Attached Link: http://www.mzzkiti.com/Nazaki-3.zip

To "ring in" the various upcoming productions of "War of the Worlds" (such as the contemporary period production by Speilberg later this month and a more faithful "period" drama being released by Pendragon Pictures direct to DVD today), I thought now would be an appropriate time to offer an appropriate "freebie" tie-in. Depicted in the Poser 4 render is a Martian war machine inspired by an unused Albert "Al" Nozaki design. Who is Al Nozaki? He created the famous "manta ray" machines shown in George Pal's 1953 release of "War of the Worlds", argueably one of the most iconic motifs in science fiction cinema. I stumbled across this design in a genre film magazine a few years ago. I already knew Pal originally wanted an "on set" effect to suggest electro-magnetic "legs". This would have employed electrified wires trailing underneath the machines to create a "Jacob's Ladder" arc. You've probably seen this effect in various mad scientist labs, two antenna like wires with a spark ascending between them. The desired visual proved too dangerous a fire hazard so it was abandoned. In the end, the production settled upon a single optical as the first machine rises from the landing pit. The concept drawing depicted a far more dramatic visual, brightly glowing laser like beams suspending the machine and vaporizing anything they touch upon the ground. The shots within the final production did at least retain that motif. But I was equally fascinated by the machine itself. Here was a design that looked like it could hold its on against the atomic supplied military of the early 1950s, yet retained more of the tripodal, milking stool shape H. G. Wells described in his original manuscript. No, I'm not saying I like it more than the realized "manta ray" craft, but I equally enjoy this design for its own merits. How might it look in 3D? An obvious solution, model and render it. The design was basic enough that someone with my modest modeling skills could attempt it. So, I did. Everything was was constructed from three geometric primitives, the sphere, the cylinder and the toroid. I was pleased with the results, but soon forgot about it. When I purchased UV Mapper Pro from Steve Cox, I remembered this mesh and used it to test for the vertex splitting functions. Great! Now my TrueSpace model was compatible with Poser. I showed my results to the venerable Little_Dragon. He took the mesh and did something really cool. He jointed the "legs" and gave the goose-neck the ability to flex! I don't think it uses ERC, but the effect is similar. By adjusting the "X", "Y" and "Z" rotational dials, I could aim the heat ray within a very wide arc. Animated, I bet it'd look very creepy! Now, I offer this as a freebie to the Poser community! Let's see what you can do with this baby! I'm sure your themes will far outshine mine. Sincerely, Bill Caveat, let the downloader beware: Though this design never made it to the screen, this is based upon the work of the late Al Nozaki. Either his estate, or, more likely, Paramount Pictures own the rights to the design. I would advise against using it in commercial renders.

Attached Link: http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/waroftheworldsmovie.htm

Posted here are a simple "plan view" style rendering and attached is a link showing the original concept sketch. (No, I did not post Nozaki's art, but since someone else did, I thought it okay to link.) Sincerely, Bill

Thank you.

cool!!

That's a very interesting design. Walking on beams of light. Almost...poetic! This is a great design for a walker-machine.

Now I have to find my model of the manta ver of the ship and render them with each other.

Sarte stated, "Walking on beams of light. Almost...poetic!" Ah, but that's exactly what the "manta ray" machines did in the final cut. In the scene depicting the first machine to rise out of the landing pit, General Mann asks Dr. Forrester if it's a flying machine. Forrester politely refutes the assumption. He explains the machine stands upon fields of balanced and opposing force, "...kind of like electro-magnetic legs." We see his point of view through a set of binoculars and there is a flickering of energies emitting from the three glowing "ports" on the ventral surface. This was probably achieved with some post animation as were the weapons' effects. Three spots upon the ground roast and smolder, tracking with the forward glide of the machine. In later shots, the faint sparkle is dropped and scorching ground is used sparingly. I merely played up the effect they wanted to do throughout the movie. I include a static transparency map to create this illusion for Poser 4. I suspect one can apply some animated procedurals using Poser 5 and 6 for far more spooky animated sequences. Sincerely, Bill

