"How To SF-y My Saloon Without Losing WESTERN Flavor, Tips?" Topic

I wasn't planning on it, but I found this HO scale saloon auction and proceeded to win it for a whopping 99 cents!!!

auction

QUESTIONS
1) Should I accessorize it for use in 15mm VSF, or should I really "pimp it up" for use in a 15mm Firefly-like universe?
2) And then … what specific changes should I make, or what items should I add, to make that transformation possible?

NOTE
Either way, VSF or SF, I want to maintain some of its Old West-frontier "flavor". I hope to make the roof removable and to add a boardwalk and interior flooring, as well as add some type of supports for the overhanging roof out front.

Thanks

Dan
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link
PS. Wasn't there an old Battlestar Galáctica episode with a Western-like saloon?

Link id for Plasticville 5 & 10?

That's weird. Maybe it's because the auction is already over?

I now clicked on "see original listing" and it took me here:

auction

Anyway, let's try this other picture then. Does it open up for you?

Dan

You could use some "sci-fy" posters on the outer wall, add a dish antenna on the roof, maybe a sign that says "Beer 5or something like that.

Robot bartender with old-fashioned suspenders etc

Maybe add some sort of big cooler on the back wall for keeping beer cold.

Won't take much to sci-fi-itize it. Dish antenna, cooling fan, mailbox sized power generator, maybe glue some wire runs along a wall, computer keypad/kiosk.
Go crazy and add some working flashing LEDs to it!

Definitely leave the swinging doors.

One could:

Make it look like a Sci/Fi building with a western theme by painting it metallic like the cat house in the Firefly episode "Heart of Gold"

It looks like it is molded to be cement block as is, so it is already post WWII western through-back.
Adding HVAC, piping, a antenna or two.

Some letters glued on the wall surfaces painted in bright neon colors.

1.Beer
2.Bar
3.Girls.

Create a billboard to put on the roof, it could have…

1.Bigger neon letters that say, "BAR" or "SALOON"
2.Copy a beer logo from the net and shrink it to the size of your billboard and print.
3.The name of your bar and get creative i.e. HIP HUGGER, FLAMING MUG, HOGS BREATH, CARIBE'S ROAD HOUSE etc…

PS:

If a Sci/Fi building trying to theme itself as an old west saloon, stick on a false front that has that theme like this one:

In fact, a high-tech shipping container with such a front would be a very good effect.

Dyehard, that would be the low-cost competition across the street, right? Since CC already has a proper saloon.

And, yes, there was a "high noon" -ish classic Battlestar Galactica episode, with the bad guy role filled by a damaged Cylon, IIRC.

Rob

Solar Panels, AC units, Generators, loose electrical cables

Katzbalger, you're blending two Galactica episodes. It was the "Shane" ripoff ("The Lost Warrior") which had the damaged Cylon. It was the Magnificent Seven ripoff ("The Magnificent Warriors") which had the herd of bad guys appearing at "high moon." Everything is forgiven that particular episode for the ending, which truly was magnificent.

But overall, I'd agree with most of what's been said above: dish antenna, possibly some neon and a bit of graffiti or posters, which could perhaps be changed out as circumstances warrant. The rest occurs when you park your shuttle in front and put out appropriate miniatures.

If I ever do anything remotely modern, I want to build the "Park in Rear" from Metzger's Dog.

And never forget Firewalker:
"I'm looking for men. Brave. Loyal unto death. Not too smart."

Watch Lost in Space, Episode West of Mars.

Watch Star Trek, Episode Spectre of the Gun.
link

Both has a wild west theme.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

VSF, the answer is brass trim. Lots of brass trim.

For more firefly SF, a dish antenna on top and neon signs.

Maybe some modern removable items like iceboxes, gas pumps and arcade games?

Yes, I would go with AC units, Antenna dish, random electrical boxes with conduits running to and from, solar panels a neon sign, as mentioned above.

I'm old and can't recall sh*t so the Sean Connery movie withe saloon ( with swinging doors) on the mining colony. Large plastic tube (to simulate the lighting in the movie) with a stripper inside dancing thoroughly modern tables and chairs. Dish antennas on the roof but not glued.

All of that can be removed if you need it as a western saloon.

Guys, excellent ideas! Now I can't wait for that little saloon to arrive so I can begin to SF-y it.

I already went ahead and ordered myself a couple of extra saloon swinging doors, just in case I have some mishap during the remodeling project:

auction

Thanks all of you. However, if you still have a few additional tips for this, please keep ‘em comin'.

Dan
PS. Dragon6, are you referring to Outland (1981)?
Potential NSFW scenes here:
YouTube link
YouTube link
If that club stood on the surface of a body with an atmosphere, the exterior would probably be similar to the shiny metal Sam's Diner on The Martian Chronicles (1980).

Yes Outland

Keep a wood facade and trim and just deck it out with sci-fi upgrades: screens, neon signs, roof dish, consoles, hi tech HVAC units. Take a look at the Infinity the game sci-fi terrain like Plascraft.

I received the saloon in the mail last night. Can't wait to start on it this week.

I will post updates here.

Thanks

Dan