<https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>

On 2/04/2024 11:55 pm, Don Y wrote:
> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>
Daleks were famous as the cheapest and least convincing aliens ever seen
on a TV screen.

The image presented seems to be of some things that might do something
practical, and are not nearly tawdry enough to qualify as Daleks.

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney

On 02/04/2024 14:24, Bill Sloman wrote:
> On 2/04/2024 11:55 pm, Don Y wrote:
>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>
> Daleks were famous as the cheapest and least convincing aliens ever seen
> on a TV screen.

I disagree. Daleks were properly scary monsters for youngsters at the
time. I used to have the Punch dalek cartoon framed on my office wall.
https://magazine.punch.co.uk/image/I0000ZvleumhOmDo

One of my friends has a full size ex BBC one in his living room.

Cybermen were much scarier though because they *could* climb stairs.
Even if they looked a lot like blokes in silver boilersuits with
accordions and plumbing for ears. Modern ones are much tougher looking.

It was the menacing sing song modulated voices that made them so weird.
Ring modulators were cutting edge stuff back then.

Modern Dr Who episodes are made to a much higher standard. And Daleks
can now fly which neatly gets them out of the staircase bind.

> The image presented seems to be of some things that might do something
> practical, and are not nearly tawdry enough to qualify as Daleks.

If you want a really badly made Dr Who alien "The Ark in Space, 1974" is
one such. Amazing what you can do with green paint and bubblewrap.

https://randomwhoness.com/2016/11/11/imagination-bubble-wrap-and-the-ark-in-space-1974/

If you go even further back there were plenty of worse aliens in the
likes of "Plan 9 from Outer Space". A film that was so bad that it
became good again and had a cult following (along with others of that
ilk). I can't recall the film now but another alien was obviously two
blokes under a carpet!

--
Martin Brown

On 4/2/2024 7:34 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
> One of my friends has a full size ex BBC one in his living room.

We had thought of putting a proper TARDIS in the back yard -- but figured the
reference would be lost on most folks. (extra points to make it larger on
the inside!!!)

> Cybermen were much scarier though because they *could* climb stairs. Even if
> they looked a lot like blokes in silver boilersuits with accordions and
> plumbing for ears. Modern ones are much tougher looking.

The whole problem with Dr Who is that these things just keep recurring.
Sort of like the Star Wars trilogies: A swats B; B swats A; A swats B; ...
<yawn>

Any time-travel-related story too often falls on "let's go to a different
time" to get the writers out of a bind and save them from having to think up
some truly original plot. The "magic wand" solution.

> If you want a really badly made Dr Who alien "The Ark in Space, 1974" is one
> such. Amazing what you can do with green paint and bubblewrap.
>
> https://randomwhoness.com/2016/11/11/imagination-bubble-wrap-and-the-ark-in-space-1974/
>
> If you go even further back there were plenty of worse aliens in the likes of
> "Plan 9 from Outer Space". A film that was so bad that it became good again and
> had a cult following (along with others of that ilk). I can't recall the film
> now but another alien was obviously two blokes under a carpet!

In the 60's, the introduction of color TV made for some truly silly
"aliens" in the sci-fi serieses of the day: Lost in Space, Voyage to
the Bottom of the Sea, Star Trek, etc. Often, guys dressed in rubber
suits -- that were rePAINTed from one episode to the next to create
an entirely new alien!

<frown>

[we used to make *active* Tribbles in college and drop them in/near
folks' beds to be "discovered" when the room had gone quiet enough to sleep]

OTOH, Robbie the Robot (/Forbidden Planet/, /The Invisible Boy/, etc.)
epitomizes what a robot *should* look like! (though the newest rendering
of Marvin is an amusing, modern take -- the original was depressingly
pathetic!)

And who can forget Godzilla's floppy rubber tail (that defied the physics
of scale -- along with everything ELSE on the set!)?

Or, the ants in /Them!/?

On 02/04/2024 16:03, Don Y wrote:
<snip>
>
> OTOH, Robbie the Robot (/Forbidden Planet/, /The Invisible Boy/, etc.)
> epitomizes what a robot *should* look like!  (though the newest rendering
> of Marvin is an amusing, modern take -- the original was depressingly
> pathetic!)
>
Nah, Robert was the best.

https://gerryanderson.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_the_Robot

I'm sure the theme music from 'Fireball XL5' - of which Robert was crew
- was used for the closing credits of the film 'Apollo 13', but I can't
find a reference. Maybe it was just UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=EbSFOaBySjo

--
Cheers
Clive

On 4/2/2024 10:13 AM, Clive Arthur wrote:
> On 02/04/2024 16:03, Don Y wrote:
> <snip>
>>
>> OTOH, Robbie the Robot (/Forbidden Planet/, /The Invisible Boy/, etc.)
>> epitomizes what a robot *should* look like!  (though the newest rendering
>> of Marvin is an amusing, modern take -- the original was depressingly
>> pathetic!)
>>
> Nah, Robert was the best.
>
> https://gerryanderson.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_the_Robot

Too klunky. Robbie actually LOOKED (and moved/acted) like a real robot might!

