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Author
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Topic: 'The Big Bang Theory' Expedition 31 insignia
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-04-2012 01:44 PM
   
Magnus Crepitus Theoria...During the Space Camp Hall of Fame inductions held this year in June at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., a silent auction offered one of the screen-used mission patches created for the fictional Expedition 31 crew on the CBS television series, "The Big Bang Theory."  In addition to being a cool pop culture-meets space history collectible, the patch served as a basis for the behind-the-scenes article: Space for rent: How 'The Big Bang Theory' sent Howard Wolowitz to space From the story: Thus far, the embroidered patch was only glimpsed on the show, sewn to the costume spacesuits that the crew wore while launching to the space station... The insignia, which was designed by Tony Boatright, a real space program employee who designed patches for actual ISS projects, features the space station, a Soyuz capsule and a stylized representation of the 'big bang' explosion that began the universe expanding. Stitched at the bottom of the patch, far too small for even the highest definition TV to ever discern, is a Latin phrase, "Magnus Crepitus Theoria" — or as translated, "Big Bang Theory." |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1035
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 10-04-2012 01:59 PM
Wow! It even has a mistake in the Cyrillics (not your fault Tony!) which makes it look even more like a real American designed patch for a Russian flight! |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2998
From: Titusville, FL
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 10-04-2012 04:36 PM
Congratulations to Tony Boatright for a great design. If it couldn't be Jorge and I, I'm glad it was you. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-04-2012 05:34 PM
Thank you for FINALLY showing us the patch. So, I have to ask the inevitable question... will there ever be any replicas of this patch made for sale? Or will it be too much of a hassle because of licensing, like the infamous C.O.L.B.E.R.T. patch was?The only tiny error I can see (probably not an error per se since it was for a fictional show) is the Soyuz is green like ASTP. Soyuz TMA type capsules have had gray thermal coverings for quite awhile (now I'm starting to feel like Sheldon, can I say "Bazinga"?).  I think a green Soyuz still looks prettier than a gray one. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-04-2012 05:54 PM
I apologize for the delayed roll out of the patch but my intentions from the start were to incorporate it into the coverage this site provided of the show's current season. This article is planned as only the first entry in an expanding story.As for replica patches for sale, the best and only reply I can give at this time is, I don't know. There are potentially multiple rights owners. |
James913
Member Posts: 295
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-04-2012 09:36 PM
Thanks for the kind words. It was a fun project. Agree about the Soyuz coloring, but I didn't have any approval over the final production. Here's my original sketch from last January (with the original crewmember names before the Massimino/Rezinov flight shuffle) to give you a better look at some of the patch details.  |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3454
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-04-2012 09:49 PM
So, was the first design ever put into production?  And if not Massimino, which Greg Johnson?On a serious note, wonder if Massimino will be sporting one of the patches on his flight suit or NASA jacket? |
James913
Member Posts: 295
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-04-2012 09:57 PM
The original episode mentioned Johnson and Novachelic -- just fictional astronauts as far as I know -- before Mike signed on for the role. As far as I know, no patches were made up with the original names. |
Space Emblem Art
Member Posts: 194
From: Citrus Heights, CA - USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 10-04-2012 10:59 PM
Great job Tony! |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 10-05-2012 09:08 AM
I sent a message to the CBS.com store to see if they intend to produce the patch. I would think they would be the most likely source. |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 10-05-2012 10:45 AM
There are plenty of people who start working on recreating sci-fi patches as soon as the movies come out (and in many cases well before). I bet that if CBS doesn't make them for their store, you'll be seeing copies of varying quality in the very near future. Just like how hard to find real space patches have Asian knockoffs soon afterward... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-05-2012 10:53 AM
The difference here, at least with regards to eBay sales, is currently the only source for this image is cS, which gives me some right to issue VeRO reports with eBay. Because the patches won't be based off a CBS screenshot but a photo, which is copyright of collectSPACE.And of course, Tony could file the same with even more merit. The best solution would be for CBS to license or sell themselves a collectible version of the patch. |
Stafford Air&Space
Member Posts: 20
From: Weatherford, OK USA
Registered: Mar 2013
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posted 10-05-2012 03:53 PM
Thank you for sharing! The patch is awesome and looks totally real! |
jeffbassett
Member Posts: 109
From: Toledo
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 10-06-2012 08:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The best solution would be for CBS to license or sell themselves a collectible version of the patch.
