE5HPSCpvxVY3zEMXNfy55sA-Y1rMCLu5K
Re: (Score:2)
I had kits for both an Eagle and a Hawk (which is somewhat surprising in retrospect given it only appeared in one or two episodes, IIRC). The Eagle model was a much more complex kit with far more parts than the Hawk, which was also somewhat smaller despite them both supposedly being to the same scale. Tbh, I always thought the Hawk was the cooler looking ship due to its more aggressive lines, which is probably why it was blessed with a model kit, but you can't argue with the sheer practicality & flexi
SFX Master (Score:2)
He was also instrumental in the production of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Dragonslayer, DragonHeart, and Space Truckers. I understand he was also a super nice guy. His inspiration lives on in so many designers and builders.
Too many (Score:2)
There are way too many famous Brian Johnsons.
Nostalgia (Score:2)
Eagle transporter still looks cool as hell today.
Film about the Space-1999 Eagles (Score:2)
Might check out this film: [1]The Eagle Obsession [eagledocumentary.com].
(only in pre-release screening now, but there's a youtube preview: [2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] )
[1] https://eagledocumentary.com/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-PwBH4_uBI
Space 1999 (Score:1)
The shots of the moon blowing up and heading out of orbit are really believable /s
Re: (Score:2)
Synced to the season 1 theme along with action shots from the upcoming episode. Don't recall any other series sign that.
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SpX8bVEmJo