See IRON MAN 2 "Hall of Armor" Concept Art by Jonathan Bach

One of the first official images from Iron Man was of the Hall of Armor, but did you know we almost saw it in Iron Man 2?

We've learned quite a bit about the new Iron Man movie Iron Man 3 including new designs for space, "Heartbreaker" and Hulkbuster armor that will be part of an "Iron Army".

I  thought I'd share some little seen concept art designs Jonathan Bach (The Amazing Spider-Man) posted on his blog.

Check after the jump for designs for the much bigger hall of armor, Tony Stark's unused jet and the Stark Pavilion. Click on the images to enlarge.



Besides the images I'm also sharing his comments from the blog.

Hall of Armor

Bach: "Good times. This started as an extension of the 3d holo system that Tony uses to design his toys throughout the film. One idea was that in this film you would get to see how the suit was assembled and disassembled through the awesome apple-esque work surface that covers Tony's entire garage. Michael Riva envisioned the suits on display in a clean black room at the back of the garage. Tony would walk in where a rush of air coming up from the grated floor would bring your attention downwards where you would realize that the Hall of Armor goes down another level or so. When activated one of the suits would lower through the floor on a cartridge delivering it to the machinery that disassembles it to be built onto Tony at the other end of the garage. You would see all this happening through the holographic interface covering the floor."

From film Iron Man 2 (2010)

"Jon Favreau eventually ended up going with the much simpler version--shown at top--that made it to the film."

Stark Expo
Bach: "I came onto the film initially to work on buildings for the Stark Expo. There were many slated for what was then to be a retro-futuristic re-imagining of Howard Stark's expo '74. It was a rigorous learning experience working with Production Designer Michael Riva who was ever energetic, inventive, kind and demanding. I definitely had to kick it up a notch to satisfy a loaded pre-production schedule in which a wide range of ideas were on the table; all of which had to be visualized to be a more relevant part of the conversation. There was a prescribed menu of work dictated by the script, but every once in a while there was the fun "what if we did this?" I worked on a wide range of designs for the movie and of course there were some that never made it to the screen as a three hour run time is frowned upon. Some of the designs I was fortunate enough to work on were significant to the story, some were not and didn't make the cut. I enjoyed creating all of them regardless."

"There were many buildings designed of which their placement in the expo was constantly in flux. I kept this image and the one above it clear and ready for an buildings on the site, but the idea of this very large split-domed [pavilion] got dropped and so they never got filled in.

 "This is an earlier version of the Stark Expo, which was then called the Roxxon [Pavilion]. The scale got a little too grand and I had to pull back.

"Lots and lots of buildings. Several artists attacked this large project in [pre-production] including Mark Goerner, George Hull, Nathanial West, [Daren] Doctherman and many more in post. They were highly diverse in style as they were representative of many countries and companies...not that you could tell with how fast they zoomed by. Mark Goerner and I did a lot of work for Tony's expo which happens to be a building that still exists from New York's 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows."

From film Iron Man 2 (2010)

Suitcase armor
Bach: "My small contribution. So many people took a crack at the function this thing and it came out great in the end. I had my go after an all nighter doing one of many revisions for the Hall of Armor. Ryan Meinerding was the wizard that designed the look of the suit, George Hull the actual suitcase, while my crude mock up for deployment served to guide the fx crew as they figured out how the thing was actually packaged and clasped together."

From film Iron Man 2 (2010)

Suitcase transition image by tencentticker.com

Stark Jet
Bach: "We were going to see this thing hit low low orbit and go zero G Virgin Galactic style when Tony had to make a quick trip from Cali to Washington, but for what I'm sure were many reasons it didn't make it in. Anyway, fun stuff! The final interior was designed by Nathanial West."

See more of Jonathan Bach's work at http://jbachdesign.blogspot.com

@ Copyright 2010 Marvel Studios, Jonathan Bach

Official Synopsis:
As Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) owns up to being Iron Man before the world press, Anton Vanko lies dying in Russia. Years ago, Anton worked with Tony's father to create a new source of energy. But greed got the best of Anton, and now as he slips away, his son, Ivan (Mickey Rourke), vows to make Tony pay for the sins of his father. Meanwhile, Tony fends off efforts from smarmy Senator Stern (Garry Shandling) and military weapons expert Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) to get him to divulge the secrets of his powerful Iron Man suit. The powers that be are concerned that Tony's technology may fall into the wrong hands -- fears that are soon confirmed when the cocky billionaire entrepreneur is confronted in front of the entire world by Ivan, who has built his own weapon using stolen Stark blueprints. Later, as Lt. Rhodes (Don Cheadle) wrestles with the decision to personally deliver Tony's suit to the military, Ivan finds an unlikely ally in the quest to destroy Iron Man; Stark Industries legal consultant Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) reveals her connection to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson); and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) takes on some new responsibilities.

