Irwin Allen’s Flight 612

Just got back from a wonderful Sunday in San Juan Capistrano CA to visit the historical  California Mission ‘Mission San Juan Capistrano, and a tribute to the many incarnations of Zorro on film.

Among the various displays there was a wonderful tribute to the great Disney television series, and our very own Guy Williams! Many artifacts and collectibles were on display, including toys, charm bracelets, as well as a ‘pitch book’ to sell the series to Walt Disney. There was also movie posters like ‘The Mark of Zorro’ and much much more.

To add to the atmosphere, there was also a film running with clips from the old serials as well as the movies and of course the Disney series with Guy Williams. All in all the folks at the Mission did a wonderful job with the exhibit, and we had a great time seeing all the goodies on display and seeing all the visitor’s reaction to this legendary hero.

It’s interesting to note that Guy went on to do a couple of films after Zorro, Captain Sindbad for one, then went on to do a couple of episodes of Bonanza (which almost became a regular role for him) before getting the part of John Robinson on Lost in Space!

The exhibit runs until August 31, 2010 and definitely worth checking out! -Lars & Cynthia

Huge Seaview Submarine PREORDER by Moebius Models

This model kit is now available for Preorder at Megahobby.com.  The Seaview if  from Moebius Models.  39″ long and based on the television series sub, with 4 windows in the bow and the Flying Sub bay. Details will include a Flying Sub, Diving Bell, detailed control room. The kit may even include small scale figures. Box art will be by Polar Lights favorite Chris White.

Huge Seaview Submarine PREORDER by Moebius Models

Just completed this wonderful figure of Judy Robinson (Marta Kristen), the figure is even approved by Marta! with her signature cast on the base…very cool! and also, the classic Aurora (Polar Lights) Robot. The figure is resin and produced by Jimmy Flintstone, when I first saw it, I knew I had to build and paint it…it represents the spirit of the show, and the 1960’s-the caricature element is obvious, but really suggests the fun and colorful side of Lost in Space !

I decided to paint her in the colorful third season violet & yellow scheme, even though the dress is more of the second season cut & design, I went with more of the mood and “feeling”of the show in general.

The majority of the figure was airbrushed in acrylics, and details hand painted…the robot was mostly airbrushed as well, using Floquil “Old Silver” and Modelmaster enamels. Much time was spent on the arms and tracks cleaning up the seams and filling gaps. This old Aurora kit (reissued by Polar Lights) is still very cool, and a classic!

This little vignette will make a nice addition to the Irwin Allen collection, its amazing how much interest after forty plus years there still is…models, figures, ships and merchandise continues to come out and more on the way !

The many incarnations of the Irwin Allen ships have continued to appeal to modelers for over 40 years. Aurora plastics were the first model company to release model kits based on the Irwin Allen shows, these kits have remained sought after all these years.

I think a lot of the appeal is the designs….they were truly timeless shapes, if fact they almost seem more real than the real thing in some ways, take for instance the Seaview, what a cool design ! if you look at a modern sub, it almost doesn’t seem as real ! I do like the shapes of WW II submarines though, they seemed to have more shape and form.

In the 80’s Lunar Models filled the void left by Aurora and Monogram and released almost everything from all the Irwin Allen shows, including accesorie sets, figures and more, I got every kit as it was released back then, and still couldn’t get enough !

Polar Lights revieved the Aurora craze by reissuing many of the classic early kits, and some originals such as the Jupiter 2 ( a beautiful rendition w/ full interior ) and a Dr.Smith with the robot also very cool!

Now Moebius Models has taken the torch, and is releasing a 49inch Seaview ! complete with interior, Flying Sub and more ! they have also anounced a Lost in Space Chariot, and Space Pod in 1/24 scale…A great scale, not too big or too small . www.moebiusmodels.com

A tip of the hat must go to Irwin’s art directors Jack Martin Smith, Bill Creber, and the great Paul Zastupnivich , to name a few, for being true visual geniuses, good design never gets dated.