Gino Dykstra’s Dune Ornithopter

Here’s another couple of models that you probably don’t see much — the Revell Ornithopter from Dune.

These are actually two models I did of this extraordinarily interesting SF model– the Ornithopter as seen in the movie Dune. Revell made this kit to approximately 1/35th scale, and because of its quality and uniqueness, I decided to make two of them — one in flight mode and the other on its landing gear. Both models were done more or less stock, although the intricate and extremely delicate “feelers” at the front end were replaced with somewhat sturdier wire-work. The exteriors were first painted Floquil Bronze, and then lightly dusted with Floquil Gold. I then did a wash of Raw Umber oil paint to highlight the shadows, then drybrushed the models with Gold. A thin coat of Future Floor Wax gave them a suitably eggshell appearance. On the standing version of the model, the interior is virtually all dark metallic in color, including the boarding ladder. This was painted with gunmetal and drybrushed with silver.

With the green-tinted windows, these models present a gothic appearance virtually unique in SF modeling. It’s too bad the kits are so hard to find now — I’d love to make several more! And with the scale being what it is, a diorama is definitely a future possibility.

Gino Dykstra