Nightfir said, "Now I have to find my model of the manta ver of the ship and render them with each other." Is it one you modeled yourself? There exists a downloadable version from the same modeler, Proctor (I believe), who "translated" Jeff Wayne's design to 3D format. Unfortunately, unlike the JW tripod that is quite accurate, his "Manta Ray" reproduction could be better. I shouldn't fault him, but I can only assume he worked from a single, famous publicity shot depicting the craft from a front 3/4 view slightly below. I guess he wasn't aware the machine is, in fact, shaped somewhat like a diamond or arrowhead, not like the vaguely boomerang symmetry he gave it. I am not yet that well skilled at creating flowing, organic shapes like the "Manta Ray" machine, so if someone has a model they'd like to share, well... ;-) Sincerely, Bill

Thanks for the freebie. In the actual movie they DID use electrified wires for the magnetic ray effect. It was only used in the early leaving the crater scenes because it was too dangerous for the crew! It wasn't a post effect.

I've been watching the trailers for Spielberg's WotW "re-envisioning", and noticed, among other things, these mechanical tentacle-thingies with oval camera-pods on the end, reminiscent of that one which Gene Barry decapitates with an axe in the 1953 film.

Of course, in 1953 they weren't violently snatching people out of the water like the prehensile limbs of a demented giant octopus ....

Excellent work on this; you're both to be commended. I think that movie with Gene Barry was one of the best early sci-fi films. Just one request: any possibility of uploading that ruined structure? It also looks like an excellent modelling job.

Thanks...I've loved the story and the movie adaptations for decades...looking forward to seeing what has been done with it this time.

I remember that sequence in the George Pal version...it's been a while (saw it in 1997, when I was on a major science fiction binge). I was dissapointed that the Martians in it looked...well, kind of cute.

Mateo Sancarlos asked, "Just one request: any possibility of uploading that ruined structure? It also looks like an excellent modelling job." Oh, I can't take credit for the ruined house. It once was available right here in the Renderosity free section, but I can't find the darn thing. I hope the creator (whose name I can not remember) did not withdraw it. It's so useful in a lot of scenes. Sincerely, Bill

Sarte observed, "I was dissapointed that the Martians in it looked...well, kind of cute." Cute?! This coming from the fellow who seemed totally unnerved by my "Godzillette" I made with Little_Dragon's Furrette?! Okay, here's something about the George Pal Martian that should sufficiently creep you out. On the set, the puppet/costume was nicknamed "Willy Lump Lump" because it vaguely reminded the production personnel of a flaccid set of, ahem, male "anatomy". And we count the seconds until Sarte screams in revulsion. One... Two... Three... Sincerely, Bill

The ruined building was by zippy. It's no longer in Free Stuff here or at 3D Commune, but can still be found at his website:

www.george.3dbeast.com

Four ... Five ... Six ....

Thanks for the link to zippy's site. He has quite a few buildings there. A very generous individual.

Attached Link: http://freefall.purrsia.com

Ah, great to know the ruined house is still available. Besides alien invasions, it can serve to present the ravages of war, natural disasters, or the results of Helix cooking popcorn. (Check out Mark Stanley's "FreeFall" to understand that last one.) Sincerely, Bill Seven... Eight... Nine...

...Or, if Martian tripods are not your thing, you can easily turn it into a "B" movie flying saucer by squashing its "Y" dimensions, turning off the "visibility" of the legs and goose-neck and adding extra elements of your choice (like the dorsal dome in this quick render). Sincerely, Bill Ten... Eleven... Twelve...

