I've taken a bit of a deviation from my usual Star Trek fare and scratch built my wife the gate room from Stargate SG1 for her birthday. I figure she's put up with my Star Trek and car collection for nearly 20 years now so she's due a little recognition for her love of Stargate.

The make up of the model is:

• A resin Stargate obtained on line from eBay.
• Dragon 1/35 scale Vietnam Army Ranger figures and New York City SWAT Team figures
• Clear wavy water sheet from Plastruct
• EL Sheet and inverter from Electro Luminescence, Inc., Prunedale, CA (A great bunch of folks to work with I might add!)
• Spot lights and switch from Model Maker
• A base from the local craft shop

I'm particularly happy with the outcome of this project as it is my first attempt at lighting anything. It all worked, nothing shorted out at the last minute and I didn't electrocute myself (much)!

I cleaned up the resin Stargate, inserted the water sheet and a copy of the event horizon into the opening and placed the EL Sheet behind it. I then closed it all up with the back piece of the gate. I decided to add the spot lights because when the model was viewed in the dark with just the EL Sheet glowing, all you could see was a big blue circle and the chevrons. The spots light the whole thing and provide the shimmer on the surface of the event horizon.

After finishing the gate itself, it was just a matter of building the base, base machinery (made up of a couple of small motor housings), the decking, steps, support towers, clamps and the ramp again, all from scratch.

Another first was the figures. I've never done figures before let alone change one into a female! All I can ask is that you understand that there's a first time for everything. The overall model really needed the SG1 team however, it was kind of dull without them and they are what gives the show character.

My boys pitched in and bought and built the display cabinet for my wife's DVDs and the collage of SG1 patches in the frame on the bottom shelf. Thanks Brad and Andrew!

Anyway, you see the end result.

Image: Base machinery

Image: Checrons and event horizon

Image: Overall, from left

Image: Display

Image: Overall display

Image: Ramp detail

Image: Support tower (right side)