ORE SHIPS' DEPARTURE!

Two distinctive Ore/Mining vessels leave an alien world in a clearly composited photo that appeared in an early issue of the American Fantastic Films magazine circa 1979/1980. Whether this composition was handled by Universal or ILM for publicity is anyone's guess. At least one Ore Ship would be seen in several shots within the pilot episode as part of the Rag-Tag fleet, and as part of a matte painting on the surface of Carillon.

CLASSIC IMAGE: COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC!

With the state of Cylon pursuit seemingly gone, the Rag-Tag Fleet begins to organise itself and establish a star community of sorts, with civilian travel becoming more accessible to vessels like the Rising Star, now open for business with its casino, and even video communications of sorts too. 

A great effects shot showing the Galactica shuttle and a transport shuttle at work, one of the very rare new or re-composite shots for the latter half of the show's singular season, as seen in The Man With Nine Lives...

'MISSION' AT 45: THE CYLON ATTACK CONTINUES!

With the firepower of three Basestar compliments of fighters at his command, Baltar launches his most devastating Cylon Raider attack yet on the Galactica, bringing destructive carnage in its wake, deliberately targeting its bridge and the landing bays. 

Baltar relishes the last Battlestar's destruction...

Attacking the Gemini freighter.

Colonial Vipers speed in to attack the Raiders.

The Raiders continue their fleet attacks.

The fleet's food supplies are threatened, as the Agro Ships come under fire.

Fires spread out across the Galactica bridge. How much longer can they hold out?

The Vipers are overwhelmed but valiantly fight on against the Raiders, as the enemy conflicts spreads out across the Colonial Rag-Tag fleet, a deliberate action by Baltar so as to drain their colonial battle thruster fuel supplies further.

BEHIND THE SCENES: SPACE LUXURY THE 'RISING STAR' WAY...

Before but also during the Cylon War, the humans of the Twelve Colonies would carry on enjoying the realms of commercial space travel where they could, and what better way for them to begin their vacations than boarding the beautiful and luxurious Rising Star passenger vehicle (created by the people of Scorpio), which, with the original TV series pilot launcher, would become a home to women and children refugees for the most part. It would ultimately return back to a more leisure-related existence with the regular series, once the Galactica's Rag-Tag fleet had become more organised and efficient for its surviving peoples.

Enjoy these behind the scenes images from the Apogee filming for Saga of a Star World in Summer, 1978.

Concept design.

Jon Erland works on the model at Apogee.

Model filming.

Photographed by Richard Edlund with the Dykstraflex camera. Interesting that the model is quite small but looks bigger on screen. The same visual trick was used with the original Star Destroyer model used with the beginning of the first Star Wars movie of 1977.

Rear view of the impressive model ultimately sold at auction.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE COLONIAL EXODUS BEGINS...

From every corner of the destroyed Twelve Colonies they'd come, all carrying the last remnants of humanity to be protected by the mighty shepherd warship that is the Battlestar Galactica. A great effects shot showing the beginnings of the rag-tag fleet from Saga of a Star World.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: THE FLEET FORMS UP!

An interesting group shot of the fleet, featuring some rarely seen space vehicles from the series.

Knowing that the Galactica can no longer be the slowest vessel of the Rag-Tag fleet, the mighty vessel speeds its way into the death corridor of the pulsar, whilst the survivor vessels behind it are given orders to increase interval spacings and also bolster their speed near their protector vessel.

'ICE PLANET ZERO' AT 45: INTO THE BLASTING ZONE!

It's another near miss for the Galactica and the rag-tag fleet as they are forced to move forward in grouped batches within the deadly spacial corridor of pulsar cannon fire consistently emanating from Arcta. And time is running out for the Colonial ground team to achieve their destructive aims...

CLASSIC ART: SPACE WARS!

The epic struggle for survival by our Colonial Warrior heroes against the merciless Cylon hordes endlessly chasing them across the galaxy is well showcased in this gorgeous art. If anyone knows the artist behind it and what this great piece was originally used for (we assume it's merchandise related), please get in touch.

CLASSIC IMAGE: EXPLORING THE GEMINI FREIGHTER!

When it came to designing spaceships for the Rag-Tag Fleet, the classic series couldn't have had a better model designer/artist than Joe Johnston, who gave us a truly intriguing and diverse array of used craft, like the impressive 'Gemini Freighter' model that was eventually sold off to the highest bidder during a special film/TV model prop auction from a few years back...

BEHIND THE SCENES: FLEET INSPECTION!

A great side angles look at the primary Rag-Tag fleet models used in the pilot/series filming, including the Colonial Movers vehicle, the prison barge, the later-named Celestra, a three-tier fuel processing ship (seen approaching Carillon in the pilot episode) and another unknown vessel. 

CLASSIC ART: JOURNEYING ON...

 

The business of survival and the great hope of finding that long fabled Thirteenth Tribe spurs the mighty Battlestar Galactica and its rag-tag fleet of humanity ever onwards, in this great comic art worthy of any effects shot seen in the actual weekly series. 

If anyone knows the artist, or exactly where this piece originally appeared, please get in touch.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON CHAOS!

It only takes a few slipped-through-the-defence-net Cylon fighters to cause maximum damage to the vulnerable Rag-Tag Fleet, as seen here with their attack on the Agro vessels in The Magnificent Warriors, of which footage from Universal's prior seventies sci-fi classic Silent Running was cleverly re-used (though probably not to the liking of its director Doug Trumbull!) with new optical overlays

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SPACE BOUND FLEET!

One of the fuel ships of the Galactica's Rag-Tag Fleet goes overhead camera, with other ships following behind it, in another great effects shot from the pilot episode that was also used from time to time within the series. The fuel ship could be seen in the background amongst the landed Colonial Vipers of Carillon during Saga of a Star World's finale, so there must have been a further effects shot or two of the vessel planned but likely never filmed.

CLASSIC IMAGE: 'WE MOVE ANYWHERE'!

They move anywhere. One of the great and memorable ships of the Rag-Tag Fleet seen in the pilot episode of Galactica and in stock footage through the series- the Colonial Movers vehicle, whose filmed model would be sold off in auction a few years back. Love the colouring and detail of the ship.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A FLOCK OF HUMANITY!

Moving at a pace perfect for target practice, it isn't long before the Galactica's rag-tag fleet of humans is attacked once more by the Cylons, in an effects composite image that appeared several time early on in the series.

CLASSIC ART: GUIDES AND PROTECTORS!

Protecting the remnants of humanity within the Rag-Tag Colonial Fleet, the brave strikewing Viper pilots of Blue Squadron are ready for anything, as seen in this lovely early teaser art for the DYNAMITE Classic GALACTICA comic series, from 2012.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "SURPRISE!"

Colonial Vipers spring out from behind the Gemini freighter and begin their counterattack on a Cylon Raider force, in this moment from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SPACE PRISON!

Originally one of the generic ships shown in the Galactica's Rag-Tag fleet, this vessel soon became the ominous Prison Barge holding the remaining scum and villainy of humanity for later episodes of the weekly series.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE NEXT DESTINATION

Having surveyed the ailing Gemini freighter and its packed to the rafters inhabitants, the Galactica shuttle heads back to its mother vessel, with patients bound for its Life Station, in a scene from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE CRIMSON CORRIDOR!

Slowly but surely entering the blinding Nova Madagon, the Galactica and her Rag-Tag Fleet are firmly relying on their three finest Viper pilots to clear the Cylon mined corridor, in this memorable and atmospheric effects sequence from Saga of a Star World.