What do you think of the illustrations?

Ray Cusick's Original Dalek Designs for DOCTOR WHO

Doctor Who (1963) Raymond Cusick

Sadly, last week Raymond Cusick, who helped design the legendary Doctor Who villains, the Daleks, passed away. His daughter, Claire Heawood, said he had been suffering from an illness and died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday. He leaves two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Raymond Cusick worked as a production designer on the BBC show Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966.

The Daleks were conceptualized by science-fiction writer Terry Nation and first appeared in the 1963 Doctor Who serial The Daleks.

Check after the jump to see his designs and click on the images to enlarge.

While the design went through many changes they finally settled on the look that has remained unchanged for almost 50 years and is the symbol of evil around the world.

Here's what they look like today.

Pretty much the same. Here's a video of Cusick visiting the modern set talking to Production Designer Edward Thomas and designer Peter McKinstry about the Dalek designs.



He will be missed.

Wikipedia Synopsis:
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord—a time travelling, humanoid alien known as the Doctor. He explores the universe in his 'TARDIS', a sentient time-travelling space ship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, a common sight in Britain in 1963, when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilisations, help ordinary people, and right wrongs.

Images via Daily Mail, thedoctorwhosite.co.uk dalek6388.co.uk

What do you think of the illustrations? Do you have fond memories of the Daleks?

@ Copyright 2013 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
. All rights reserved

20 STAR WARS RETURN OF THE JEDI Concept Art Illustrations by Ralph McQuarrie

Ralph McQuarrie was a legendary concept artist who created most of the visual for the Star Wars films. Some of his greatest works were for the third movie filmed Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) where he helped design breathtaking scenes like the Speeder Bike Chase created legendary monsters like the Rancor Monster.

These images are scanned by Eric Carl from a set of Ralph McQuarrie prints that were part of the "Return of the Jedi Portfolio."

Check out the rest of the pics after the jump and remember to click on the images to enlarge them.

1. "C-3PO and R2-D2 are once again back on the harsh desert planet of Tatooine where, in STAR WARS, they escaped an Imperial attack and first met Luke Skywalker. They have returned to the desolate planet to deliver a holographic message from Luke to Jabba the Hut, the dreaded monarch of the galactic underworld. There are a thousand places in the galaxy that C-3PO would prefer to be rather than outside Jabba's fortresslike palace, but he will carry out the instructions from his young master."

2. "Not yet accustomed to the gloomy interior of the arched tunnel entrance to Jabba the Hutt's palace, C-3PO and R2-D2 are confronted by Jabba's major domo, Bib Fortuna, a human-like alien with long tentacles protruding from his skull. A giant metal door slowly closes out the blinding desert sunlight and their last possibility of retreat. Several palace inhabitants look on as Bib Fortuna instructs the droids to follow him to the throne room."

3. "Inside the throne room, Jabba the Hutt's favorite musical trio entertains the court. The leggy singer Sy Snootles, is accompanied by Mex Rebo on the keyboard, an instrument that is part calliope and part piano; Droopy McCool, the woodwind expert, performs a clarinetlike instrument. Listening in the background are Salacious Crumb; Hermi Odle; a jawa; and one of Jabba's elite skiff guards."

4. "Threepio and Artoo-Detoo pay a visit to the dungeon boiler room in the subterranean depths of Jabba's palace where droids are taken to be tortured. They are confronted by EV-9D9, a tall, thin, humanlike robot who heads Jabba's droid operations, and EV's assistant, 8D8. Threepio is terrified of the awesome Gamorrean guard standing next to him. These huge, powerful creatures are Jabba's personal guards; it is wise to treat them very politely."

 

5. "An unarmed Luke Skywalker must fight the dreaded Rancor, an enormous, carnivorous beast that lives in a pit below Jabba's throne room. The Rancor's dungeon like cage is twenty-five feet below the throne; the grate at the top allows Jabba and his court to amuse themselves by watching the Rancor devour whomever—or whatever—is dropped down to it. Having disposed of one of Jabba's guards, the Rancor turns its attention to Luke."

6. "Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and Han Solo (recently released from his state of suspended animation) have been sentenced to death by Jabba the Hutt. Out in the desolate wastes of the Tatooine desert, the members of Jabba's bizarre court gather at the windows of his immense Sail Barge to watch the festivities. Suspended above the desert floor on one of the antigravity skiffs, our heroes make a desperate stand and battle for their lives against the skiff guards."

