Lost in Details--Storeroom Door

An interesting comment prompted me to post a detail image of the Jupiter 2 small storeroom door. Located just behind the radio control station a very small storeroom was tucked away next to the porthole and under the sloped hull. In this SketchUp model I've removed the outer hull for clarity and shown the door in in both its closed and open positions. The door was actually designed as what is known as a bi-fold door. It swung into the storage room cutting into a portion of the interior space. Because of the way the manual door operated and was cut at an angle it actually had plenty of practical clearance to stay under the sloped hull.

Jupiter 2 Exterior

Okay, this model is really a cheat. I have used the lower section of the full-sized Jupiter 2 exterior with its landing gear as a base. The full-sized spaceship had diameter of only 43’-6”. The miniatures of the spaceship were scaled for a diameter of 48’-0”. The full-sized interior/exterior of the spaceship had a diameter of 47’-4”.

This version of the Jupiter 2 has the 47’-4” diameter of the full-sized interior/exterior.

The other cheat comes from how tall the upper deck portion is. To scale the miniatures all had an upper deck portion of 6’-0”. The same 6’-0” was on the upper deck portion of the full sized exterior spaceship. The full sized interior/exterior had sloped sides that continued up into the scaffolding of the stage. Here the upper deck is 7’-8” in order to house the spaceship upper deck interior.

Don’t ask about the lower deck.

Jupiter 2 Master Control Console

This view of the master control console shows the panel as it appeared during the first season. Instead of a central control panel the closed panel could unfold into a pilots seat. This was perfect for the concept of a single pilot, but by the second season a second seat was added and the center panel became another control panel.

Here the view out the window is of Gate 115 (or, double one-five, as it was called on the second season episode “The Ghost Planet”). The gate is not exactly as seen in the episode. Design drawings indicated that the full-sized exterior spaceship was to be used outside of the Fox Lot Mill building. The location was the same location used for the third season episode “Visit to a Hostile Planet.” Here I have dressed the mill and painted it as it was intended.

Jupiter 2 Interior Elevator

One of the most significant changes from the set of the Gemini 12 to the set of the Jupiter 2 was the addition of the elevator and ladder leading to the lower level. Along side of each are doors that would lead to storage compartments. In the third season the door nearest the elevator led to the Space Pod.

Jupiter 2 Upper Deck

I’ve been recently asked why I haven’t followed up on my “Lost in Space Design” book series. The sad truth is there isn’t enough interest. It took the publisher three years to sell 1,000 copies. The audience is just too small to make this labor of love profitable.

For those interested from time to time I’ll post a few images from the books that might have been. It was my intention to make a series of five books. Book One is “Lost in Space Design: No Place to Hide.” Book Two would have been “Lost in Space Design: The Reluctant Stowaway.” Each of the remaining books (Three, Four and Five) would have been dedicated to one of the three seasons.

The image here is from a SketchUp model of the Jupiter 2 upper deck. This model incorporates many of the set modifications made to convert the Gemini 12 into the Jupiter 2 spaceship. Here the new airlock, radio control center and storage room are located next to the improved master control console.

Fuel Barge Final Details

Here are the final details of the Fuel Barge hatch. All of the colors seen in these details were called out on production drawings. The shades were selected based upon the common shades of orange, red, or yellow seen during the series run.

The "open" and "close" buttons were actually called out as painted details. They had no dimension at all and did not glow. The fuzzy edge of the "A"on tank "A-11" is due to the fact that the pattern for this  SketchUp model was created at a much smaller bit size and pasted onto the tank.

Fuel Barge More Details

It would appear that the hatches on the Fuel Barge were intended to slide up. Even though a full sized section of the fuel tank was built on stage with this hatch the hatch was not made practical. On screen the glowing push buttons for the fuel capacity could be seen, but little else.

It's amazing how much detail goes into the production of a single episode of any television show and still never finds its way to the screen.

Fuel Barge Detail

The Fuel Barge miniature used in the Lost in Space episodes "Wild Adventure" and "The Haunted Lighthouse" were missing in a small detail. This hatch was actually built as a full sized section of the tank for an actor to interact with. The fuel gauge is in the upper righthand corner and two hooks are provided for safety tethers to attach.

A great deal of design work was added to this hatch that barely shows in the episode.

Fuel Barge Bottom

This is an interesting view of the Fuel Barge--it's the bottom view. Comparing this view with the top view it becomes evident that there are three repeats of the number and pattern around each tank. 

