Gallery: Featured Artists:
Roberto Baldassari
Space1999.org talked with Roberto Baldassari in March 2000 about his influential (and inspirational) Space: 1999-based illustrations. Part Three of Three.
Continuing with the Moonbase Alpha blueprints (MABs) which are available for downloading in Acrobat format. What inspired you to create the Moonbase Alpha blueprints?
They
are based on the Moonbase Alpha blueprints from Starlog's Alpha Moonbase
Technical Notebook. I made those five drawings specifically for the Italian
Space: 1999 convention of September 1999. We set up a small exhibit
for the Italian fans and the MABs were my special contribution for it
along with the covention poster and folder.
How did you research the blueprints?
Starlog's Technical Notebook was my only reference for them. I had no time or energy for putting on them the kind of work I did for the Eagle. For all the people interesting in detailed blueprints of Moonbase Alpha I strongly suggest to get Keith Young's photocopied volumes of drawings. (See: Space1999.org's Store section.)
In researching, did you find any differences between the Moonbase Alpha from Year One and Year Two?
Well, they were almost two different places. In Year One production designer Keith Wilson had more time and freedom to create huge sections of Alpha for a particular episode, using the inventive modular system he designed for the series. In Year Two for budgetary reasons, a permanent moonbase set was set up. For this reason the second season used the same locations all the time and only occasionally there was space for showing different new sections of Alpha. They also used more colorful elements in Year Two (computer panels, chairs, signs).
Again, we're curious: What software tools did you use to create the blueprints? How long did it take to create the final product?
Adobe Illustrator. In a week or so.
Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view these .PDF (Acrobat) files.
What was the most challenging aspect of putting together this project?
It has been an easy and smooth one. Nothing compared to the Eagle poster anyway.
You've made them available online for free downloading. Any particular reason?
Well, they are based only on the Starlog's blueprints and made for the Italian exhibit, so I thought there were no reason for making money with them.
Any plans to create a cutaway poster of Moonbase Alpha, similar to your Eagle cutaway poster?
I'd love to, I'd really love to make a comprehensive 3d cutaway color poster of Moonbase Alpha using the incredibly accurate work made by Keith Young on the subject. I talked with Keith about it during the Breakaway Convention in Los Angeles and I had his blessing. The real problem is that I had little time to dedicate to a project of that amplitude. But, who knows, maybe from now till the New York Convention planned for September something could happen.
Do you have any pointers/recommendations for people who want to get into blueprint work, such as this?
Well, I usually prefer to listen to advises better than get them. Anyway if somebody decide to make a technical drawing (or building a model) just for their own enjoyment I just want to say: take your time, don't be impatient to see the final result. Those are work of love. Do as much research from the original sources as you can. Study the work of artists you like and take inspiration from them. Only when you are completely satisfied with what you achieved, then show it to the world.
Any fan feedback you want to share?
No one in particular. I received many compliments from all over the world, including a few from people whose work I admired for a long time, including Star Trek's Rick Sternbach, Geoffrey Mandel, and the Sci Pub Tech people who publish those nice Star Trek and Star Wars cutaway posters.
Do you have plans to create any additional drawings/blueprints?
Who knows? Never say never again.
Thanks, Roberto!
You can check out Roberto's site at http://www.space1999.net/eagle/
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