Mike J. Idacavage Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 While I don't build a lot of models which fall under the Sci-Fi category, I do like to build subjects from my favorite movies in this genre. I really liked Silent Running when I first saw it in the theater and managed to pick up several kits from this movie over the years. Here is one that I just completed. It Is the Planet-X version and depicts drone No. 1. In the movie, Bruce Dern gives this drone the name Dewey. The completed model is about 5-6 inches high. Have fun modeling! Mike :cheers:/>/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Very nicely done my friend! The pose with the leg up in the air looks great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Wise Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Very nice Mike. I remember "Silent Running" very well. A great movie. Dewey looks very well done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Thanks guys! There is not a lot of us who remember this film. I brought this model to my local model club about halfway during the build and I got a lot of blank looks! I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Have fun modeling! Mike :cheers:/>/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob.w Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 One of my favorite sci-fi movies. Had an enviro theme about it long before Hollywood felt the oblication to beat us to death with movies of how bad humans are and how perfect nature is. The little robots were probably the best done and most realistic use of robots that I've ever seen in a sci-fi movie. I really like what you've done with yours, btw. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Smith Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Man, I remember that movie. One of my old time favorites. Huey, Dewey and Louie. Edited February 23, 2014 by Scott Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks guys! There is not a lot of us who remember this film. I brought this model to my local model club about halfway during the build and I got a lot of blank looks! I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Geez ... I remember this movie clear as a bell! Back then the special effects were amazing ... but looking at it now ... well, it's still fun. And I just watched a YouTube "How they made Silent Running" vid ... and that took me back those 35 or 40 years. You did a terrific job on this Mike! Thanx for the post! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Excellent job on the kit. Every few years I stumble across this movie on TV and for me it is always a mandatory watch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pandabear Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) --- Edited July 2, 2014 by pandabear Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 While I don't build a lot of models which fall under the Sci-Fi category, I do like to build subjects from my favorite movies in this genre. I really liked Silent Running when I first saw it in the theater and managed to pick up several kits from this movie over the years. Here is one that I just completed. It Is the Planet-X version and depicts drone No. 1. In the movie, Bruce Dern gives this drone the name Dewey. The completed model is about 5-6 inches high. Hi Mike, What a great model, I love it! Years ago I also bought the Planet X model, all three drones in one set, in white resin, full of air bubbles. I later learned that the originals were sold separately, with Dewey in coral resin, Huey in pink resin, and Louie in ivory resin. On Ebay I've also seen them as a set of three, in light tan resin, possibly a recast? Clearly my set was a recast (of a recast maybe, even). Was yours an original? You mention that you picked up several models over the years. I compiled the following list of Silent Running drone kits, could you compare that with your kit collection? 'British' (5 inch) Destiny models (1/4 scale) Larson Design (main body is 2" tall and 2 5/8" wide) Model Prisoners (5" wide and 6" tall) Planet X (4" tall x 3 1/2" wide) Posigrade Creations (1/8 scale, 4 1/2 inch tall) Wilco Models (1/4 scale) I am tempted to buy the Destiny Models kit.. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Thanks guys! There is not a lot of us who remember this film. I brought this model to my local model club about halfway during the build and I got a lot of blank looks! I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I have seen the movie a few times; unfortunately one of the things I remember most is this really awful kaftan 'n' sandals song on the soundtrack! I remember these little guys much more fondly: they had a kind of '70s Disney thing going on, but in a good way! This is a superb project and really brings Dewey to life. Honestly, I think Silent Running could stand a re-make -more so than some of the dross that Hollywood has seen fit to resurrect for no good reason. Just spare us Tom Cruise as Lowell! (Maybe John Cusack?) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaronw Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 (edited) That is neat, it never would have even occurred to me there might be any models from the movie. I like the movie but it is rather obscure, doesn't seem like many know about it. Nice job on the little guy. :thumbsup:/> Edited June 1, 2014 by Aaronw Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I like it a lot! I might not be the biggest fan of the movie, but it surely has a lot of nostalgy value for me since I saw it on TV as a kid. I was into "space movies" back then so that's why I still remember it pretty well (although I saw it for another time years later). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 (edited) I like it a lot! I might not be the biggest fan of the movie, but it surely has a lot of nostalgy value for me since I saw it on TV as a kid. I was into "space movies" back then so that's why I still remember it pretty well (although I saw it for another time years later). I have it on DVD and have always liked it. Douglas Trumbull did the special effects. He went on to do Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I personally think science fiction films of the 50s through the 70's were the better thematically because it was the first time that many of these ideas had been explored in film. You just have to look past the limited special effects and enjoy them with respect to the time and culture in which they were made. One could say they same about other film genres as well. Almost everything today is a rehash of what has come before. For example, I think the original The Day the Earth Stood Still is far superior to the recent Keanu Reeves version, despite far having inferior special effects. Most film makers today are standing on the shoulders of giants. TV producers as well. There are exceptions, of course, which are clearly recognizable. Every generation produces its greats. I am admittedly biased because I grew up with these earlier works. Edited June 1, 2014 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Thanks everyone! I am glad you liked my Dewey. It is so great to see that there are a lot of us who not only remember the film but appreciate it for what it was at the time. Rob Your list is better than the one I have! You have a few on your Drone list that I have not seen or were aware of. If you can swing it, definitely get the Destiny Models version of the Silent Running maintenance drones. The quality is excellent in the copies I have. There was a recent build of one of the Destiny Models drones over in Starship Modeler and the builder did a fantastic job on the build. Really inspirational! The Dewey that I built in this thread was the coral colored resin version from the set that was sold separately. It was one of the original kits in this series. I still have the Huey drone kit in my stash (sold the Louie kit a few months ago) that I'll either post for sale on ARC or put it up on eBay. I am ready to move on to the larger Drone kits from Destiny now that I have one of these guys built! Have fun modeling! Mike Hi Mike, What a great model, I love it! Years ago I also bought the Planet X model, all three drones in one set, in white resin, full of air bubbles. I later learned that the originals were sold separately, with Dewey in coral resin, Huey in pink resin, and Louie in ivory resin. On Ebay I've also seen them as a set of three, in light tan resin, possibly a recast? Clearly my set was a recast (of a recast maybe, even). Was yours an original? You mention that you picked up several models over the years. I compiled the following list of Silent Running drone kits, could you compare that with your kit collection? 'British' (5 inch) Destiny models (1/4 scale) Larson Design (main body is 2" tall and 2 5/8" wide) Model Prisoners (5" wide and 6" tall) Planet X (4" tall x 3 1/2" wide) Posigrade Creations (1/8 scale, 4 1/2 inch tall) Wilco Models (1/4 scale) I am tempted to buy the Destiny Models kit.. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Your list is better than the one I have! You have a few on your Drone list that I have not seen or were aware of. If you can swing it, definitely get the Destiny Models version of the Silent Running maintenance drones. The quality is excellent in the copies I have. There was a recent build of one of the Destiny Models drones over in Starship Modeler and the builder did a fantastic job on the build. Really inspirational!The Dewey that I built in this thread was the coral colored resin version from the set that was sold separately. It was one of the original kits in this series. I still have the Huey drone kit in my stash (sold the Louie kit a few months ago) that I'll either post for sale on ARC or put it up on eBay. I am ready to move on to the larger Drone kits from Destiny now that I have one of these guys built! Hi Mike, thanks for the information and the recommendation! I looked for the Destiny Models drone article on Starship Modeler, but couldn't locate it. Instead I found DEWEY by Chris Rogerson on Modeler Magic, could that be the article? Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tsubame Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have seen the movie a few times; unfortunately one of the things I remember most is this really awful kaftan 'n' sandals song on the soundtrack! I remember these little guys much more fondly: they had a kind of '70s Disney thing going on, but in a good way! This is a superb project and really brings Dewey to life. Honestly, I think Silent Running could stand a re-make -more so than some of the dross that Hollywood has seen fit to resurrect for no good reason. Just spare us Tom Cruise as Lowell! (Maybe John Cusack?) Or Tom Hanks (puuuke, groooan!) Would have to be Sam Rockwell for me! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have seen the movie a few times; unfortunately one of the things I remember most is this really awful kaftan 'n' sandals song on the soundtrack! Just spare us Tom Cruise as Lowell! (Maybe John Cusack?) Like I said, enjoy within the context of the period when it was made. It was made during an environmental "hippy" enlightenment period. The music and attitudes of the characters and what they were supposed to represent are part of appreciating the film. That opening scene, with all of the frogs and the enviro-hippy music, making you think you are in forest...then you draw back and realize you are on a spacecraft, has an impact. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Icehound Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Nice looking Dewey Mike! The movie is one of my favourite movies and I will watch it any time it comes on TV. A classic in my opinion. Thanks for posting your pics regards Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.