THE CLUBHOUSE

MODELING 50's SCI-FI MOVIES


1950 | 1951/1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1956: FORBIDDEN PLANET | 1957 | 1958 | 1959


50's SF MOVIE OVERVIEW

SCI-FI FILM FIESTA: https://scififilmfiesta.blogspot.com/
Also: Sci-Fi Film Fiesta: The Big Fat Book Of Sci-Fi Films Of The 1950s: https://scififilmfiesta.blogspot.com/p/ ... f-sci.html

THE HISTORY OF '50 SCIENCE FICTION: https://www.film89.co.uk/the-history-of ... ma-part-1/
In 3 parts.

SCIFIST 2.0 A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS 1950-1959: https://scifist.net/films-by-year/1950-1959

THE LAST DRIVE IN: "KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES!" SCIENCE FICTION CINEMA OF THE 1050S - 1951 - PART 1: https://thelastdrivein.com/category/cla ... till-1951/


1950




PLOT SUMMARY

A group of scientists and engineers build a spacecraft to embark on humanity's first mission to the Moon, facing technical challenges and public skepticism along the way. The film depicts their journey to the lunar surface and their efforts to overcome various obstacles to achieve their historic goal.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWmR8mM5Exg&t=660s

MARS IN MOVIES: A HISTORY: https://redplanetonfilm.blogspot.com/20 ... -mars.html

SCIFIST 2.0 A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2020/04/06/destination-moon/


MODEL KITS

FANTASTIC PLASTIC



LUNAR MODELS



MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES
Base



PEGASUS HOBBIES
1:144 and 1:135 kits in standard, chrome and metal finishes



RED PLANET
Base



MASTERPIECE MODELS





PARAGRAPHIX
Photoetched replacement parts



WILCO! MODELS



SHAPEWAYS
1:48 Vintage Moon Astronauts Set



SKYHOOKS




PLANS AND VIEWS




REFERENCE + INSPIRATION
There little high-resolution imagery available for Destination Moon as the available film prints are poor and the film has not been released on Blu Ray DVD.










MORE RESOURCES

DESTINATION MOON: 70 YEARS OF LUNAR INFLUENCE: http://bizarrechats.blogspot.com/2020/0 ... lunar.html

DESTINATION MOON: A 70TH ANNIVERSARY APPRECIATION: https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/06 ... reciation/

ATOMIC ROCKETS: REALISTIC DESIGNS: LUNA FROM DESTINATION MOON: https://www.projectrho.com/public_html/ ... p#destmoon

____________________________________________________________________________


CHESLEY BONESTELL





Chesley Bonestell was a pioneering space artist who contributed to the special effects art and technical advice of several science fiction films produced by George Pal, including Destination Moon, When Worlds Collide, The War of the Worlds, and Conquest of Space. He also helped on the visual look of the TV series Men into Space. Bonestell’s work in these films was instrumental in creating a realistic portrayal of space travel and planetary landscapes.



Chesley provided art for Destination Moon, When Worlds Collide and The War of the Worlds and designed the spaceships for When Worlds Collide, Flight to Mars and The Conquest of Space.





This painting was meant as a guide to the miniature but the studio thought it good enough for When Worlds Collide.

CHESLEY'S ROCKETS
Chesley has inspired kit producers and modelmakers ever since he painted these timeless images.




KITS FROM CHESLEY'S ILLUSTRATIONS

THE MOONLANDER
Kit by Pegasus Hobbies: https://www.hobbylinc.com/pegasus-the-m ... scale-9109



3-STAGE FERRY ROCKET
1-3 Kit by D&E Miniatures and 4-6 by Fantastic Plastic: https://fantastic-plastic.com/von-braun ... astic.html






MORE RESOURCES

BONESTELL'S MOONSHIP IN 1/135 SCALE: http://frank.bol.ucla.edu/moonship.htm

CHESLEY BONESTELL: IMAGINING THE FUTURE: https://www.printmag.com/design-culture ... he-future/

TRANSCONTINENTAL ROCKET: https://www.frankhenriquez.com/scale/tr ... al-rocket/

CHESLEY BONESTELL.COM: https://www.chesleybonestell.com/home.html

CHESLEY BONESTELL IMAGES: https://www.bonestell.org/

GARY WESTFAHL'S BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION FILM: https://www.sfsite.com/gary/bone01.htm
Describes Bonestell's contribution to, and influence on, SF film.

