Horizon Explorer

(Click on each picture for a larger version.)

The Horizon Explorer is a medium-range survey ship whose primary mission is to explore alternative sources of energy. Its two large external pods are multifunctional engines, utilizing internal nanobots to reconfigure the hardware and technology to adapt to whatever new energy source has been discovered for that mission.

The Horizon accommodates a crew of two, both of whom can pilot the ship as well as conduct scientific experiments within the ship’s mini laboratory. The Horizon also holds a smaller hovercraft, the Sunspot, which the crew uses for localized surveying.

Although primarily a survey ship, because it is already fitted with heavy layers of radiation shielding and is adaptable to multiple environments, as well as having massive twin engines, the Horizon can also be employed as a rescue/tow vessel for severe weather operations.

What was my reason for doing this?

Absolutely no reason. Which is why I did it.

For the last three months, instead of surfing the Internet at night before going to sleep, I drew sketches and played with styrene plastic, model glue and paint. For one hour every night, I immersed myself in pure, unrestrained imagination.

I began by drawing sketches. My friend and I often watch movies on her TV, movies that we’ve already seen, like Lord of the Rings or Forrest Gump. While watching movies, she would often do her beadwork or other craft. I decided to join her. For two weeks, she crafted, and I drew.

After having an idea for a direction, I raided my closet full of brand new unbuilt model kits, still wrapped in plastic. Models that I’d always planned to build “when I had the time.” They’d been sitting in the closet for more than ten years.

When I was young, I would build and paint each model according to directions. This time, I decided to throw all the instructions away, put all the plastic pieces into one giant container, and just let my imagination go.

I didn’t want to plan too much, so I started with Scotch tape and a marker. If you look carefully, you’ll notice it’s a very simple design–an upside-down 747 jumbo jet body with space shuttle bodies for engines.

When I figured out a rough direction, I glued the pieces together. If you’re wondering, NO, I wasn’t very careful about measuring anything because that would have taken the fun away.

Then I spray painted with car primer and sanded some rough edges, puttied up holes and sanded some more.

I decided that one landing gear is good enough, and it looked cool.

Then I airbrushed the ship and painted the hovership and people.

And here’s the ship as it is right now. Throughout the whole process, I made sure to have fun while doing it. If a certain task became laborious, I figured out a way to simplify it or skip it altogether.

The ship isn’t finished yet–I still have to create a diorama, and maybe add some more detail to the model. I also have a large container full of other model parts that are at least a dozen more space ships waiting to be imagined.

My friend the beadmaker, after seeing the ship, named it Horizon. I think it’s appropriate.