There is a "B" movie version of "War of the Worlds" on DVD and I believe they used poser, at least for the first attack by the Martians. The Skeletons didn't have individual teeth just like the poser skeleton. Keep up the good work and thanks. Dave

DaveK commented, " There is a "B" movie version of "War of the Worlds" on DVD and I believe they used poser, at least for the first attack by the Martians. The Skeletons didn't have individual teeth just like the poser skeleton." Is it a "period" setting at the turn of the century? If so, this might be the Pendragon Pictures release for which I originally had high hopes. If it had to scale back that severely with the cinema "illusions", then it's no wonder they chose to go directly to video. A shame, really, as this could have been the "definitive" adaptation, adhereing most closely with the novel. And now for something completely different, if science fiction is not your interest, the tripod can still be of use. With a few well positioned cylinders and a tweek of the material settings, you can have a Dutch Modern floor lamp! ;-) Sincerely, Bill 13... 14... 15...

Thank you. This will make a great heat lamp or ant vaporizer or nut-toasting accessory. Willy-lump-lump? 16...17...18...

"nut-toasting accessory. Willy-lump-lump" Booful, please, such an unfortunate (devilishly deliberate?) juxtaposition. The humanity.

Redfern wrote: "..or the results of Helix cooking popcorn." So are you one of the guys at the Freefall webboard working up a fully-rigged Helix? Hey, if I had time I'd make an attempt at Sawtooth Rivergrinder... http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff200/fv00116.htm

Nomuse asked, "So are you one of the guys at the Freefall webboard working up a fully-rigged Helix?" While I could easily model a decent looking Helix (I did just that back in 1999 for a comic crossover special), "rigging" is still beyond my skills. However, I do know Little_Dragon has done one of his own as the lil' round robot appears in more than one of LD's gallery renders. Others have modeled Helix and other FreeFall robots, but I don't know which meshes are "rigged" for posing and animation. I think only LD's is "Poser ready". Sincerely, Bill

Attached Link: http://www.tnthobbies.force9.co.uk/scifi5.htm#Manta%20Ray%20War%20Machines.

About the manta ver of the wow ship. No I did not model it myself. It was something I downloaded off the net. I did at one time see on the net cross section drawings of it. I can kick myself for not downloading them. I could have used 3ds max to make a model. For the life of me I can't find the site after doing a seach on google and yahoo for like 2 hours the other day. I've since got into the habit of saving every interesting site I come across on a dvd just in case I need the info on it in the future. I just found this about a model of it ie plastic Brad.

Message edited on: 06/15/2005 18:46

Attached Link: http://www.waroftheworldsmovies.info/photogallery/thumbnails.php?album=8

Well, Nightfir, I have just the site for you! Take a gander at THIS gallery! It even has two ideas concerning the lower half of ol' Willy Lump-Lump. Nightfir? Nightfir, you're drooling. ;-) Sincerely, Bill

Bill wrote, "a more faithful "period" drama being released by Pendragon Pictures direct to DVD today" Hello. Thought it was time to say hello and contribute a little something. I am still learning Poser so can't do much there. I was able to pick up a copy of the Pendragon film last week at a Sam's Club in SW Denver. It does not live up to my expectations at all. I had ran across the Pendragon web site a few weeks ago and was awaiting the movie. My time should have been better spent The transformation from burning body to skelton is pathetic to say the least and their attempt at fire and flame even worse. It also runs close to 3 hours long. I think Gilligan's Island three hour cruise was shorter. Sorry to dash any hopes but I don't think it was woth the $8 something I paid for it. A true waste of production time. Keep up the good work, Curtis

