SIXTEEN 12 DRAGON'S DOMAIN PHOTOS

 Prototype model photos of Sixteen 12 Collectables Deluxe ‘Dragon’s Domain’ Die-cast Episode set which is scheduled for release at the beginning of 2021.

Dragon’s Domain is another fan favourite, and is described as a take on the story of St George & the Dragon.

 The ‘George’ in the story is Ultra Probe pilot Tony Cellini (played by Italian actor, Gianni Garko) who, while travelling to the planet Ultra chances upon what looks like an abandoned  group of derelict alien spacecraft. After docking with one of the vessels and opening the airlock, the crew encounters a huge one-eyed, tentacled alien space monster.   All the crew except, Cellini are consumed , and after failing to destroy the hideous creature, Cellini locks himself in the Ultra Probe Command Module, and separates from the main ship leaving the creature behind. He uses the planet, Ultra in a slingshot maneuverer to begin a long journey home.    

Eventually he gets back to Moonbase Alpha, prior to its breakaway from the Earth in 1999.

Much later, the 877^thday to be precise, since the wandering Moon left Earth, Alpha detects the abandoned ships ‘graveyard at around the same time as Cellini begins to suffer nightmares about the creature.

Cellini, haunted and tormented by his memories, hi-jacks an Eagle and makes his way back to the Ultra Probe.  He detaches the Eagle ‘beak’ and re-attaches it to the front of the Probe.  

Koenig, Bergman and Helena in another Eagle, dock at a different point and enter the Ultra Probe. They find Cellini held by the creature’s tentacles, stabbing it repeatedly in the head, before he too, is consumed.

Koenig picks up an axe, and swings it into the eye of the weakened monster, finally killing it.

What a guy!

It’s interesting to me that the episode was originally to have focused on Eagle pilot, Alan Carter (played by 1999 regular, Nick Tate), giving the character a back story, but it later transpired that main star, Martin Landau wasn’t happy with the idea and persuaded the production team to rewrite it for a guest actor.  

When asked about this at the Alpha: 2014 convention, Nick diplomatically replied that, ’Martin knew how to be the star!’

Ironically, Italian, Gianni Garko was not a fluent speaker of the English language and asked Nick Tate to help him with his lines.

Other notes from the episode include that rumour has it that a model of the USS Enterprise and Doctor Who’s Tardis were filmed as part of the spaceships graveyard scenes; could be true, but the footage was certainly never used.

What is used is M’s office from the James Bond films, which can be seen, redressed as Commissioner Dixon’s office on Earth.

For the Sixteen 12 models,their familiar Eagle model will have some retooling to feature a detachable ‘beak’ complete with side boosters.

The set features an in-scale Ultra Probe Command Module. This has always been a popular design with Space: 1999 fans, especially with garage kit creators and builders.

Sixteen 12 provide the finished article ready to display.

It comes with four hinged and posable locking arms, and has plenty of detail.

The U.P.C.M. has an in-flight display stand, while the Eagle has a launch pad display base.

It has the more realistic hand turned & finished Aluminium engine bells, and the usual Alphan Moon Buggy.

This is another limited edition of 1500 worldwide, and will retail at £229.99, although early bird discounts, deposits and other ordering details will open on 18^th September.