This model was a challenge in SketchUp because of the patterns. Trying to wrap lettering and patterns around the tank would have been difficult and created an unnecessarily large model in terms of size. This model is only 5.6MB. That's because the patterns were drawn flat in another model and then images were pasted onto the tanks. The tank circumference had to be calculated to plan the pattern. One side of each tank has a small hatch (not included in the production miniature) that had to be properly positioned.

Fuel Barge Top

A site visitor asked about the paint pattern on the Fuel Barge. On screen the third fuel tank, "C-10," is very difficult to see--not just for the letters but the colors too.

I had the good fortune to research original drawings from the television series in order to prepare this SketchUp model. Honestly, I don't remember if these are the colors that were called out on the drawings, or if they are the closest match to what was seen on screen. Possibly it's a little of both. 

I've also added a little detail that wasn't on the miniature--a hatch on each tank. But more about that later.

Wild Adventure

As the eternal Lost in Space fan I can't help but return to the show on occasion to marvel at the wonderful and ever present spacecrafts. This is (fictionally) an American design as opposed to the many alien spacecraft that were seen. It was first seen as a fuel barge in the second season episode "Wild Adventure." Later the same ship would become a weather station in the third season entry "The Haunted Lighthouse."

As a fuel barge the design makes some sense with its three large fuel tanks surrounding a central docking ring. But when depicted as a weather station the eternal problem of an interior too big for the exterior plagued the episode. The supports connecting the tanks to the central docking ring are too small to allow for personnel access. That means that only one of the tank areas could possibly be used as living quarters. Using the Jupiter 2 upper deck for scale means that the stations livable area would be smaller than the upper deck as well as long and narrow. Of course that's not how it was depicted on the show.

But who cares? The episode was entertaining anyway.

Heading to the Hollywood Collector's Show

I'll be heading out to the Hollywood Collector's Show on October 8 and 9.  I'll be there selling and signing my book, "Lost in Space Design: No Place To Hide."  If you'd like to meet me this is place to be. If you'd like to meet celebrities you couldn't find a better place to be.  There will be a cast reunion from "Batman," "The Waltons" and more.  Check out the Hollywood Collector's Show website for all of the latest information.

The illustration shown here is not actually of me traveling to the show.  This is a SketchUp rendering used in my book.  The Gemini 12 was created in SketchUp, based upon the 12 inch miniature used for filming long shot flying sequences.  I've placed the model in front of a backdrop (actually a screen grab from the Lost in Space series) of Earth.  At this point the spaceship would be hitting maximum dynamic pressure.  If you want to know how I know this come see me at the show.

Lost in Space Design:Excerpt

Here's a sneak peek at my new book Lost in Space Design: No Place To Hide.  The book explores the design of classic sci-fi/fantasy television show by looking at both the production and the science behind the fiction.  

This page illustrates that point with a look at one of the production ideas that did not make the final cut for the unaired pilot.  In this case a meteor hole was supposed to be seen near the back of the Gemini 12 spaceship.  Not only do I illustrate some of the proposed camera angles, I also point out that destruction of this sort would have meant the end of the Space Family Robinson.

The book contains more than 100 images and illustrations.  I created most of them were created in SketchUp.  If you're interested in learning more about the design of the original Lost in Space pilot please use the link to find the book on Amazon.com.

Oh, and by the way, notice the post date of this blog entry: June 12.  That's Irwin Allen's birthday.  That's where the name of the pilot spaceship comes from too.  "Gemini" is Irwin's zodiac sign and 12 is the day of his birth.  At that time in the mid 60s there was already a NASA space program called "Gemini" and the final rocket launches were already planned (they would not continue up to 12).  It was felt that there would be some confusion with the science-fiction family's space program and the real thing, so the spaceship's name became the Jupiter 2 for the series.

But Irwin wasn't done plugging his birthday.  In Land of the Giants that is the date that the little people found themselves sidetracked on a routine trip to London.  He makes it hard for his fans to forget his birthday.

Lost in Space Design

It's here.  I've written a book on Lost in Space Design, hopefully the first in a series.  The book focuses on the designs for the unaired Lost in Space pilot episode "No Place To Hide."  This is what Lost in Space was like before there was a Dr. Smith or a robot.  The book looks at the design of the pilot from a production and scientific point-of-view.  