Sadly, Wandinstar, I must agree with you. I stopped by the department store yesterday evening and decided to purchase the Pendragon version despite fair warning from several people online. Surely it couldn't be THAT bad? I just struggled through the first heat ray sequence I must regretfully concur with the majority opinion. Oy! I first stumbled across the Pendragon site in 2002 or 2003. They had just made the announcement they would not go through with their plans for a contemporary version, citing the potential sensitivity over the events of September 11th, 2001. I now wonder if they knew of Speilberg's plan for a presnt day version and decided they couldn't compete, or maybe Paramount said, "no." Who really knows? Not us, certainly. Now, if this were a 10 to 15 minute mini-movie one of us had created, I would be giving it a standing ovation, but this was originally planned for a theatrical release, or so Pendragon would have us believe. 30 or 40 years ago, yeah, I could imagine it playing the Saturday matinee, but in this era of mega-blockbusters, Pendragon should be grateful there exists a "direct to video" market. I don't think even the Sci-Fi Channel will touch this one. For a decade I've dreamed of a "period drama" version of Wells' classic. Movies like "Titanic" have proven historical pieces can draw an audience, even in today's market. I reasoned Parmount would be the one to do it. As far as I knew, they still had the rights to the material and they had the clout (translation: money). So I was a little surprised that a company of which I had not previously been aware had gotten the license. I finally came to the conclusion that a smaller, independent company would not have to bow (at least, not as much) to the demands of corporate executives and could create a feature that would better pay homage to the source material. Given Pendragon had nearly 3 years to assemble this production, I have to wonder how that time was spent. I get the impression the director, who also edited the film, was hellbent determined to present us with every single millimeter of film (more likely video) he recorded. I lost count of the shots depicting the lead character (the nameless narrator of the novel) strolling along country roads. Okay, one or two shots to imply a change of scene, but that's enough! In another instance, he is shown walking into what looked like an estate. In the very next shot, he is standing beside a train, relaying important information about the cylinder to the local lord. It's obvious they did not have the resources to depict the train pulling in, but it could have been shot with better dynamics. I must assume the structure was supposed to be the train station, but since it didn't really look like one, the next shot is especially jarring. Finally, the big entrance of the Martians... Granted, they were interestingly "realized". The sequence of the tentacles emerging from the uncapped cylinder is very fluid, but way too fast. Wells described them slithering out one by one, slowly at first to build up the tension. Here, they are flailing about like a bunch of "party favors". Then the Martain emerges, and practically floats! The bugger is moving about as if it's in Martian gravity, lunar even! Wells took great pains to depict the creatures being nearly crushed by the gravity of Earth. Here they seem to be part of a Thanksgiving Day parade. An then, the heat ray sequence... On another board someone wondered if the skeletons included in Poser 3 were used. Wha...? Surely he was joking! Well, if not Poser, then almost certainly the ones from Zygote of the late 90s. Why? They had no teeth! I can understand Pendragon choosing opticals over "practical" fire effects for reasons of safety, but again the sequence suffers from the director/editor's obsession to use (and reuse) every scrap of video he shot. Characters who have burst into flames and dropped to the ground do so repeatedly, 3 or 4 times! And I don't mean in the artistic stylings pioneered in Japanese cinema, depicting the person dropping 3 times in tightly cut sucession. No, one person drops, we see another person collapse, a third victim; then we come back to the first person! The sequence painfully ends as a target of the heat ray lapse dissolves to a Zygote skeleton that continues to wiggle and jerk, its limbs contorting into positions no human could achieve. (Someone didn't use the "limits" function!) Some of today's younger viewers laugh at the visible wires and stereotypical characters in Pal's '53 release having been raised on the Star Wars saga and the Matrix trilogy. I'll tell you, it's Shakespeare compared to this... this... Damn, I don't know what to call it without sounding vulgar. At first I was resistant about the Speilberg version, but at least it'll be tightly edited. I think that's what the Pendragon version needs more than flashy effects, competent editing. It runs 180 minutes, 3 hours! Just because you filmed something doesn't mean it has to be shown, let alone 2 or 3 times! I suspect this movie could be trimmed down to 80 minutes without losing any dialogue, and a good deal of that could be dropped as well. Portions seemed dubbed (maybe for background noise), but the efforts come off far worse than a low budget Toho kaiju flick. Too bad "Mystery Science Theater 3000" is no more; this stuff would be "comedy gold" for Best Brains. Sincerely, Bill Now, shall I tell you what I REALLY think? ;-)

Very cool, Bill, Thanks for the retro buzz! :) regards- Lemurtek