A Space Wheel from the "Battle of the Planets" (1978)

Japanese retro-futurism? Hai douzo (yes please!) Two lovely toy illustrations from Battle of the Planets.

Images courtesy of Dark Roasted Blend.

Another beautiful ship from "Battle of the Planets", made by Entex Toys

Image courtesy of the Fabergé Museum

Discovered this fabulous constellation Easter egg by Carl Fabergé, a gift for the Russian royal family that was never received:

Image courtesy of the Fabergé Museum

Nephrite, rock crystal, dark blue glass, gold, diamonds.
Height 29 cm

This egg was made for Empress Alexandra for Easter 1917. The egg has the form of a sphere with a turning dial made out of dark blue glass with clockwork inside. It is encrusted with diamonds and a lion is engraved on it. The heir to the throne, Tsarevitch Alexei, was a Leo in the zodiac. The pedestal is made out of a whole crystal rock placed on a nephrite base. The egg corresponds completely to the original sketch made by Carl Fabergé. According to the sketch, a dark blue sphere engraved with diamonds is encircled with a gold dial plate; the sphere lies on the “clouds” that have been cut from a whole crystal rock placed on the nephrite platform. The only detail which is missing from the egg is five angels who are ascending the “clouds” towards the sphere. Probably this detail wasn’t finished due to the start of the Revolution. And because of the Revolution, «Constellation » was never gifted to the Imperial family.

K. Fabergé firm, H. Wigström’s workshop
Petrograd. 1917

Image & Star Wars © Lucasfilm

While I’m no fan of the Dark Side of the Force, this Death Star cookie jar does seem to be conclusive proof of the statement, “Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies.”

Image & Star Wars © Lucasfilm

Discovery (2001) by Weinmayer Bernd

You haven’t seen glasswork until you’ve seen this highly detailed rendition of Discovery by Weinmayer Bernd of Austria. Amazing!! (Via @pffli.)

Picture: Franco Brambilla / Rex Features

This odd image is by Franco Brambilla, combining science fiction and vintage postcards.

The aliens have landed, and they’ve sent back postcards from their journeys around Europe. That’s if you believe the work of Franco Brambilla, an artist who loves to add a sci-fi angle to old postcards he finds.

A weird one for your Wednesday. There’s many more at the above link!

I’ve long been a fan of Japanese goods—the detail, the quality—but this scale model of Space Shuttle Endeavour goes beyond anything I’ve seen. It’s simply gorgeous, and perhaps the most amazing thing is the amount of texture. No smooth-surfaced orbiter here:

At nearly $500, it’s out of my price range, but if you find yourself with the funds necessary this December, DO pick one up! (Hat tip to collectSPACE for the link and info!)

As if 1,204 pieces of pure LEGO space goodness weren’t enough reason to immediately run out and buy the LEGO Shuttle Adventure set, AVAILABLE NOW… they’re also giving away an exclusive, space-LEGO-y magnet to go with:

Also, there’s free shipping. [more excited about the magnet] Space LEGOs, you are the same age as me. Yes, this greatly increases my desire for the magnet. I admit it.

This is a very unique clash of the real and not-real: a Space Shuttle themed paint job on a Dr. Grordbort’s ManMelter 3600zx raygun. If you haven’t seen these rayguns, you are missing out. (And clearly you weren’t here when I featured the Goliathon 800 Moon Hater Death Ray.)

I think the best part of this expensive mash-up/toy is the descriptive text, openly mocking itself:

A laughably futuristic design, the OV 077 Victory may appeal to those with a leaning towards the bizarre.

Who would ever attempt space exploration using anything that ridiculous!?

A one-of-a-kind, hand painted raygun from the artists at Weta Workshop.

Based on a ManMelter 3600zx straight off the production line, this gun is unique.

…so unique, in fact, that it’s a one-off. And in case you can’t quite see the fine shuttle-rific detail:

I have a real penchant for LEGOs, I admit. In honor of the end of the Space Shuttle Program, LEGO is releasing this new set in June, and oh yes, this is definitely worth $99. (It’s also ages 16 and up, so… not something for the kiddies.)

Ages 16+
1,204 pieces
US $99.99 CA $129.99 UK £ 79.99 DE 89.99 €

Blast off on an outer space mission!

Standing 17.5″ (44 cm) tall and 10″ (25.5 cm) from wing tip to wing tip, this detailed and realistic space shuttle is ready to count down and blast off on its next exciting mission into space! You can take off from the launch pad, separate the detachable fuel tank and booster rockets, and deploy the satellite with unfolding antenna and solar cell panels. Shuttle model features realistic engines, retractable landing gear, an opening cockpit with seats for two astronauts, opening cargo compartment with a crane that can hold the satellite and a ground maintenance vehicle. Includes three minifigures: one male and one female astronaut, as well as one service crew member.

I was reminded of these fantastic glass sculptures last week by a commenter; I saw a display of Glass Eye Studio’s Celestial Series in a rock shop coming back from the Oregon coast after Christmas. I’m a sucker for glass anyway, but these are particularly spectacular — I especially like the Moon (naturally) and Mercury.