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Click on the above banner to go Jon Leslie's LHVCC
download site...
Our first present to Star trek fans is
a scale card model of the NCC 1701 Enterprise, Kirk’s Enterprise from
the Original Series, designed by Ron Caudillo and hosted by Jon Leslie
on his LHVCC website. These have been designed as 6-8 modules that can
be made individually or joined together to make a complete bridge set
scaled to be used by Hako Clones. Don’t know what a Hako Clone is?
When people think of
fan productions they think of entertainment, fan films, audio dramas,
Machinima, that type of thing. However entertainment is many things to
different people. Some are only happy when they have something to do
with their hands, something to make and do, something that exercises
their own creative talents. Plastic models spring to mind and certainly
there is a strong fan following for the scale models released by Polar
Lights and AMT – checkout
Polar Lights and
AMT for the latest kits for sale.
 However
there is a form of modelling, that has been around longer than plastic,
that is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment – paper
modelling. With the aid of their home computers, some drawing software,
a printer and the internet, Star Trek fans have made available an
amazing array of scale ships, full sized props and Hako clones.
So what is a Hako Clone anyway? Originating from Japan, where ‘Hako’
means box, they were popularised by the development work of Masamune
Washington, known by his signature line as the “Mad Modeller Masamune”.
A Hako Clone is a small model caricature, typically of a TV or movie
character or celebrity, they are easy to design, because they are nearly
all based on standard templates, and easy to build with few, if any,
awkward curves. The essence of the ideal behind them is that they are
quick, simple and fun – all attributes that make them an ideal
introduction to paper modelling for kids. In fact, many paper modellers
make them for fun then donate them to children’s hospitals afterwards.
Ron Caudillo is a paper model designer of considerable skill and talent
and his scale model of the NCC 1701 on Jon
Leslie's
LHVCC website is still considered to be one of the best available.
He followed this up last year with a scale model of the Enterprise
Bridge (also on the
LHVCC site) which I suggested might make an excellent play set for
kids who make the Star Trek Hako crew. A family man himself, he jumped
at the chance!
Ron’s completed model consists of six ‘stations’ that make up the outer
ring walls of the bridge plus the command chair and helm & tactical
control stations from the centre. As at the release date of December
14th the six wall modules have been completed along with building
instructions. Unfortunately the centre command stations will only be
available after Christmas but this is a way of life with Fan Productions
where quality means more than deadlines!
 To
keep you busy until then, I am making available the original Hako crew
of the Enterprise! These guys were created mostly by Butch Price, back
in 2004, and range from the classic crew members of Kirk, Spock and
McCoy, through to Kor, the Klingon. There’s even a “battle damaged” Red
Shirt and a tribble! These are all based on the original template
developed by Masamune Washington ... except the Tribble of course!
On
of the beauties of Ron’s design is that each module is in fact a
free-standing scenario in it’s own right so that even just one would
make a great stand or display for one of your prized Hakos. Another
advantage to the modular design is that you can make take one or more of
them out and use the bridge as a mini studio to photograph your Hakos
for web comics or stop motion animation.
Star Trek fans support the professional production of more Star Trek on
screen and as licensed goods. If you think these little square dudes are
cool, checkout the
Minimates released by Art Asylum! ... And if you thought the idea
of stop motion filming was only for kids, have a look at
what the Dave School has done with MiniMates!
The free downloads linked from here are all fan productions and are
not meant to infringe the trademarks and copyrights of Star Trek which
lie with CBS / Paramount. No profit can be directly or indirectly made
from fan productions and any attempt to sell, rent or otherwise make a
profit from any of these projects will be reported to the copyright
owners or their licensees for their action.
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