Photo of Miniature UFO

>Mark, I see in your instructions that you've included a >gap between two of
>the paddles. I thought there were interviews with >someone (?) who noted
>that the only reason there was a gap was that one of the >paddles broke off.

>Marc

Well Marc since I became interested in this model and we are talking from 1971 onwards,I have always been of the opinion that there were 15 paddles and not 16 as would be expected.I first filmed UFO from a Black and White TV in 1974 when I managed to get hold of an 8mm Movie Camera.I also purchased a few episodes on 8mm film in 1978.Looking at those old images convinced me at the time there were only 15 paddles.The release of the DVD's has only convinced me of this.The question is whether this was for reasons of practicality or an original design intention.I think it was the latter.As the model spins
the gap causes a repeated strobing/ flashing effect,breaking up the symmetry of the regular circular shape.Derek Meddings mentions that this is the kind of effect he was trying to create.Along with creative lighting setups,selective camera angles and the highly reflective tape he used to make the model it was a idea he probably felt would enhance this ethereal quality (as he referred to it).Someone like Mike Trim maybe the best person to address this, and other questions about the model.

Mark UK



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have always thought the UFO had a missing paddle intentionally. If you
watch many UFO sequences, you can see the missing section as the UFO spins.

Derek Meddings often stated how hard it was to spin the UFO without having
it wobble, and I do remember going to one of the conventions (I think it was
the one in Bradford UK), and Derek mentioned something about the difficulty
of getting an asymmetrical object to spin axially. I didn't think about this
at the time, but I am certain the missing paddle/entrance? was a design
feature.

Surely, it would have been much easier to have the UFO with all the paddles
present, to help get the UFO to spin stably, so they must have gone to a lot
of trouble to get the UFO to spin with one paddle section missing... the UFO
flying sequence from Flight Path is a good example, and there are many
others. Given the period over which these were filmed, it cannot have been
accidental.

Hope this helps, and Happy Holiday and a Super New Year to you all :)

Best, Griff

--- In [hidden email], "Griff" <griff@g...> wrote:
> I have always thought the UFO had a missing paddle intentionally.
> If you watch many UFO sequences, ...

As I wrote before, I heard that it was to allow room for a studio
man's finger to get in to switch on and off the light bulb in the top
of the spinner's dome.

In my posable UFO Poser model, the side hatch is between plates #1
and #16, and in landed pose plates #1 and #16 rotate up and out to
unblock access to the side hatch.

I have always thought the UFO had a missing paddle intentionally. If you
watch many UFO sequences, you can see the missing section as the UFO spins.

Derek Meddings often stated how hard it was to spin the UFO without having
it wobble, and I do remember going to one of the conventions (I think it was
the one in Bradford UK), and Derek mentioned something about the difficulty
of getting an asymmetrical object to spin axially. I didn't think about this
at the time, but I am certain the missing paddle/entrance? was a design
feature.

Surely, it would have been much easier to have the UFO with all the paddles
present, to help get the UFO to spin stably, so they must have gone to a lot
of trouble to get the UFO to spin with one paddle section missing... the UFO
flying sequence from Flight Path is a good example, and there are many
others. Given the period over which these were filmed, it cannot have been
accidental.

Hope this helps, and Happy Holiday and a Super New Year to you all :)

Best, Griff

--- In [hidden email], "Griff" <griff@g...> wrote:
> I have always thought the UFO had a missing paddle intentionally.
> If you watch many UFO sequences, you can see the missing section as
> the UFO spins. ...

Another story that I have heard is that the paddle is missing to make
room for a finger to reach in from the side to operate something
inside.

The same problem of access occurs in a "real" UFO, when I started
making Poser (see http:://www.renderosity.com ) renders with UFO's
in. See http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/landing2.jpg . Here I
make paddles 1 and 16 rotate up and out to allow access to the side
entry hatch. (I let the paddles rotate up and down and sideways for
the same sort of reason as a real helicopter's rotor blades
articulate about at their bases as the rotor spins.)

If anyone on channel is into CGI,
http://www.kuroyumes-developmentzone.com/appleyard/3d/aaufo2.zip
is a Poser model of a UFO, that I made with internal compartments and
pilot's seats and controls etc.

http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/aliens_and_sp_00.jpg
In a disused factory. Collusion on the ground. Sea Patrol secretly
trading arrested suspects for technology. Also, the local man who got
in to steal non-ferrous metals will wake somewhere unexpected.

http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/in_ufo_stowing_busi_00.jpg
In a UFO. Stowing the catch away.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony Appleyard" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 3:39 AM
Subject: [SHADO] Re: UFO model



> http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/in_ufo_stowing_busi_00.jpg
> In a UFO. Stowing the catch away.
>

------------------------------------------------------

What did they do to the top of the guy's head???

Dave H.

"Anthony Appleyard" <a.appleyard@b...> wrote:-
> http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/in_ufo_stowing_busi_00.jpg
> In a UFO. Stowing the catch away.

"davrecon" <davrecon@n...> wrote:
> What did they do to the top of the guy's head??? Dave H.

It must be the low gravity and the effect of being (literally) spaced-
out. He started to float up until his head interpenetrated the
ceiling :-)
I have now corrected ths. Thanks for pointing it out. The new version
is at
http://www.buckrogers.demon.co.uk/temp/in_ufo_stowing_busi_02.jpg