Hopefully, some one can influence CBS to produce them for the online gift shop. I know I would get a couple myself.  |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 10-07-2012 08:58 AM
Send the CBS store a message!They replied to my inquiry about the patch saying it was not for sale at this time, but they liked the idea. Maybe if they get more requests, it will happen... |
KAPTEC
Member Posts: 600
From: Madrid, Spain
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 10-08-2012 04:24 AM
Nice patch Tony. Congratulations!But yes (Erik): РеЗИНОВ is wrote with the wrong "E" |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1035
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 10-08-2012 05:09 AM
See it in a positive way Jorge! It only adds to the realism of the series. |
KAPTEC
Member Posts: 600
From: Madrid, Spain
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 10-08-2012 04:13 PM
Yes! Ha, ha, ha! |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 10-18-2012 09:06 PM
I saw a lot of this patch tonight on Howard's jacket. I really hope CBS makes a replica as I would love to make a copy of his NASA jacket. |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 10-18-2012 11:21 PM
I was kind of puzzled about that jacket. They used an Alpha Industries shuttle jacket and moved the giant meatball to the opposite side, put the TV mission patch on the right sleeve and made a mission specialist wing nameplate with his name. I wasn't impressed with the job they did, the patches were sewn way too far wide for someone his size and the nameplates are never sewn to the jackets, not that I've ever seen, anyway. |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 10-20-2012 11:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Ronpur:
Send the CBS store a message!
There's a product suggestion box if you get there, and I suggested exactly this. I also mentioned that if they went online they'd likely find more than a few places where it's being discussed (I've seen notations for this patch on sci-fi fan sites, too). |
jeffbassett
Member Posts: 109
From: Toledo
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 11-25-2012 11:20 AM
These are now starting to show up on eBay. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-25-2012 11:51 AM
I was concerned this might happen after Tony posted the black and white art (if not also after releasing the photo of the set-used patch). I think it is pretty clear these are knock-off creations, without licensing from CBS or Tony (I'd be happy if I am wrong). |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 11-25-2012 02:43 PM
I'm actually surprised it took this long. People make copies of sci-fi patches all the time, and they often turn up before the movies get released. There's an entire cottage industry devoted to this. |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1138
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 11-25-2012 09:06 PM
Currently three versions (sizes) on eBay all originating in Florida. |
jeffbassett
Member Posts: 109
From: Toledo
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 11-25-2012 09:25 PM
One of the eBay auctions, Galactic Trading, offers quite a large number of different patches from different shows and movies, so looks like indeed, it was just a matter of time for this one. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 11-26-2012 06:39 AM
Intergalactic Trading has been around for decades, originally sent out flyers and catalogs of Star Trek items back in the late 70's. I have a ton of fan made blueprints from them of Star Trek ships. Originally, most of their product was fan-made. I think they still have a big store in Orlando. Patches have always been part of their products. I think the last ones I got from them were NX-01 patches from Star Trek Enterprise. It seams that the studios just don't care too much because the market is so small. But, actually, not sure that they are the same as the Intergalactic Patches place. |
James913
Member Posts: 295
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 11-30-2012 11:54 AM
Sigh. Just for the record, I didn’t approve, authorize or know about any of the eBay versions of the patch. Oh well, sincerest form of flattery, etc., etc. |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 12-01-2012 12:34 AM
quote:
Originally posted by James913:
Just for the record, I didn’t approve, authorize or know about any of the eBay versions of the patch.
I suppose that, being into sci-fi stuff and knowing of those who make such things as well as I do, I'm surprised that this came as a surprise to anyone else that the reproduction patches now exist. Whether Robert posted the shot of his patch or not, it was just a matter of time. I overheard a couple of people discussing this very topic the day after the first episode aired where the potential for a patch existed.Heck, there are people looking into making even better copies right now. You can pretty much find almost ANY sci-fi patch you want out there if you know who to ask... |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 12-01-2012 09:19 AM
quote:
Originally posted by James913:
Sigh. Just for the record, I didn’t approve, authorize or know about any of the eBay versions of the patch. Oh well, sincerest form of flattery, etc., etc.
Can you authorize a replica yourself, or would you have to go to CBS? I am tempted to get a couple of these, but would love an official one, that was perfect. I will actually be close to a store that may have these later today. If they have one, and it looks good, I may get it anyway. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-01-2012 10:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
Heck, there are people looking into making even better copies right now.