________________________




PLOT SUMMARY

Follows the harrowing journey of a crew of astronauts who, after a failed mission to the moon, find themselves
unintentionally on a one-way trip to Mars. As they face various challenges and uncertainties in the harsh,
uncharted terrain of the Red Planet, they must grapple with their fate and the limits of human exploration.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJMTHbk9aV4

MARS IN MOVIES: A HISTORY: https://redplanetonfilm.blogspot.com/20 ... 50_20.html

SCIFIST 2.0 A SCI-FI MOVIE HISTORY IN REVIEWS: https://scifist.net/2020/04/02/rocketship-x-m/


MODEL KITS

LUNAR MODELS



FANTASTIC PLASTIC



PEGASUS HOBBIES



VOODOOFX LIGHTING KIT





PLANS AND VIEWS




REFERENCE + INSPIRATION
There is little high-resolution imagery available for Rocketship X-M as the available film prints are poor and the film has not been released on Blu Ray DVD.




MORE RESOURCES

THE CLUBHOUSE GALLERY: https://theclubhouse1.net/piwigo/index. ... arch/14874
You must be logged onto The Gallery for this link to work.

ROCKETSHIP X-M – DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE: https://retrorockets.wordpress.com/2016 ... -the-rx-m/

PEGASUS 1/144 ROCKETSHIP X-M BUILD REVIEW: https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/buil ... 9112.shtml

ATOMIC MODELLING: HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL: https://atomicmodelling.blogspot.com/20 ... -moon.html

SCALE MODEL NEWS: ROCKETSHIP X-M RETURNS FROM RETRO-SPACE: https://jefferismedia.blogspot.com/2017 ... space.html

PEGASUS ROCKETSHIP X-M AND LUNAR ROCKETSHIP MODEL KITS VIDEO REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f-dW_7Lc0Y&t=19s

____________________


50'S MOVIE ROCKETSHIPS







From left to right: Abbott and Costello Go to Mars, Cat-Women of the Moon, Project Moon Base, Spaceways, The Quatermass Xperiment, Satellite in the Sky and Angry Red Planet
2nd row: 20 Million Miles to Earth, The Invisible Boy, Quatermass 2, War of the Satellites, Battle Beyond the Sun, Night of the Blood Beast and Battle in Outer Space

ATOMIC ROCKETS: https://projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/index.php

DREAMS OF SPACE - BOOKS AND EPHEMERA: https://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/

SPACESHIP HANDBOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/097076040X/?t ... etarchi-20

MOVIE SPACESHIPS OF THE FIFTIES: https://monstermoviemusic.blogspot.com/ ... fties.html

SPACESHIPS OF CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIES: https://www.pinterest.com.au/bcfarrant/ ... fi-movies/

FANTASTIC PLASTIC: 1950'S SPACESHIPS: https://fantastic-plastic.com/1950s_pop_culture.htm

FANTASTIC PLASTIC: CONCEPT SPACECRAFT - 1950s: https://fantastic-plastic.com/1950s---c ... craft.html

STRANGE NEW WORLDS #14: SPACE AGE MODEL KITS OF THE '50S: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... e&_sacat=0

SPACESHIPS: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE REAL AND IMAGINED: https://www.amazon.com/Spaceships-Illus ... 387&sr=1-3

CREATING SPACE: THE STORY OF THE SPACE AGE THROUGH MODELS: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/18965 ... GYL5&psc=1

THE CHALLENGE OF THE SPACESHIP: SPACEFLIGHT AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND AS IT WAS: https://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/4479

10 minutes going through this thread looking at all the pictures. Awesome job Steve, thoroughly enjoyed both the model kits and the movie stills. Might have to look some of them up!

Hey Vlad,
Thanks my friend. Next time there's some Harryhausen!

Wow...I love it!!!! Keep 'em coming and watch the skies!

These references are awesome!
Thank you !!

Really enjoyed that! Learned about a few kits I hadn't known about and realized there's a few movies I need to watch!

overspray wrote: ↑October 8th, 2023, 2:41 pm Really enjoyed that! Learned about a few kits I hadn't known about and realized there's a few movies I need to watch!

Thanks a lot overspray. Your ongoing support is really appreciated.

If you have any suggestions for kits to include or ways to improve these threads please let me know.

Wow!
Talk about comprehensive.

Fanfreakingtastic.

Thanks everyone. It's very satisfying to hear your appreciation. The Clubhouse is the best because of members like yourselves.