OK, Mojo, you've REALLY got to do something about the people who distribute/promote your products. I looked over Brisbane for the last month for this Calendar... every book store, calendar store, newsagent, calendar stand did not have ONE copy. They had the TOS and TNG and Voyager ones (at a few). No Ships of the Line. I finally tracked it down in ONE place. At a few of the other places I asked if they knew of it - in their catalogue it and DS9 wasn't listed under Star Trek and the title was "Ships of the Fleet". Not Ships of the Line. I have yet to see the DS9 calendar.
I have to collect my thoughts on the calendar - and post a special long posts - just a few qualms but over all I LOVED THIS CALENDAR TO BITS! I became all excited at every page I opened. I have read here where people didn't like the black and white stills - can I just say they are CRAZY! I don't think the E-E has ever looked as REAL as it has in that centre-page spread. The "Challenger" I was a little annoyed at - it looked hasty... i.e. you can clearly see the "Enterprise" labelling on other sections of the ship - which made me look at the main 'name' and the "Challenger" looked FAKE - it looked like someone had just typed the word over the finished picture in an art program - it did not look part of the ship - and the "Enterprise" labelling elsewhere seem to lend creadence to this.
OK I'm journeying into a full blown post here - which was not my intention - but I think that the 'Challenger' thing was probably my biggest problem.
I thouhgt I should post this now, since a thought came to be just as I was turning on my computer where you said that you were going to go back to the 'ship against black space pics' PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT do this. Some of the suggestions I made for the Unseen Frontierr I have seen in the calendar - so now I can go and think of other possible ideas! WOOHOO!
Loved: The BOP attacking the out post - I got goosebumps at this pic! Same with the E-Refit in V'Ger. Qualms: The Klingon ship going down in flames - nice idea - it just looked a little... comical - or 'dinky' or something - i.e. it didn't look real - maybe if we saw it in the clouds of the planet - not from the surface where we get objects to compare it size to. Or something.
I LOVE this CALENDAR! I love the 3 minute exposure shot of space dock! (Something REALLY REALLY nitpicky... did you make a motion blur on the spacedock doors - since they seemed to have closed since the Galaxy Class ship had left! ;o)
I ADORE the Workbee-before-start-of-day-pic... this is very simple but to me is probably the best of the calendar. It is something REAL, like every-day life in the Federation. It also looks VERY real!!!! Just a question - did any of the workbee numbers have significance - I saw a "007" in there ;o)
Thankyou - and please more calendars like this - I loved this edition.
Andrew
P.S. It looked as if my post was bigger than I thought.
Andrew
p.p.s. I have just another tiny qualm/question - the phaser strips - especially on the Galaxies... why are they 'flat' like that - i.e. not corrugation like they are in the 'real-life' models or on TV. They just aren't smooth - there are individual banks - that make it look corrugated.
Andrew
Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
I must say that I too love the 2002 calendar. I consider it to be a major improvemeant on the 2001 edition. IMO almost every page of the 2002 edition is a work of art. These are my exceptions-
I loathe the Defiant picture (February). The model of the Defiant used here is the most inaccurate piece of shit and offends me on multiple levels. Instead, if the accurate model developed for "The Changing Face of Evil" was used than this picture would have been brilliant.
I too am annoyed that the central picture featuring the "Challenger" also displays the Enterprise name. I noticed the error straight away - mistakes like this are just not good enough. Otherwise, the centerfold is breath taking.
Well that's it for the complaints - the rest is excellent.
Looking at the workbees, one of them is numbered 666. Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Yeah, I was going to mention the Defiant error too! (but I didn't want to harp on too much ) That NOSE section - way, way TOO long. BAH!
Oh yeah - that is an eye-sore the Challenger isn't it!?!
Otherwise yeah - lovely calendar (way better than last year/this year).
Ohhhh! I just noticed a SABRE in the 'time-exposure' picture! WOOHOO! ;o)
*LOVES the E-Refit pic looking between the nacelles* LOVE IT! Looks like the physical model!
Andrew
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
"*LOVES the E-Refit pic looking between the nacelles* LOVE IT! Looks like the physical model!"
Correctamundo! Mojo mentioned that that pic was a photograph of physical model. Good call!
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
'bout the physical model: oops! heh - well at least it's great to know that they have access to the models!?!
