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his B/W shot shows the finished final set of Dr Zarkof's greenhouse from which the rocket is launched. The set was built on stage 2 at Shepperton and measured approx 60 feet x 40 ft. We used real miniature conifers planted in pots sunk into holes cut into the ground set to get really realistic trees
The planet "Mongo" set built for the crash-landing of Zarkoff's rocket This version of the set was never seen in the film in this form; with lots of crashed spacecraft littering the ground.
My colleague and fellow co-supervising model-maker Bill Pearson, adds detail to the greenhouse. The model was not built by the SFX crew due to a union dispute
The greenhouse set described above showing detail like electricity pylons and fencing, all carefully made to 1/18th scale.
A foot beside the Greenhouse model gives away the model's size. Zarkoff's jetbike (one of many inventions we made to decorate the set) can just be seen.
The Emperor Ming's city was once again built by the carpenters while we model makers sat around waiting for the union to sort out if we were allowed to work or not!
Zarkoff's rocket separates from its first stage. This was shot against blue-screen and , in my opinion, like most of the rest of the blue-screen shots in the film, looked pretty naff!
A B/W shot of Zarkoff's ship separating. The gas is Freon (air brush propellant back in 1979) Some people have commented that both the colouring and the detailing of Zarkoff's ship looks a bit like "The Mole" in Thunderbirds". This is entirely intentional!
I hold the smallest model I've ever made for a film. This is Princess Aura's shuttle. It's jet lights were powered by a tiny camera battery!