OLD-WORLD Hollywood horror and science-fiction inspires memories of gritty latex masks and elaborate robot costumes that hide actors inside their shells.
Gritty and real, those ideals of old movies and television shows form the collection of Devonport signwriter Mark Damon.
Mr Damon has been collecting things for most of his life and his collection includes motor vehicles, toys, video and DVD equipment, instruments and, the most popular, his sci-fi and popular culture figurines and collectables.
He showed The Advocate around his collection last week at his Devonport home, which has a purpose-built room to house his life-size replicas of famous robots and characters from his favourite movies and also includes his first life-size replica, Dung the cow.
"I just thought it would be cool to have a life-size cow," he said.
"Now people ask me if I got it because of Ashgrove [Cheese's cows] but I've had Dung for longer."
His latest life-size acquisition, a replica of space assassin Boba Fett from the Star Wars franchise, sits among his other collectables, such as Robby the robot from Forbidden Planet, and the B9 robot from Lost in Space.
"Ever since I was a child I just have always loved sci-fi," he said.
Mr Damon said he had always been fascinated with the old type of movie production and said being an arts student had ignited a passion for things like costumes and masks, which had informed his collection.
"I just love the 'crumbiness' of old movies; I really like the old-school stuff," he said.
Boxes on boxes crowd a back room off the purpose-built cinema room that doubles as band practice room and the home for his life-size replicas and Mr Damon said he had never had a chance to count all of his collection.
Mr Damon said he had always been a collector and that classic 50s and 60s film memorabilia was his favourite.
Among his prized pieces are replicas of the B9 robot from Lost in Space and Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet.
Both are working replicas that move and light up just like the originals from the films.
The B9 robot also takes a "soil sample" from a working arm at the base of the robot, just as it did in the film and is the last known replica made by the designer from the films.
Mr Damon has three rooms on his Devonport property dedicated to his collection and his partner, who collects shoes and dolls from movies, has one room.
He has plans, he says, to build two more rooms onto the home to properly house some of his collection.
