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Visual Effects
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The year is 1979 and Universal Studios launches its latest Sci-Fi epic. In a fortunate mishap Ranger 3 and the Visual Effects Crew of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century are blown out of their trajectory of making a TV Movie and into a Feature and two seasons of a TV series and brought to Earth to still entertain fans 30 years later. Kenneth A. Larson, AKA Ken Larson, built many of the models used for the feature and two seasons of the series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Much of Ken Larson's three decades in the entertainment industry have been designing and building models for Visual Effects. Buck Rogers began it all. Kenneth is now retired from Visual Effects Model Making - he prefers his new career designing in the Art Department for live action, miniatures, and CGI. Ken worked on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century concurrently with Battlestar Galactica and Galactica 1980, Airport '79, and several other projects. These were all done at the little known but very capable Universal Hartland - a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Studios. |
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The History of Universal Hartland. Behind the scenes. Frequently asked questions. |
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| At this point, some fans may remember more than I about episode names and such. Please feel free to send me an e-mail to correct any such errors. | Contact |
| Items for sale. Ken is often asked if he can sell props, models, or artwork from Buck Rogers or Galactica. For the record, all Ken has are these photos. This is a not-for-profit web site and it's only purpose is to entertain you. However, Ken will accept donations through PayPal using the button at the bottom of this page if you like what you see. Ken does this as a service to the fans. Send an e-mail. |
 Ken does have original art work for sale. |
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Kenneth Larson retired from Visual Effects Model Making in 1996 and now works as Set Designer and Visual Effects Set Designer and would be interested in working as Visual Effects Art Director or Visual Effects Supervisor.
Note: Kenneth A. Larson is in no known way related to Producer Glen A. Larson. Ken Larson is a self made model maker (you can make anything with Bondo).
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Kenneth A. Larson built many of the Visual Effects Models used on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century between 1978 and 1980. He retired from Visual Effect Model Making in 1996 after working on the motion picture Independence Day and three weeks later began working as Visual Effects Set Designer on Batman and Robin . Ken no longer is actively seeking work as a Visual Effects Model Maker. Ken has nothing for sale. Ken has no models or model parts and these photos are not for sale. These images are here for your enjoyment only. Ken does NOT give permission to others to copy these images to other web sites or to use for publication. Ken Larson is somewhat annoyed that some of these images have been ripped off to use on other sites and would like these images removed from these other sites. Come to this site to view these images where there are no advertising or pop-ups. If you know of other sites using these images, please inform the site operators that they do not have permission to use these images. If the abuse does not stop, this web site will vanish and this archive of information will not be available to anyone. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. Kenneth A. Larson Visual Effects Model Maker - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. |
Feature
 Draconia, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Feature, 1979. |
 Draconia set piece. |
 The "New" shuttle. There was also an aged shuttle. The molds were used two more times for the end of the first season of Battlestar Galactica and the second season of Buck Rogers. |
 Ardala's Launch. This beautiful model was rebuilt into the less attractive Vorvon Shuttle. |
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Thunder Fighter. |
 Hatchet Fighter/Pirate Fighter/Draconia Fighter. |
 Launch Tube, New Chicago. Made from Styrofoam packing material. |
 Matte paining of New Chicago. |
 Matte paining of New Chicago. |
 Matte paining of New Chicago. |
 The making of Earth. Work of Janet Kusnik. Right. Star Cyc. This is not a great photo, but I thought you might like to see how we did a star field. Colin made a very accurate rendition of a star field. The white cylinders in the foreground are unfinished blue screen neon covers for the model movers. |
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Season 1
 Scorpion - one of Illianna's best works. |
 Matte Painting from Planet of the Slave Girls. |
 This asteroid field was made for the episode Return of the Fighting 39th, first season, 1979. |
 Sled - Vance Frederick built this model. |
 Time Capsule. |
 Spy Satellite. |
 Music World, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Annsiud (Associate Producer Ann's IUD) mining probe. I can't find the photos, but threw together this computer model from memory. It was filled with colored lights and shapes. Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979 |
 Theta Station and Gemini Freighter. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Vorvon Shuttle, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Arora. I didn't do all the work to this model, but I can't remember what I did except that it started out as something else and I converted it . |
 Learian Queen cruise ship, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Bigfoot, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Ranger, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 AstroSled. Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 New Chicago, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Obviously a second reuse of the Battlestar Galactica Prison Ship. The Argo Farms were removed and these tanks added. |
 Raven. |
 Sinaloa, AKA, Casino in Space. |
 Canarious - I think Pat McClung built this one. |
 One of many planets we made. |
 Matte Painting of City by the Sea from A Dream of Jennifer. |
 Zadd Battle Cruser, Visual Effects model, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, First season, 1979. |
 Shark. |
Season 2
 Searcher, rebuilt from the Learian Queen |
 Hawk Fighter - Vance built most of this model. |
 Mountain under construction. |
 Mountain completed. |
 We crashed the Battlestar Galactica Shuttle into vermiculite and fullers earth, then sank it for this second season episode. 1980. Click to see a Video Clip. |
 Behind the scenes shot of the crash sequence. |
 Gnome Mobile. This was originally the Bootlegger shuttle for an early episode of Battlestar Galactica. |
Another Shuttle.
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 Jade box. This internally lite box had light levels that could be controlled by remote control. |
 Spot's Cave. |