I forgot to mention that I also LOVE the Exeter bridge picture! With the smoke etc. (one qualm... should the Enterprise be THAT infocus on the viewscreen... or more to the point why is the hull so blazingly white?)
Also this is REALLY nitpicky - shouldn't the red alert light on the captain's chair be glowing - since it is red alert on the bridge!?! Also the red-alert button in the middle of the flight console (where Sulu and Chekov sit on the Enterprise) that should be red should it?
Also that reminds me... maybe something for unseen frontier... working out what the "ION POD" from "Court Martial" is... is Matt Jefferies still alive... maybe he has an idea!?!
Andrew
[ December 16, 2001: Message edited by: AndrewR ]
Posted by Phelps (Member # 713) on :
Mojo had access to the physical models of the workbee, the K't'inga battlecruiser and the refit Enterprise while he was working on the Director's Edition of TMP.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
No spacedock/mechanodock... orbital offices or the little pods coming off the work bees!?!
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
Hey Andrew & the rest:
I really appreciate your comments on the 2002 calendar. As long as a few people out there like it, I'm happy :-)
And no one likes the Defiant picture - even me! It just didn't work.
Although I'm still ROTFL after hearing that you like the workbees best - there's just no stopping that image! Some people have sworn to tear out that image from every calendar on the planet and burn it, while just as many others think it's the best one of the bunch - ditto the Klingon shot.
I love it when that happens! And oh yes, the numbers were all on purpose. 007 since Rob is a huge Bond fan, 042 for obvious reasons, etc...
Also, I want to clear something up - there are NO SHOTS OF REAL MODELS in the calendar! ST: The Magazine got the caption for the photo wrong. The image is BASED on a photo I took of the model while it was at Foundation. But the image in the calendar is 100% CG. And I'm flattered it fooled ya :-)
If there's a place out there all of you can view an image, I'll be happy to upload the pic of the Enterprise model that inspired the calendar shot!
And don't worry - 2003 has a grand total of ZERO shots of ships in space. Well, I take that back - it has two, but you can hardly see any space!
mojo
Posted by mrneutron (Member # 524) on :
Hey Mojo,
I sent you a private message a while back, which I assume you never saw, when you mentioned getting starship models for future calendars, and I suggested you should contact Andy Probert about that. I was at his place once a few years back and I saw some sketches he'd done for what he had been toying with for the successor to the Galaxy Class. I also think it would be cool to see a 3D rendering of the original design of the Ambassador class.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
the 2002 calendar is absolutely, outstandingly great, with one problem probably only I have...
The blur effects in some of the pictures kinda make my head hurt... o_0
Then again, I'm prone to that.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
quote:Originally posted by First of Two: the 2002 calendar is absolutely, outstandingly great, with one problem probably only I have...
The blur effects in some of the pictures kinda make my head hurt... o_0
Then again, I'm prone to that.
HA! He has a weakness! We must exploit it!
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
Just a shameless plug, but if you haven't picked up your 2002 calendar, now is the time to do it! The stores are nearly sold out, and most of them have their calendars at half price.
Buy a few!
:-)
Mojo
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Mojo you really MUST tell someone about the woeful distribution of Trek Calendars in Australia... TNG, TOS, Voy - all there I've found a grand total of 1 Ships of the Line and 0 DS9 calendars. (I bought the SotL calendar of course!).
Can anyone tell me what the DS9 calendar has - i.e. the internal picture?
the TOS pic is from TMP:SE? no? TNG is the E-C blue brints?
What is in the middle of the DS9 and Voyager calendars?
Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
I can second what Andrew said, Mojo. I'm glad I bought SotL 2002 when I did, because I never saw it anywhere again afterwards. I have seen the DS9 calendar around but certainly not recently. I may be wrong but I think the picture that was on the cover of last years DS9 calendar is the centre of this year's one.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I rarely see Trek calendars in my neck of the woods. I went to Frederiction the other day and found the TNG, DS9, and VGR calendars, but no SotL. I was disappointed at that. Of course, if I had looked around hard enough at Chapters I might have found something. Oh well. Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
Pocket has told me that next year's calendar will have better distribution abroad.
As far as dometically goes, I'm hoping that the reason you're finding all the other calendar but not SOTL is because it's selling out.
