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Science Fiction Modelmaking Associates (SFMA for short), originally located in Springfield, Massachusetts, has been a Boston-based company specialized in building models. Founded in the 1980s, the company was run by Ed Miarecki and Tom Hudson. Though the company manufactured limited edition science fiction injection molded plastic model kits for the commercial market, they have mostly provided services to the motion picture industry in manufacturing studio models and props.
The company was contracted by Paramount Pictures to provide props for the Star Trek: The Next Generation series during their season three-five run. [1] [2] Mostly handheld, some of them were maquettes, like the USS Enterprise-D's main shuttlebay, [3] and the Romulan holodeck for TNG: "Future Imperfect". [4] During this period the company also provided the kit-bash models of the:
Founders Miarecki (l) and Hudson posing with the Galor studio model
which were used in the episode TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II". The company was charged with the construction of a full-fledged studio model, in the form of the Galor-class in 1990 for the episode TNG: "The Wounded", in order to relieve pressure on Gregory Jein, Inc., who was charged with the construction of the full-fledged studio model of the Nebula-class studio model for the episode. On the model, Miarecki proudly commented, "This miniature is about 37 inches long, and was built in 2½ weeks, by Tom Hudson and myself, (our initials, "TH" and "EM" are built into the detailing). Originally contracted for the ST-TNG episode "The Wounded" it has been seen in many episodes of ST-TNG, ST-DS9, and the pilot of ST-Voyager. It has the distinction of being the only ST-TNG spaceship miniature built on the east coast of the U.S. and was one of the last few TV filming miniatures built for "Star Trek", before the conversion to all-CGI spaceships." [5]
One year later, the company received its most prestigious assignment, when it was contracted to do the renovation on the original studio models of the eleven-foot Constitution-class studio model, the D7-class studio model and the Tholian webspinners, in preparation of the Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit of 1992.
The company was shut down by 1996, as Miarecki had left to join FX Models. Former staffer Steve Horch, subsequently co-founded HMS Creative Productions, Inc. in 1998, that went on to become the regular prop vendor for the television franchise.
Staff
- David Heilman
- David Hirsch
- Steve Horch
- Tom Hudson (CEO)
- Ed Miarecki (CEO)
- Roger Sides
- Mike Spaw
Further reading
- Roger Sides, "1701 - The Ultimate Refit; Restoring the original starship", Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models, issue 14, September 1996, pp.26-28
- Ed Miarecki, "The Making of the Cardassian Warship", Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models, issue 16, December 1996, pp.24-27
External links
- EdMiarecki.com - Ed Miarecki's website
- Klanky.com - Tom Hudson's website