Behind the Scenes: Making Colin Fly

I thought I'd do a post to show how a special effects shot is created for the videos. It really depends on what's required as to whether I need full-on effects or not, but for the recent video for Gashapon Mini Action Maze Game, I needed quite a complex sequence.

The effect required for Colin the Robot to :

• Approach a sign (defocused, and then focused) with "Free Flying Lessons" written on it
• Walk onto a green 'track' (an enlargement of the miniature Gashapon game)
• Be seen walking on the actual game itself (As if Colin was now somehow tiny)
• A closeup of Colin with the real game seen behind him
• The hand of The Curator coming in, flicking the action lever on the game
• Seeing Colin being flipped up into the air and out of frame

Quite a lot!

So here's some screenshots and notes on how it was done:

NEW VIDEO: Miniature Fake-Lego Fake-Optimus Prime Build

Miniature 'Lego'?? Really?? COOL!!! Yep, The Curator managed to find, not one buy TWO different current manufacturers of miniature 'Lego' - not official Lego of course, but a clear copy... in perfect working miniature!

So sit back and watch the unboxing and build of a teeny-tiny 'Lego' set of a Definitely-Not-Optimus-Prime - and then let's see what Colin makes of another Robot on his turf!

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NEW VIDEO: Cooking bacon in miniature??

God help us!! The Curator has decided to try and cook something... Hope the insurance is paid up to date on The Museum!  With Colin to help him, he shows us an amazing MINIATURE BARBECUE, only a couple of inches across, and yet - will it work just like the real thing, and be admitted into the Museum as a Working Miniature?

WITCH THE VIDEO TO FIND OUT!!

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NEW VIDEO: Miniature TV SET!

MINIATURE TV SETS!! Sounds straightforward, but as The Curator discovers, its not as easy to get right as you might think... But this gorgeous Gaudi TV Set / Digital Photo Frame by Greenhouse in China is as close to a working miniature as we can currently get.

Take a look and see what you think - is there something out there even better? If so drop us a comment!

And stay tuned to see what Colin the robot makes of it - wonder if he enjoys cartoons?

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NEW VIDEO: Miniature PERFECTION Game

The Curator continually waffles on about striving for perfection... So we gave him this little beauty to play with: The Basic Fun working miniature Perfection Game from 2000! Working just like the real thing, you have to race against the timer to put all of the little pieces of the puzzle into the right holes before the clock runs out or... BOOM!!! Pieces everywhere!

See how the Curator fares with his sausage man-fingers - he reckons he can do it.. we're not so sure.

And will Colin the robot do any better? Stay tuned to find out :)

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New Video: Mystery STAR WARS Miniature Action Figures

Hmmn... A mystery in our midst here at The Museum!  What ARE these cool working miniature STAR WARS action figures found by The Curator in 2004? Clearly from Japan and made by Tomy, they were never released in Europe or America as far as we can tell... So what's their story?

Join The Curator as he tells us all about them and maybe even solves the mystery in the process.

And stay tuned for Colin facing off against a very DARK opponent, in a one-to-one face off!

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Bonus Content:

As part of my research that finally solved the mystery of what my 1999-2000 miniature figures were, I found this image of the full set of phase 1 and phase 2 (ignore the other thing top right). These were all that were produced as far as I know:

New Video: Working Miniature Battling Tops Game

Battling tops! A great game of settling old scores with your mates. And today The Curator is showing off an amazing working miniature version created by Basic Fun in 2001.

But will The Curator be able to successfully demonstrate it? IT DOES require skill and patience, both of which he doesn't seem to possess.

We've put in all of his MANY FAILS too, particularly as it shows his dim-witted thinking process in working out how to do it at all!

Colin also takes a peek at the game...

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New Video: DOUBLE FEATURE! 2 Different Miniature Marvel Comics + Eating 33 YEAR OLD Gum!

SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE!! The Curator takes a look at TWO different working miniature Marvel Comic Books - one REALLY tiny one from 1966 (Mini Marvel) and another series from 1981, (Bubble Funnies) which is original and unwrapped... and STILL CONTAINS 33 YEAR OLD GUM!!

You can guess where this is leading to.  Let's hope The Curator can avoid blowing his lunch over the camera long enough to show us these two amazing Marvel comics, featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, Spider-Woman and The Hulk.

And then see what Colin the Robot gets up to when he takes a peek at the collection...

COLIN SMASH!?!?


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Bonus Content:

COLIN'S COMIC BOOK

Most of the time I don't have any idea what Im about to do - in real life AND in making the videos.  I just shamble along until an idea appears.

But for the Comic Books, I knew that I wanted Colin to read an adventure about himself - so this one took some pre-planning.

First I created the artwork for the comic - I did this using a cool Photoshop template that makes it really easy to lay out a simple comic book. It even has photo actions built in that turn regular photos into comic book-style artwork.

So using that, I create a cover, and 4 pages (You can view the comic in a separate post here)

Then, I printed them out on an inkjet, using gloss photo paper for the cover. Cutting them out and glueing the pages back-to-back, I then stapled it along the spine and - there we are: A suitable fake comic book, the same size as the Marvel Bubble Funnies.

It worked really well on screen - I even managed to get Colin's claw to hook onto the edge of the page for some shots. I think its the best puppetry Ive done with him so far.

I mean, he could have just done it himself, but he's immensely lazy.

Here's some shots of the construction:

And this is something I wanted to add into the video, but couldn't find a place for it. Its the original vending machine that the Marvel Minis comics would have been sold in 1966. Its the only shot of one I could find:

New Video: Micro Tanks Working Miniature Aquarium

Is this strictly a Working Miniature or not? You tell us! Leave your comments as to whether you think it is or isn't - The Curator seems to think it is - and its definitely cute! This little working Aquarium has two fish, a light, a sandy floor with shells - everything you need to relax!

In fact, thats exactly what Colin wants to do - so let's hope this feud with The Curator doesn't spoil it...

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Extra Content

Below shows the construction of the face mask and flippers I made for Colin - I knew he'd be inside the tank at some point, so I took the time to make some custom props. I used craft foam board sheets as they are light, have good thickness and are easy to cut. Photos show some initial cutting and gluing (With tape to hold them in place) and then Colin in all his Aqua-glory.

New Video: Working Miniature Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

"I could have been a contender!" The Curator keeps telling us here at the Museum - so to shut him up, we gave him this 2001 Miniature Rock 'e, Sock 'em Robots by Fun-4-All Corp. to demonstrate. He does quite well, but then he's only playing against himself!

We may need Colin the Robot to show us how this shizzle should go down - but who will he fight - the red, or the blue Robot?

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Extra Content:

Here's some behind-the-scenes shots showing how the closeups of the Robots punching Colin were done. The Robots in the miniature version were just too small to use, so with some pre-planning, I managed to find some cool finger versions of the robots via ebay. These were perfect as they allowed me to used them like puppets and spend a happy half hour repeatedly punching Colin in his smug android face.

New Video: Working Miniature Metal Detector

Finding buried Treasure! Riches! Fortune and glory! That's some of the things you can watch in films whilst you try your hand at unearthing tin cans with this working miniature Metal Detector!  And many thanks to Colin the Robot who volunteered to be used in the testing process. Well, he sort of volunteered. Okay he was jumped by The Curator.

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New Video: Operation Miniature Working Board Game

"Here's goes his funny bone!" OPERATION!! What a classic family game of exploratory surgery with tweezers. And today, The Curator gets his surgical hands on this 1998 Miniature version by Basic Fun - which works just like the original!

Hope Colin doesn't get operated on... we'll have to see I guess....

