ElastoWit Does It Again - Another Retro SF Space Opera Set- More Flash Gordon!

 Serhiy Marchenko from ElastoWit sent me these photos of his new Flash Gordon set which he describes as part of his Space Opera series.

  There is something about Flash Gordon, as well as Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Trigan Empire, and Buck Rogers that fires my imagination in a way which Star Wars doesn't. I think it is the naive combination of historical attire with a space setting. Also, many of the 'aliens' (mainly human or near-human denizens of other planets) are armed with swords.

  I expect the rationale is that the powers that be horde the advanced weapons or the 'old science' is only partially retained. Swords might also be a good idea when the use of a ray gun might end in everyone's demise, of both sides, such as in the confines of a spaceship. (On the other hand, none of those SF scenes, including Star Wars seem to worry too much about it). The figures not armed with rayguns also can double as sword and sorcery figures.

  BELOW: Left to Right, Ming with sword, Aura, Ming's lovely daughter, lion man, Hawk man, rebel Prince Barin, and Flash with ray rifle. I already have made my own Ming figure and rebel in Robin Hood cap, both conversions from other brands. I also have a Flash Gordon and Dale figure already made in other poses by ElastoWit.

    Ming and princess could both double as ancient or Eastern historical figures. I could also imagine her as a sorceress.

  I always fret a little over the wings on fantasy humanoids; how can undersized wings lift that bloke or creature into the air? The wings on the hawk-man are a good compromise, not ridiculously small but not so big they will take up too much space. Make the wings too big and the figure will be unwieldy. My rationalization is that it is a low gravity planet that requires less lift!

  The lion man is an interesting figure, very human-like but with tail and lionesque facial features. As Serhiy has hinted that he is contemplating an Oz set in the future (as well as a Barsoom set), this figure could also double in that capacity. In fact don't be surprised if he finds his way into my Ozzz armies (alongside Serhiy's Scarecrow figures).

  The blood runs hot when one contemplates Princess Aura (Italian actress, Ornella Muti). My one complaint about the new set is that blasted cloak added to her form. It conceals her amazing deadly assets that will melt any man faster than a ray-gun.

                                                              Did I say 'Blast that cloak?'

That ray-gun resembles a blunderbuss!

There is a wealth of visual references that can be gleaned from the old black and white cinema shorts and films, as well as comics and the 1980 film. There was also the R rated Flesh Gordon (originally X-rated) film which was a very funny, although sexually explicit, 'spoof' on Flash Gordon (including 'rapist robots'). To avoid placing an 'adults only' warning I am not including pics from that one!

Some of the characters and types can also be fairly easily converted from other figures. The Cherilea Vikings, with addition of wings swiped from smaller toy dragons or better, unicorns and birds and other fantasy creatures would work well for Hawkmen. The lion-man could be made from any bare-chested figures in loin cloths or kits with addition of wire tails and putty manes. Barin's men can be made from Robin Hood men and others with addition of putty caps.

PAINTING: ElastoWit figures come in a range of engaging colors. However, if you, like me, like to paint your figures then I find that an undercoat of either PVA or Modge Podge plus a clear thin overcoat of the same works to anchor the paints and to prevent stickiness on the rubbery plastic. I add a drop or two of detergent to aid the even spread of the coating but don't make it too thick.