Elosha’s Scroll

This was actually one of the first props we dug out and still one of the favorites of the Propworx crew.  Used throughout the show, starting with the final scenes of the miniseries, this prop had an enormous amount of work put into it and looks absolutely spectacular.

The case is custom metal work that holds a fabric scroll that rolls out of the case.  It is incredibly detailed and you can imagine the amount of work that went into designing and fabricating something so intricate.  The scroll part was also custom made with ancient writings from Kobol printed on it.  In this lot we include an original concept sketch of the scroll and laser color copies of several pre-production design sketches of the scroll and the lettering that was created to look like it was from ancient Kobol.

We first see Elosha, the priestess, holding this scroll in the open position at the funeral scene at the end of the miniseries and so it is very memorable.  It is then used at the swearing in of Baltar as President at the end of Season Two.  It was also used in the season three episode “Torn” where Gaeta is trying to extrapolate from Baltar’s work the location of Earth.

This is truly one of the premier props we have and I highly recommend hard core collectors take a serious look at this!

Galactica Binders

Even in a technologically advanced society such as that depicted in Battlestar Galactca, one can never escape paperwork. And, of course, there must be a place to put all that paperwork.

Throughout Galactica (and the other battlestars, on the occasions that their interiors have been seen) one will note various color coded binders.

One such set is lot 622 in the auction, which is a compilation of 9 different types of Galactica binders.

Mostly, the silver spine binders will be found in CIC. The red spine binders are typically found in the married quarters, such as Colonel Tigh’s or the Agathon’s. Clear gray and black spines are more rare, and typically dress other sets, and the yellow spine binders are found in CIC or the Hangar Bay (depending, of course, on how they’re stickered). The FTL binder is also rare and meant for looking up the processes and minutae of the ship’s FTL system.

The Munitions binder, which is the red binder with the yellow decals on the spine, is briefly seen in the Miniseries as Tigh looks at the manifest for Ragnar Anchorage. (And, yes, the binder does have the inventory sheets from Ragnar Anchorage in it.)

Six’s First Miniseries Costume

The first costume that Number Six is seen wearing in the series is a two-piece, custom made red velvet jacket and skirt with orange iridescence.

This costume is first seen at the beginning of the Miniseries as worn by the Six who boards the Armistice Station, much to the Armistice Officer‘s astonishment. It is in this costume that the Six asks him if he is alive and then proceeds to kiss him as a Cylon basestar above the station launches missiles at it.

It is worn later by Sixes that board Ragnar Anchorage to retrieve Aaron Doral, who Gaius Baltar—by mere chance—outed as a Cylon.

Cally’s deckhand helmet

Deckhands on Galactica, and any other battlestar worth its weight in salt, will typically wear helmets with their deckhand outfits. Each jumpsuit has its own accompanying helmet. These helmets come with goggles (which are Oakleys), earmuffs (which are actually JVC headsets, obviously modifed aesthetically), and the panelling/sections.

We’ll focus on Cally, since she’s dead. As seen in the picture below, she’s wearing a helmet (along with Prosna and Chief Tyrol) when repairing Starbuck’s Viper.

Munitions Key

In the Miniseries, a scene that is later deleted has Commander Adama destroying Galactica‘s munitions as part of the decommissioning ceremony. When shot, Adama uses the munitions key in the Weapons Room (off the CIC) to remotely detonate the munitions.

However, it would not be until Season 3′s “The Eye of Jupiter” until this prop sees the light of day, as Adama opens the munitions key storage box and removes the key before arming the nuclear weapons, themselves aimed at the algae planet.

Here are the contents that are inside that box. Note that while the munitions key and the FTL key look similar, the FTL key is one piece without any glowing lights. And no, when you go to bid on the prop, just remember that it won’t arm any nukes. Sorry.

Raptor hull breach plug

Yes, it’s the weekend. (O.K., it’s almost ending as I write this. Still, it’s the weekend.) So for today—Monday—we’re featuring the Raptor hull breach plug that Karl “Helo” Agathon uses in the Miniseries.

After shrapnel from a missile (intercepted by their Raptor‘s last swallow) punctures the hull of his and Sharon “Boomer” Valerii‘s Raptor—not to mention Agathon’s thigh—he applies a very cool device known as the “plug”. Yes, that’s the name this prop is given. The plug is able to seal the breach, and allow them to land on Caprica for repairs, and to pick up some pesky survivors along the way (including an annoying little runt and an equally annoying weasel named Gaius Baltar).

Helo seals the breach.

A closeup shot of the plug from our reference photos. The metal plates you see underneath are holders manufactured for the prop.

Cubits

As Alec is away at the Las Vegas Star Trek con, I’ve been working on inventorying and scanning the production artwork we sorted through yesterday.

While sorting through two binders of CDs we were given as well—which consist of reference materials for the art department, such as the light panels, monitor screens, and “gack” (or “gak”)—I came across two variant designs of the Colonial cubit. Taking a cue from the old show, Battlestar Galactica calls its money the “cubit“, which appears as both paper and coin, as shown in the screen shot below.

Now, since there’s never really been a clear shot of the cubit—except for a scene where Kara Thrace is tearing one apart in front of Valance in Season 1′s “Colonial Day” Here is the actual art from the various designs of the cubit. The last batch at the end are the revised versions. (Presently, I don’t know whether these are the “actual” prints that are on the props, since I haven’t yet seen the prop versions.)

As you can see, the reference to the “Seventh Millennium” of time is a nod to the old series, which opened at the dawn of the seventh millennium of time. Also, the variant of the Colonial “phoenix”/”bird” in the background of the cubit is from concept art, possibly done by Ken Rabehl.

Oh, and I’d like to release the PSDs for these cubits, but… need to check on that first. (Not gonna happen. Yet.) Talk about swapping out all that boring Monopoly money with cubits! Not even your boring Monopoly game comes with a 1000 dollar bill.

More cool stuff coming… Tell your friends.

We’re frakkin’ serious.

Day 1

Well, Day 1 of our cataloging process has come and gone, and while we only worked a half day (I had to get to Seattle as I am going to the Vegas Star Trek Con tomorrow), we did get the ball rolling with some wonderful stuff. It was the first day on the Studio lot for my assistant Joe Beaudoin. So we got Joe going on his Studio ID and introduced him around to the staff that was there. The full crew is not back yet as the BSG movie is in the earliest stages of pre-production.

We met with Doug McLean and his assistant Lynn who walked us through all the art they have produced and saved from the mini-series on. Of course these days, most of the work is digital, so there is only actual original art from the first two seasons. But we did get a bunch of envelopes full to start our process and there were some gems, including the first concept paintings of the CIC and hangar deck.

 

CIC Concept Art by Ken Rabehl

Hangar bay concept art by Ken Rabehl.

Galactica Corridor Concept Art by Ken Rabehl

There were also a bunch of great pencil sketches of everything from Vipers to Raptors to side arms and sets, which we will soon have in digital form on the website. And to make the budget challenged among you all happy, we found lots of items that we can sell around $1-200 that will be great additions to your collection.

Joe at his desk with original concept paintings of the CIC and hanger deck.