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A Delos Theme Park hovercraft model miniature from Michael Crichton's Westworld. Guests were transported to Delos' isolated theme parks in hovercrafts, such as Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) and John Blane (James Brolin), who traveled in one to Westworld.

The groundbreaking sci-fi film was the first feature to use digital image processing, which it used for the vision of the android gunslinger, and was nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards for Best Dramatic Presentation, among others. Westworld grew into a franchise that spawned a sequel film, a sequel television series, and a reimagined HBO series that ran for four seasons.

This miniature was built by model maker Isao Hirai, who famously created detailed models of satellites, rockets, and space telescopes for NASA and the aerospace industry, and other government and private entities. Following the production of Westworld, Hirai hung the model from the ceiling of his workspace at his company Scale Model Co. in Hawthorne, California, where it remained on display ever since.

This model miniature is constructed primarily of balsa wood and painted metallic gray with a small reflective surface on the front representing a cockpit window, eight windows above each wing, four thrusters on the back, and "C-359" printed on the ends of both wings. Remnants of wiring in the front vents of the model miniature seem to indicate that it may have featured some electronic function, perhaps the tiny position lights in the wing tips. Hooks are attached to the top of the model for hanging display, and holes on the bottom are present from when it was previously mounted to a base. It exhibits some scuffing and cracking from use and age. Dimensions: 38" x 24" x 10" (96.75 cm x 61 cm x 25.5 cm)

Contains electronics; see electronics notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: $12,000 - 24,000

View all lots from WESTWORLD (1973)