7. "On one of the desert skiffs, Luke, Chewbacca, Han and Lando Calrissian watch anxiously as Jabba the Hutt's immense Sail Barge is rocked by explosions and bursts into flame."

8. "Luke Skywalker races through the forest on a speeder bike, trying to outrun a patrol of Imperial scouts on Endor. A small moon near the Death Star, Endor is covered by dense foliage and a thick forest of ancient, towering trees. The speeder bike, which Luke stole from an Imperial scout, is an antigravity vehicle capable of speeds up to 200 miles an hour."

9. "Inside the vast docking bay of the unfinished Death Star, Darth Vader and one of his officers deplane from the Imperial shuttle, followed by several of the the Emperor's dignitaries. The Galactic Emperor's guards, ominously cloaked and helmeted in red, watch every movement carefully."

10. "On the heavily forested Moon of Endor, our heroes have been captured by a scouting party of Ewoks, small, furry creatures with huge eyes. Thinking that C-3PO is a god, the Ewoks bear him ceremoniously back to their village on an improvised throne. Han Solo, a mere mortal, is carried trussed and hanging from a pole."

11. "Dressed in a simple forest outfit made of leather, Princess Leia enters the Ewok village with Wicket, who has befriended her. Built high above the ground in the giant trees of Endor, the village is made up of mud huts and a central square connected by rickety walkways. Other Ewoks come running to find out what news Wicket has and to get a closer look at the princess."

12. "Darth Vader, his black robes flowing behind him, strides purposefully down the walkway of the lower level of the Imperial landing platform on Endor. On the right, a giant AT-AT walker discharges a patrol of Imperial troops who have Luke Skywalker in manacles."

13. "Deep in the forest of Endor, the Rebels must infiltrate the Imperial bunker, in order to deactivate the energy shield protecting the Death Star. The Ewoks have been persuaded to help; armed with their primitive weapons—a catapult, bows and arrows, spears, and an airborne battalion—they take on the Imperial All Terrain Scout Transports, the giant AT-ST walkers."

14. "In the Emperor's throne room on the new and powerful Death Star, Luke Skywalker—having finished his training as a Jedi Knight—must once again do battle with Darth Vader, lightsaber against lightsaber. Luke must use all his powers of concentration to try and defeat the man who says he is his father."

15. "A confrontation in the throne room between the Emperor, the supreme ruler of the Galactic Empire, and Luke Skywalker. Although he appears to be a small, shriveled old man, the Emperor, with his piercing yellow eyes and his aged face covered partially by a cloak, has strange and secret powers that he uses to make men do his bidding."

"Two Rebel A-wing fighter planes race toward the Death Star, while in the distance a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers awaits the forth-coming battle."

"An armada of Rebel cruisers, led by Admiral Ackbar's flagship, are silhouetted against the monumental surface of the Death Star. Two A-wing fighters in the distance are speeding to a confrontation with the Imperial Star Destroyers, which have already opened fire on the Rebel ships. The glowing surface of Endor provides a small amount of reflected light as the Rebel and Imperial forces engage in a deadly space battle."

"The B-wing fighter, a new type of ship with pilot and copilot enclosed in a command pod on one wing, becomes part of the massive Rebel attack on the Death Star. One of the B-wings has just scored a shattering, explosive hit on an Imperial Star Destroyer."


"Inside the dome-shaped interior of the gigantic unfinished Death Star, the Millennium Falcon, piloted by Lando Calrissian, and a tiny X-wing fighter try to score a direct hit on the Death Star's reactor. If successful, they will break the Empire's grip on the galaxy once and for all."

Wikipedia Description:
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (also known as Return of the Jedi) is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan, with Lucas as executive producer. It is chronologically the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise and the first film to use THX technology. The film is set approximately one year after The Empire Strikes Back. The evil Galactic Empire, under the direction of the ruthless Emperor Palpatine, is building a second Death Star in order to crush the Rebel Alliance. Since Emperor Palpatine plans to personally oversee the final stages of its construction, the Rebel Fleet launches a full-scale attack on the Death Star in order to prevent its completion and kill Palpatine, effectively bringing an end to the Empire. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, a Rebel leader and Jedi Knight, struggles to bring Vader, who is his father and himself a fallen Jedi, back from the Dark Side of the Force.

Directed by Richard Marquand
Produced by Howard Kazanjian
Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Story by George Lucas
Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Ian McDiarmid, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz

See buy artwork and prints of Ralph McQuarrie's work at http://dreamsandvisionspress.com/ralphmcquarrie.aspx

Images via Flickr (Eric Carl)

 

What do you think of the illustrations? What was your favorite scene from Return of the Jedi?

@ Copyright 1983 Lucasfilm, Ralph McQuarrie. All rights reserved