A look behind-the-scenes at the insanely complex model city built by New York-based Liberty Studios for HBO's 1983 on-air look. 6 model makers worked for 3 months casting nearly 100 unique buildings, all with working lightbulbs and meticulous exterior detailing. The model was made in 3 sections, a city, the suburbs and county side, with a 16ft high airbrushed skyline as the backdrop.

Shot entirely as stop-motion with a computer controlled camera, smoke was used on set to create an exaggerated sense of distance as the camera swoops through the city streets. The HBO logo that spins in from outer-space was made from brass and chrome plated letters, if you don't have time to watch the whole clip make sure you skip forward to 5:09 for a glimpse into the halcyon days of operating machinery in the workshop while smoking a pipe.

More stills after the jump and the "Starship" intro by itself.

via motionographer