ORIGINAL BLAKE'S 7 MODELS AT SMALLSPACE

Some photos I took of the original model spacecraft, on display at Smallspace 7.

Orbit Shuttle seen in season four episode 11,Orbit. The shuttle is sent to transport Avon and Villa to the surface of the planet Malodar. They meet with Egrorian, a scientist who’s developed a powerful weapon called a Tachyon Funnel.  He says he wants to give Avon the weapon in exchange for super -computer, Orac, but Avon soon suspects a certain Supreme Commander is involved.

System Chase Craft seen in episode 1 of the second series.  Redemption. They attack and take control of The Liberator, escorting it to the’ Spaceworld’ space station, which is run by the servants of The System. It is revealed that the System complexes originally built The Liberator and refer to it as Deep Space Vehicle 2.

Andromedan scout craft seen in the episode, Star One.  The Scout Craft makes a very brief appearance in Star One. It carries the former Federation officer, Travis, who has turned traitor, and is helping Andromedan invaders take over the Terran Empire. Even though you’d never tell on screen, most Blake’s Seven fans now know that the model is made from two Morphy Richards hairdryers stuck together, with a few recognisable kit parts stuck on.

Atlay Shuttle seen in the episode, ’Voice from the Past. The model featured in a rather elaborate, if slightly wobbly landing sequence.

A Federation Pursuit ship seen in various episodes.

Blake’s Flyer seen in season four final episode Blake. These flyers are used by bounty hunters and gun runners on the planet of Gauda Prime. The model is missing its cockpit cover.

The Nova Queen first seen in the episode, Star One.  The ill-fated Nova Queen Space liner carried 4000 passengers and through a computer malfunction collided with an un-manned Ore Carrier killing everyone on board. The Federation suspect that the powerful Star One complex is at fault. Little do they know that Star One has been infiltrated by alien invaders.

A surviving Vac-Formed Federation Pursuit Ship used for special effects explosions.

Ore Carrier seen in the episode Star One. This is the un-manned Ore Carrier which collides with the Nova Queen Space liner.

Space-Master from the episode, Orac.  The Space Master series 5 carried two crew members, and was sabotaged by the Federation. One of the crew members was the son of Ensor, the creator of super computer Orac  

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Wanderer Class from the episode Killer. Blake’s tells Jenna that these ships were the first Earth ships to reach deep space, and is hundreds of years old. It has the designation K47, and had a three man crew.  It also carries a deadly plague.

One of two Escape Capsules ejected from the Space Master ship as seen in ‘Orac’.

ORIGINAL BLAKE'S 7 PROPS AT SMALLSPACE

Some more photos I took of original props used in the Blake’s 7 series on display at the recent Smallspace event.

Investigator Reeve’s bullet firing gun used on Virn, in the episode, Sand. Virn is a soulless planet covered in green sand where it never rains.  Electro- magnetic activity affects circuitry on the planet which means old-fashioned bullets are more reliable than ray-guns. Not that that helps Investigator Reeve much!

The titular ‘sand’ isn’t quite what it seems of course, which leads to a ‘romantic’ liaison between arch –enemies, Del Tarrant and Servalan.  Some of the dialogue between them is quite telling –

 “I’m just the girl next door, Tarrant” says an innocent looking Servalan.

 “If you were the girl next door I’d move”, Tarrant replies curtly.

“Where too, Tarrant?” , asks Servalan.

“Next door!”  Replies Tarrant.

An original ‘Liberator’ Teleport Bracelet.  As they are a relatively simple to make for the average modeller, and some of the parts are apparently still available if you can get hold of a copy of the BBC design drawing, consequently there’s no shortage of replica teleport bracelets in circulation so it’s nice to see an original.  Quite important equipment if you want to get back on board ship, but remarkably fragile.  Consequently, crew members lose them fairly frequently and space villains like to crush them.  

‘Liberator’ hand gun.  I think I prefer the unique design of the ‘Liberator’ Hand Gun over the more standard looking ‘Scorpio’ guns. 

Plenty of super replicas about of course, getting the Perspex parts right sort the men from the boys I imagine as you’d need to get them machined.  Note the ‘System’ Pain Gun in the background of the photo. Obviously a similar design as both weapons share the same technology.

I believe the handle is from an old Black & Decker electric drill.

Blake’s Gun from the final episode, Blake.  Blake uses his gun to fire three shots at a flyer in the episode, although for most of the time it tends to stay shoved into his belt. The episode has Blake in his guise as a Bounty Hunter on the planet of Gauda Prime, Blake  uses  a Federation gun for his capture of apparent fugitive, Arlen , and later uses Tarrant’s own gun when he appears to double cross him. But then everything is double crossed in the final episode.

An original Federation Guard Rifle (or should that be’Paragun’), with its removable magazine.  There was some wonderful pyrotechnics when they fired, although watching the series’ most Federation Troopers couldn’t hit a fish in a barrel with one of these things.  Unsurprisingly, this is another prop popular with modellers.

The Original Orac.   Orac is the highly sophisticated artificial intelligence wrapped up in a hotchpotch of flashing lights, bits of electrical circuit and Perpex.  

It apparently contains all the known knowledge there is, and can remotely access other computers. Like an oracle, from which it apparently takes its name, it can predict future events based on the information it has. Quite a handy gadget, but rather underwhelming in looks.  

To be fair a typical BBC Sci-Fi prop of the time, but nevertheless a popular character. Needless to say, a few brave souls have made replicas which always include the start- up key. Oh, yes Orac can also shrink itself.

 Baby Orac from the episode, ‘Gambit’.   Avon and Villa trick Orac into shrinking itself, so they can use its abilities to cheat the gambling computers in Freedom City, described by Servanlan as a ‘pestilential rathole’. 

There was no shortage of original helmets used in the series, but this one worn by Space Major Provine in the season 2 episode, Countdown caught my eye as it looks slightly different to the normal troopers helmets.  Provine doesn’t wear it too often, removing it at any opportunity,  as he desperately tries to leave the planet of Albion before a Federation radioactive  time bomb explodes and wipes out all life there.