Friday, October 13, 2006

Star Tours, Disneyland USA

The original facade of Star Tours, which opened at Disneyland in 1987, before it was changed for the Tomorrowland rebuild in 1998.
I built this model entirely from scratch using matt board, paper, and tempra paint. I referenced photographs of the actual building, as well as an aerial view to help determine the dimensions. I completed this model in 1989. I managed to get an interview with Walt Disney Imagineering based on this model, alas no job.

Dimensions: 19" long, 7" depth, tallest spire 5.5" tall.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Disneyland Railroad, Frontierland Station, Disneyland USA

The Frontierland train depot was based on a movie set designed for the 1949 Disney film, "So Dear to my Heart." After filming, that actual set was given to animator Ward Kimball, who reconstructed it on his property as part of his Grizzly Flats Railroad. When Disneyland was constructed in 1955, the same plans were used to build the Frontierland station, which remains today.
I started with the "Clarkesville Depot" kit from Walthers, then heavily modified it. I reworked the central building, then scratch built the side wings and platform. I plan to create the adjoining water tower, and incorporate them into an "N" scale model railroad. Dimensions: 11.5" long, 4" wide, 2" tall.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

TWA Moonliner, Disneyland USA

The TWA Moonliner sat at the entrance to the "Rocket to the Moon" attraction that first opened with Disneyland in 1955. In 1960, the rocket received a new paint scheme when Douglas Aircraft took over as the new sponsor. The rocket was removed in 1967 as part of the rebuilding of Tomorrowland. In 1998, during another Tomorrowland renewal, a 2/3 size replica of the original found its way back to the launch pad.

Built from a kit, known as the "Mars Liner," made by Glencoe Models. This finished model stands 11.5" tall.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland USA

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, based on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, has been one of my favorite rides since it opened at Disneyland in 1979. Although the ride has been duplicated at other Disney parks, the Disneyland version stands unique in its architecture, since the other versions are based on the rockwork of Monument Valley.

A work-in-progress created in sculpting foam. Currently stands 7.5" tall. This still needs another "detailing" pass in the sculpting work before being painted. I haven't decided how much more of the ride I want to create beyond this iconic section.