Have any CGI gurus tried to model the Scarab

[jjrakman]

I know it was just a toy, but with some modifications I think it could be a pretty cool model.

http://www.caisley.com/1910055.jpg

http://www.bugeyedmonster.com/toys/battlestar/battlestar/blowup/shipscarab.jpg



Or how about the Stellar Probe?


http://www.bugeyedmonster.com/toys/battlestar/battlestar/blowup/shipshipprobe.jpg

[Foomandoonian]

I saw the stellar probe for the first time in a collectors shop the other day. I never thought about modelling it! The scarab looks cool too. :)

[ernie90125]

I don't know if these would work well in a fanfilm or not ?

These toys weren't, to the best of my recollection, seen in the series. I think they were a toymaker making a cheap cash-in on the brand name.

So would including them be non-canon and inappropriate ?

Or would it give a wider variety to a fanfilm and show acceptance of all aspects ?

I guess in the background no-one would object ? Then again the wider variety argument is appealing....

To my knowledge no-one has modelled them before.

[Darrell Lawrence]

I might take a jab at them... with modifications of course ;)

[ernie90125]

Best of Luck Warrior.......and please do make modifications. I think most people can guess which parts you'll modify !

What are your thoughts on how these ships should be represented in a fanfilm. As canon, or background novelty ?

Best of Luck...

[Foomandoonian]

I reckon these could make pretty good vehicles if you just take the basic configurations as an inspirational starting point...

[jjrakman]

Yeah I think if someone took a stab at them you'd have to make modifications, to make them look a bit more in tune with the ships that appeared in the show. Although you'd also want to maintain the basic configurations. for instand with the Scarab, i kind of like how the front end folds up to make sort of a single stage rocket platform. Kind of an emergency getaway if a planetoid becomes unstable I suppose. But I think the tires would have to be modified somehow. I'd be really interested to see what Warrior or anyone else comes up with.

[Fragmentary]

I actually kind of like these designs as a concept. I think it's cool how they keep some of the design elements of the viper. I always dug how the Reliant in Star Trek 2 played off the look of the Enterprise as well.

[BlueSquad2001]

I've thought about and have done some sketches playing around with the stellar probe. Needs to be made into a security type fleet patroler, or something? :wtf:

[jjrakman]

I think the word "probe" suggest some kind of scientific vessel maybe?

[BlueSquad2001]

I think you are right. We'll see. :salute:

[ernie90125]

I think probe certainly indicates its possible use.....could it be scientific ? Or perhaps a deep space probe for scanning for Cylon Activity ? It could be seen as a long range viper ? Or could it be adapted for multiple uses ?

Of course in reality this was a cheap toy, with some resemblence to a Viper, so it can out under the brand Battlestar Galactica. I think its use can be whatever the modeller chooses to make as, as they are likely to modify it anyway to help it fit into the BSG universe.

[spcglider]

Its nice to know great minds think alike! I had actually considered making physical models of the Scarab and Stellar Probe
Just for fun. With stylistic modifications, of course. The use of the actual Viper fuselage on a land vehicle seems pretty stupid to me,
but something very similar in shape could be substituted. Perhaps shorter and wider. Just my personal take on it.

And the Stellar Probe, like you mentioned, would probably be an exploration vessel. That long tubular part could carry any number of
scientific packages, payload, or extra tylium. Something like the NASA Shuttle. Imagine this being a delivery system for readout satellites... you could pack several in there and deploy them at very specific locations. Or it could be used as a smaller supply runner to limited scientific outposts. Maybe it would carry scanning equipment to do low-orbit deep scans of planetary bodies.

Anyway, its just a kitschy idea and sound like fun.

But first, I have to get to building my model replica of the Cylon Tank that greeted trams at the Studio Tour!

-Gordon

[bear69designs]

I cobbled together a Scarab in Photoshop using existing CG art, but just as a sketch. It looks pretty interesting, but I haven't yet got around to taking it to the next level and creating a true original. Even though these toys were a tad lame I still loved them, and I think they make great material for new fantasy art.

[spcglider]

I wanna see that!!

-Gordon

[spcglider]

Ahh those toys. Samples of back in the day when parents could be sold on a toy because it was "Three toys in one!!!"

-Gordon

[peter noble]

Gordon,

I'm not going to be content until you've built a fully operational full-sized landram!

I think you might have a bit of trouble with the lasers though. ;)

Best,

P

[spcglider]

Lasers are nothing... its finding the correct model of Thiokol Snowcat that's gonna be a buhgger.

[peter noble]

I read that they sold off that side of the business in 1978 to DeLorean.

I wonder what type of vehicle today would be a good stand-in for the landram?

[spcglider]

Mark Bradley was doing soem research in that direction.

-G

[bear69designs]

You can see my Scarab at the following url:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b69d/113463068/

And more of my art at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b69d/

[spcglider]

That's pretty cool.

-G

[Darrell Lawrence]

You can see my Scarab at the following url:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b69d/113463068/

And more of my art at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b69d/
Interesting take on that :)

[bear69designs]

Thanks. That was just a quick and dirty hack job to see what it would look like, really just a sketch. It is on my "to do" list to draw and paint an original. We need to motivate some of you 3D gurus to do a nice render, tho.

[Darrell Lawrence]

BTW, JJ... http://www.caisley.com/1910055.jpg isn't there.

[jjrakman]

What was that link for?

On another note, I used to have this toy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b69d/113466164/in/photostream/

[Darrell Lawrence]

I dunno what it's for. You have it in your thread starter post.

[jjrakman]

Huh. I see the two pics there myself...

[Darrell Lawrence]

You have three posted. Only two show up ;)

[bear69designs]

StarBird rulez... totally.

[jjrakman]

Huh, can't remember what the third pic was, maybe just another angle of one of the ships.

[Smallworld]

I had these two toys when I was a kid. The toy shop got in one load before christmas and never got any more. The Vipers and Cylon raiders sold out fast and so I never had either. I wasn't too impressed with these at first, as they were not in the show. However, the swiss army nature of the Stellar probe really got to me and I fondly remember it as one of my favorite all time toys now.

I have have been figuring to do a 3D model of this using a standard Viper forward section. I was thinking it could be called an ASP, for Adaptable Stellar Probe, and it keeps the snake thing going. I had imagined that it would be a long range scout ship, not as fast or manouverable as a Viper but longer legged.

The large circular payload section could house fuel and sensors, or not be used at all for closer missions. Alternatly, it could maybe carry missiles or bombs for strike missions? Just thinking out loud...

I think I will definitely go ahead with this!

Cheers.

[jjrakman]

Here's an idea for anyone wanting to redesign the Scarab. I always thought that a redesign could use some of the design elements from the G.I. Joe Slugger:

http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/84/slugger/slugger_title.jpg

http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/84/slugger/

I like the bigger tires, and you could replace the cannon with the forward section of the viper. I kind of like how it's offset to the side. It would almost be more of a tank then.