> I'm sure the theme music from 'Fireball XL5' - of which Robert was crew - was
> used for the closing credits of the film 'Apollo 13', but I can't find a
> reference.  Maybe it was just UK.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=EbSFOaBySjo

I was more interested in Lady Penelope's car. It would be super cool
to drive down the street as if nothing unusual about it! (and watch
other cards get into accidents at the distraction!)

On 4/2/2024 10:21 AM, Don Y wrote:
> I was more interested in Lady Penelope's car.  It would be super cool
> to drive down the street as if nothing unusual about it!  (and watch
> other cards get into accidents at the distraction!)

For folks who don't understand the reference:

<https://www.sixtiescity.net/Anderson/Images/AND166.jpg>

F A B (what a joke!)

On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
><https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>

With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"

https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire

--
Jasen.
🇺🇦 Слава Україні

On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>
> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>
> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire

I think they may have been covid-related. The "heads" appear to have vents.
Possibly to disperse some disinfectant? (esp if they are on motorized bases)

On Sat, 6 Apr 2024 09:19:11 -0700, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
wrote:

>On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
>> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>
>> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>>
>> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire
>
>I think they may have been covid-related. The "heads" appear to have vents.
>Possibly to disperse some disinfectant? (esp if they are on motorized bases)
>

The actors inside need to see and beathe.

It's no accident that movie robots have room for people inside, or
that aliens mostly look like ugly people with rubber make-up.

On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>
> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>
> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire

Ha! The unit on the right has the designation "R2Z2"! :> (can't read the
designation for the one on the left due to bad camera angle).

Nor can I read the company/model name. (I won't be driving down for a closer
look as there is nothing ELSE of interest, for me)

Also appear to have an LCD in the top surface. And, a receipt printer in
the chest?

I wonder if google's photosearch can find other pics?

On 4/6/2024 9:19 AM, Don Y wrote:
> On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
>> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>
>> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>>
>> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire
>
> I think they may have been covid-related.  The "heads" appear to have vents.
> Possibly to disperse some disinfectant?  (esp if they are on motorized bases)

Apparently, not far from the truth!

<https://pnwscientific.com/products/bioquell-z-2-mobile-hydrogen-peroxide-vapor-generation-system>

On 2024-04-06, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
> On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
>> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>
>> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>>
>> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire
>
> Ha! The unit on the right has the designation "R2Z2"! :> (can't read the
> designation for the one on the left due to bad camera angle).

It appears to be "ROSIE" or "R051E" a reference to "The Jetsons"
perhaps.

--
Jasen.
🇺🇦 Слава Україні

On 4/6/2024 2:12 PM, Jasen Betts wrote:
> On 2024-04-06, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>> On 4/6/2024 4:37 AM, Jasen Betts wrote:
>>> On 2024-04-02, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>>>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>>
>>> With the cheese-shaped head it looks more B-9 from "Lost in Space"
>>>
>>> https://www.metv.com/stories/the-robot-from-lost-in-space-was-nearly-destroyed-in-a-fire
>>
>> Ha! The unit on the right has the designation "R2Z2"! :> (can't read the
>> designation for the one on the left due to bad camera angle).
>
> It appears to be "ROSIE" or "R051E" a reference to "The Jetsons"
> perhaps.

Ah, yes! And, looks much more like a Rosie than the R2Z2's namesake.
"Mac" would likely be an even better fit!

On 4/2/2024 5:55 AM, Don Y wrote:
> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>

[file removed]

Apparently, the "breeding pair" sold for some $3K! Wow! Glad I didn't
bid on them as my ~$25 offer (for the opportunity to take them apart
and see what's inside) would have likely offended! :>

On Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:06:32 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

>On 4/2/2024 5:55 AM, Don Y wrote:
>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>
>[file removed]
>
>Apparently, the "breeding pair" sold for some $3K! Wow! Glad I didn't
>bid on them as my ~$25 offer (for the opportunity to take them apart
>and see what's inside) would have likely offended! :>
>

How do you tell a boy Dalek from a girl Dalek?

On 02/04/2024 14:24, Bill Sloman wrote:
> On 2/04/2024 11:55 pm, Don Y wrote:
>> <https://mega.nz/file/cjoXCCiT#zphWlIXeN02hkivnJb0uxZDxSZyRQFQu8LpPIfbP25s>
>>
> Daleks were famous as the cheapest and least convincing aliens ever seen
> on a TV screen.
>
> The image presented seems to be of some things that might do something
> practical, and are not nearly tawdry enough to qualify as Daleks.
>
More on Dr Who...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhv5GVexW2E&list=RD68wJIQbCtlI&index=4

--
Cheers
Clive