They printed double what they did last year, and then went back for a short print run again because the orders were so strong.
We'll see how many get returned!
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Mojo - please check your profile email for validity I've been receiving bounces of mails the board is sending to you.
Posted by Michael_T (Member # 144) on :
Maybe that's why Mojo hasn't responded to me.
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
Thanks for the heads up! I changed my email address to the correct one.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
'bout me - I'm in Australia - so it'll be nice that international distribution will be better this?/next year!!!
Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
Speaking of Australian releases, do you know if and when Starship Spotter is being released here, Mojo? It's been a while so I'm starting to get the impression we've been passed over. Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
Well this is typical. I head out to the shop and what do I find? That's right - Starship Spotter. $29.95 AUS from Dymocks Booksellers.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Arrgh! It's OUT Dax! REALLY! I haven't seen it - I'll have to check around!! Woohoo! Did you ever see the DS9 calendar around - and I don't mean in specialist Sci-Fi shops - who (at least the one in Brisbane) just imports them (probably off the web) from the States and overcharges like ANYTHING - so I try and wait for the Australian release.
Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
Today was the first time I'd seen Starship Spotter. It must have just been released as I'd been looking regularly. I bought it of course.
IIRC I'd only ever seen the DS9 calendar once. It was in the Perth Dymocks. That was the only time I saw SotL 2002 too and thankfully I picked it up when I did. I don't think there was anything that special in the DS9 calendar anyway.
I got SS from the Dymocks in Midland. They're a big chain/franchise but they only sell local release - sorta like Electronic Boutique but selling books.
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
I've been told that their new distributor will do a much better job with Pocket's overseas outlets!
Specifically, calendars.
Mojo
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Could you tell them of a little country called the Netherlands!? Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
AndrewR, you may be interested - I headed into Perth today and the Dymocks there still had a few copies of both the TNG and DS9 calendars (no SotL). They were selling them for half price but I still refrained.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Thanks Dax! I might get you to get the DS9 calendar... if that's ok - but wait until I confirm it - I'm gonna check a few other places in town. The reason being - I "splurged" on the TOS, TNG and Voyager calendar (plus the LOTR diary) cause one of those 'calendar' stands had a 75% of everything sale - so I basically bought 4 things for the price of 1!!!! ;o) It'll never beat my 'legends of the ferengi' for $1
Does anyone know what exactly is in the middle of the DS9 calendar? I thought the E-C blueprints were... nice (in the TNG calendar) and the Vulcan view from TMP:SE (in the TOS calendar) which I had seen on the 'net - was fantabulous - so large!! ;o) The Voyager center-fold ;o) was just a crappy 'painting' of 7 of 9.
I like the TNG cover - with the E-D outside of spacedock - but there is something about that spacedock - Mojo - the pillars on the very top - don't have much detail - actually the whole station (although it has a alot of windows) doesn't hold the character of the original model - it looks too... same-ish, simple, lacking in detail, flat, no shadow!?! SOMETHING like that... I've noticed that on the Spacedock and on the 'arm' part on the drydock from last year's SotL calendar - like just a simple repeating pattern had been wrapped around the 'model-wire-frame'.
Andrew
[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: AndrewR ]
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
I've made a few tweaks to the model for an upcoming cover of the Star Trek Magazine...
If I use it in the book for any sort of close-ups, more detail will have to be added.
Mojo
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
And oh yeah - for all of you buying last minute bargain calanders, please let me know if you see any Ships of the Lines... most places I've been checking don't have any, which (I hope) is a good sign that they sold out :-)
Mojo
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
(coolies about the detail!)
-- "If you really want to, you can hear me say; only if you want to, will you find a way"
Posted by Dax (Member # 191) on :
AndrewR: If you're keen we should be able to arrange something. It's your call.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Re: SotL 2002: I've been able to find NONE anywhere I've looked in Calgary. Darn popular sale, it seems, since there are few Voyager Calendars, and plenty of DS9 and TNG calendars to be found in the shops.
Mark
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
Mark: I remember spotting the 2002 SotL a loooong time ago in Calgary somewhere. (Have a hunch it was in a mall bookstore, perhaps Southcentre?) Must've been right after they released, though. I haven't seen one since.
Posted by Mojo (Member # 536) on :
) That NOSE section - way, way TOO long. BAH!![[Frown]](frown.gif)