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New Video: Micro Remote-controlled Car Pen

SCRRREEEEECCCHHH!! VRROOM VROOM!  Yep, The Curator had WAY too much fun 'testing' this exhibit - in the end we had to wrestle it away from him to get it back into its cabinet! This amazing tiny working remote-controlled car is one of the smallest that's been commercially available (as far as we know). Controlled via infra red from its base station (mounted on the end of a PEN) this cute little feller burns up the Museum's demonstration table in style!

At the end The Curator decides to do one last test... anyone seen Colin the robot?

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EXTRA CONTENT:

Whilst researching this exhibit, we found that the company that manufactured it (Brite International) has since closed, but it looks like they created follow-on versions from the one shown (maybe the one in the video is the first generation?).

Here are a few of the ones we found - they may not all be from Brite International, but they are all clearly the same car:

New Video: Projecteo Working Miniature Instagram Projector

How cool is this?? A miniature projector where you can choose some of your own Instagram photos to be turned into miniature REAL slides that you can then project onto a wall! The genius guys at Mint Digital created this amazing product via a Kickstart Campaign - and last year, we got one for the Museum!

Watch The Curator demonstrate how it works, using his own weird photos and one of Colin the Robot in a very compromising position!

order your own Projecteo via www.getprojecteo.com

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Extra Content:

Here's the photo I snapped of Colin sat on the toilet in much higher quality (which Im sure he'll be delighted to know)

New Video: Basic Fun Working Miniature Prize-o-Matic Crane Machine

Everyone remembers spending all your mum and dad's loose change on holiday by pouring it into one of these! This pocket Prize-o-Matic Crane Grabber Machine by Basic Fun is a perfect mini replica of a full sized arcade game, with working crane and prize chute! Can The Curator manage to win something nice? Will Colin the Robot be up to any shenanigans this time?

You'll have to watch to find out!

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New Video: 1996 Basic Fun Magna Doodle Keychain!

"We ALL love Magna Doodle!!" Who hasn't had a play with this classic retro drawing toy? Well, looking at how The Curator tries to draw with it, clearly HE hasn't! Sit back and enjoy this amazing working miniature, fully functional like its bigger brother in every way - just REALLY tiny!

Once again Colin the robot is lurking around the Museum - and he's been eyeing up the Magna Doodle. Clearly he has devious ideas...


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Extra Content:

Here's the actual Barbie Doll I had to buy in order to get the Magna Doodle.(as you can't find them on their own any more).

I didn't play with it or anything. Well, not much anyway.

Also is Colin's disturbing Magna Doodle handiwork.

New Video: 1997 Real Action Pocket Pinball!

"He sure plays a mean pinball..." Well, sort of. Watch The Curator demonstrate the very rare 1997 Basic Fun pocket arcade game "Pocket Pinball", which works and plays just like the real thing! How many thousands of points can he notch up on the LCD display?? You'll have to watch to see...

Oh and Colin the Robot is still hanging around the Museum - up to no good we imagine. Keep any eye for him.


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EXTRA CONTENT:

Here's how the Pinball Machine arrived n the mail - boxed and unopened for 17 years! When I cut it open, I could feel a disturbance in the force, as if millions of hardcore collectors cried out and then were silenced.

New Video: Mystery Miniature

In this new video The Curator seems unsure exactly what this working miniature is and invites you to guess. The answer may surprise you!


Extra Content:

Here are the screens I found showing some of the cool programs and hacks that developers have made for the Nanonote:

The middle one isn't a developer hack - its Colin's handiwork.

New Video: Incredibly tiny working Scissors and Clothes Peg

Here's the latest video from the Youtube Channel, in which we look at the two smallest exhibits at the museum - each incredibly tiny but still just about operational by human hands (in accordance with Museum Rules) - even with The Curator's fat man-fingers.

New Video: Mousetrap Working Miniature Game

"MOUSE TRAP!!" Everyone must have played with this classic game at some point or another... And this time The Curator's turn to have a go - but in miniature! Watch him struggle with a his fat, sausage-like man-fingers as he tries the impossible: the get the damn thing working on camera!

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