The 80-page softbound book is fully illustrated with over 100 images.  I created all of the original art for the book using SketchUp.  Thanks to this wonderful 3-D modeling tool readers will be able to look at the spaceship and other sets from angles that vintage photos have never shown.

Publisher, Jack Hagerty, has helped to add some very interesting scientific depth to the book with an analysis of the realities of space travel.  Hagerty actually is a rocket scientist with a number of interesting books on the subject.  If you enjoy space travel be sure to look into his other works too.

Lost in Space Design: No Place To Hide is currently available on Amazon.com and from the Publisher.  Click on the links to order yours today. 

The Munsters - Bat's-Eye-View

Well, here is my last post for The Munsters house before Halloween.  It's a bat's-eye-view of the house, flying high above.  The lot is a recreation of the original Colonial Street location.  The Los Angeles River was actually directly behind the house, separating the property from the nearby golf course adjoining Universal Studios. This large property was over 100 feet wide and around 50 feet to the front door.  That's a lot of crabgrass.

The roof may look a little unfinished from this view.  That's because the house is based upon the backlot facade.  There was no reason to finish anything that would not be seen by the camera.

This Halloween, if you happen to be flying past The Munsters house, don't forget to swoop in and say Trick-or-Treat.

Munsters Details - Screened Porch

Here is a hidden detail not often seen on The Munsters house.  It is the screened porch on the far right side. In the Universal Studio feature file So Goes My Love the local fire department thinks that inventor Maxim's house is burning down.  Don Ameche (as Maxim) comes out of the screened porch to explain that it's just one of his inventions smoking.  Of course the irritated fire department ends up turning the hose on the inventor.

In The Munster there is tag at the end of an episode (forgive me for not looking it up) where Herman and Eddie are playing baseball on the side yard.  Lily comes out of the screened porch to remind Herman that he will be late for work.  One pitch from Eddie and Herman hits the ball that ricochets off the wall knocking Herman out cold.  Lily's not worried the car pool from the parlor will be by to pick him up soon.

Munsters Details - Front Window

As the Halloween month continues to build to a frighteningly fun conclusion I have just a few more images from The Munsters house to post.  The Munsters seems to be an audience favorite and that's why I've posted so many images of the house.  But my audience of Internet viewers is hard to understand.

My posting of The Munsters Revisited (I'll not link to it here) has had 298 hits as of this morning.  My next closest posting is the Tomorrowland Signpost at 56 hits.  Clearly the audience is looking for images from The Munsters, right?  Well, it turns out that if you use Yahoo images to search almost any variation of The Munsters my image The Munsters Revisited comes up on the first page of images.  Viewers come to the site look at the image and then go.

Some viewers stick around and look to see what else is available.  Few seem to have figured out that, like many blogs, I use labels to help viewers find what they are looking for.  At the bottom of each posting are labels that one may click on to find similarly labeled images.  If you want to find my other television images just click on the label below.  There is also a long list of labels on the right.  Click on Disneyland, or Seuss Landing to find a different assortment of my work.

Finally, don't forget to click on Older Post at the bottom of the page to view (you guessed it) Older Posts.  There are over 135 posts on this blog.

I try to give my audience what they want -- please don't be too shy to look around.  It's open house here every day.

Munsters Details - Side Window

The Munsters house was original built on a Universal Studios sound stage for the feature film So Goes My Love.  The house was called the Maxim house, after the lead character.  This side of the house had not been finished for the film since it was not seen.  When the house was moved to the backlot this side of the house needed some attention.  The beautiful window, seen here, also came from the film So Goes My Love.  It also came from the Maxim house, but it was built for Maxim's 2nd house.  The Munsters seemed to like their garden on the over grown side, so this window was mostly covered in shrubs.

Munsters Details - Kitchen Door

Here's another detail image from The Munsters house.  It's the kitchen door near the garage.  The door and the garage were added onto the house for the Universal Studios feature film The Brass Bottle.  Prior to that there was a window where the door and porch are that matched the lower window on the left.

Munsters Details - Bat-Vane

Keeping up a blog of one person's art is not easy.  In fact, if it weren't for SketchUp it would be impossible.  To celebrate Halloween I've been posting images of haunted houses.  Well, mostly The Munsters, but this month I also have a number of images from the Bewitched house.  Once a structure is created in SketchUp there are an infinite number of views that can be explored.  This is a view of the bat-vane weather vane.  This view also shows off the interesting roof line, finials and even the television antenna.