Here's the problem: Neither Tony or CBS have released the art, and never was the patch shown clearly enough on the show to be reproduced from a screen grab. So that means, barring some unknown source, the patches are being produced directly from the collectSPACE imagery. Were this altruistic, I would have no problem, but these companies are profiting from the work of others (Tony, CBS and collectSPACE, in that order). No matter how long these companies have been in business, they are thieves, plain and simple. It's not like even one of them reached out to collectSPACE to ask for permission to use the art, let alone Tony or CBS. When I originally posted the patch, I was tempted to omit or change some detail of the design to invalidate any knock-offs and make them easy to identify and perhaps even stop. I chose not to as I wanted to be honest to our readers and show them the patch as Tony designed it and CBS used it. Now I am regretting that I didn't... |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 12-01-2012 11:55 PM
Let's compare the fake with the production patch shown at the top of the thread: FAKE: quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Here's the problem: Neither Tony or CBS have released the art, and never was the patch shown clearly enough on the show to be reproduced from a screen grab. So that means, barring some unknown source, the patches are being produced directly from the collectSPACE imagery.
One place I saw where it was being discussed, one person said he had a screen shot of the patch taken on the set by someone who was hanging out with the crew. This same person got "Transformers" NEST patch images out even before the scenes were filmed, so I believe he had them. You posted yours about 2 days after that. While I agree that your posting seems to be the one that was used for these people making the patches, you only moved up the timeframe by a few days, as plans were already afoot to make patches that would have been just as accurate as the pirated ones out there now.I DO agree with you that people who make these are ripping off the original designers. No question about that. I'm an artist myself and have had to sick a copyright lawyer friend of mine onto a couple of people using my (non-space-related) art on their websites, so I get why the designer would be ticked off. That said, it was going to happen even with cS reporting on it. Just like Asian knockoffs of real space patches, ALL sci-fi patches get copied sooner or later. In a collector standpoint, Robert, your patch is still from the production run. It's still as valuable as it was before you posted the photo of it. But had you not posted it, by this date, we'd still be seeing the same patches on eBay that we're seeing now anyway. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 12-02-2012 06:34 PM
I saw one the other day at the store in Orlando, and it looks okay. But there are not as many colors in the "big bang". They have a ton of patches from sci-fi shows and none of them appear to be licensed. There isn't a big enough market apparently, for the studios to even bother making them. This is the same place I have gotten Star Trek and Doctor Who patches for cosplay. And I have seen Big Bang cosplayers around. I really hope CBS does a nice replica, because Robert's is so much nicer looking than the knock off! But, somehow, I doubt we will see one. |
p51
Member Posts: 1730
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 04-23-2013 12:52 AM
I was getting some NASA mission specialist name patches made up for a film project and I couldn't resist having what's probably the only screen-accurate copy out there: I can re-create his mission jacket right now, as he used a standard Alpha Industries shuttle jacket, they even used the same oversized NASA patch that comes with it. The only reason I don't make a copy of his jacket is that his jacket is probably a medium size, if that. I'm not 100% sure what I'll be doing with the nameplate but it's nice to have... |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-24-2013 06:02 AM
Very nice! I made a similar copy but used my own name on the name plate. I may get one of his name for use in a cosplay we may do at a future convention. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-19-2013 12:28 PM
I had a chance earlier this week to catch up with Mike Massimino in Los Angeles (who was visiting "The Big Bang Theory" set later that day). He graciously posed for a photo with my screen-used patch: |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1249
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 09-19-2013 11:56 PM
Cool! So it looks like he doesn't wear one on his flight suit. Is he making another appearance on the show? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-20-2013 07:20 AM
No, not on his flight suit, though he does have one.And he didn't mention anything about another appearance. His visit to the set was just to stop by and say hello. |
Gonzo
Member Posts: 598
From: Holland, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 10-04-2013 09:34 AM
Out of curiosity, what is the size of he patch? The nameplate is 4"x2", but what about the mission patch? Update - never mind. Reading the posts above, all are fakes and vary in size. Being a fan of the show, a real one would be awesome. I would buy one for sure if CBS decided to make any. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47077
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-05-2013 02:46 AM
For what it is worth, the real mission patch (used on-screen) is 3.75-inches tall by 4.25 inches at its widest point. |
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