Monday 18 April 2011

Beauty and the Bot - Studio McVey


One reason that Iwill never be a great painter (apart from my lack of any artistic skill) is because I lack patience. I bought this Limited Edition model from Studio McVey at Salute on Saturday. I just had to paint it immediately Sunday.

"I want it and I want it now - or I'll scream and I'll scream until I'm sick." Violet Elizabeth Bott.

For some reason that I did not immediately recognise, it sang to me. More about that later. Mike McVey, a nice guy by the way, told me that it has not sold well.

Astonishing!

It is limited to 750 casts and I got No. 175 so there are quite a few left.


The girl is wonderfully sculpted. I wish I could do her justice.

The model was sculpted by Yannick Hennebo, from a concept by Christophe Madura.


Or should that be conceived by MGM from an original idea by William Shakespeare?

Now I know why I just had to have this model.

Forbidden Planet, one of the greatest Space Opera movies of all time, was released in 1956. Was it really that long ago, sigh?

The beautiful long-legged Anne Francis died this year of cancer in Santa Barbara, California. She was eighty. She was a successful actress, too good looking to be valued in Hollywood for her thespian abilities, appearing in many movies and TV shows, notably Honey West.

But for me, she will always be Altaira 'Alta' Mobius, the archetype mad scientist's beautiful daughter.

As long as men and women value high adventure and beautiful girls, the United Planet Starship C57D will take the long flight to Altair, to Alta and Robbie.


Forbidden planet lives on in theatre in England in Return to the Forbidden Planet - a rock Space Opera. I have the CD and saw the production in Bromley some years ago.

I wonder what The Bard would have thought of it.

Model available from Studio McVey for about twenty quid.

Highly Recommended!
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15 comments:

  1. kingsleypark18 April 2011 at 13:37

    Great paint job.

    Re the Rock Space Opera, I played the part of Cookie in an amateur stage version of the show a few years back (and no I was not playing a guitar). One of the best shows I have ever taken part in - great music! (Now wanders away from PC whistling "She's not there!")

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  2. Mike Howell18 April 2011 at 14:25

    I am intimidated by McVey's models. I buy them because the sculpts are amazing but I can't bring myself to put brush to them. The thought of not doing one justice just pains me. Marike Reimer's Crystal Brush win made it even harder. I want mine to look like that!

    I like your rendition. Bot has a wonderful color. I don't know if Beauty's skin could use a little more shading to bring out more of the contour... hard to tell in the photo. The creamy complexion you've given her is perfect with the source material!

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  3. Porky18 April 2011 at 15:01

    I find it hard to believe this hasn't taken off. Maybe it's just a little beyond expectations nowadays, or the customer base isn't so into this vibe. Great post though, and I think you have far more talent than you know - the metal effect is impressive, alien and stylised.

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  4. The Angry Lurker18 April 2011 at 15:44

    Very well done, the problem I believe is that they're marketed for modellers and not wargamers and the price is a problem, on Saturday I bought 4 20mm tanks and 6 20mm figures for the same price.

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  5. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 16:04

    Dear MC
    Thanks
    J

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  6. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 16:05

    Dear KP
    Cookie. I guess you can sing then. Not one of my talents. The CD from the theatre production is great.
    J

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  7. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 16:07

    Dear Mike
    Thanks. I use these photos to check detail - I had to adjust the shoulder straps after viewing these, for example. The skin is more layered than the photo suggests but you are right. I have added a few more highlights.
    J

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  8. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 16:08

    Dear Porky
    Astonishe me too. It is such a great piece. I notice 'Dan Dare' stuff is coming back into fashion so maybe it will be a slow burner.
    J

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  9. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 16:10

    Dear Lurker,
    Yah, by resin model standards, £20 is a steal. The quality of the kit is superb.
    John

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  10. Zzzzzz18 April 2011 at 19:57

    She's quite a gurl. I feel a bit funny now.

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  11. John Lambshead18 April 2011 at 21:26

    Dear ZZzzzz
    Give it a few more years and even the funny feeling will be a distant memory.
    J

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  12. shaun19 April 2011 at 10:15

    Remember what?

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  13. John Lambshead19 April 2011 at 10:41

    Dear Shaun
    Quite!
    John

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  14. Ray Rousell19 April 2011 at 13:15

    I think you've done a grand job, that was some going though, after walking around the show for 7 hours the last thing I wanted to do was paint anything!

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  15. John Lambshead19 April 2011 at 20:05

    Dear Ray
    After the Great Redecoration I am a lean mean painting machine who doesn't look a day over 70.
    John

    ReplyDelete

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