Monday, 28 December 2020
DAN DARE'S ANNIE
A few previously seen photos I took of my old Annastasia scratch build using the same diorama I created for my Fireball model. The model is based on the Annie we see during the story, The Red Moon mystery as, at the time I built it I only had that comic strip as reference. Like my Fireball model, Annie is made from wood, vac formed plasicard and clear accetate.
Looking at the first photo of the Annie, it reminded me of some kind of an insect, which also reminded me of the Alpha Eagles. I recall Brian Johnson saying he based the design on a grasshopper, as most spacecraft had an insect like appearance.
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Annie designed at a time before they even put Sputnik up? If so it actually goes to show how creative the artists and writers of Dan Dare actually were.
And as always a superb model by the way.
Thanks Bill. You're absolutely right, Annie was designed a few years before Sputnik. I believe the early Dan Dare ships and rockets were inspired by American W.W.2 bombers and the German V weapons.
DeleteI can understand the insect analogy. The Apollo Moon Lander certainly had an insect like look.
Super cool
ReplyDeleteFantastic job. I contacted a model making company who used to make all those aircraft models out of wood for travel agents but mine, of course is solid; the interior is just superb, skipper :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul. As Annie is all silver I wanted the interior to give a little added colour and interest.
DeleteExcellent build and photos Scoop!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. Although I built the model in time for the 1990 Eagle Exhibition at Southport, the first time photos of my Annie appeared on the blog was 2012 would you believe.:)
Delete2012 - wow, time does fly!!
DeleteA nice model even with aging acetate. My solid wood Philippine made version just gets dusty. It was always fun back in the 50's when 'Annie' appeared as the craft had personality whereas Space Fleet vessels had no individuality.
ReplyDeleteThanks,yes, yellowing acetate is a problem. I'm currently building an old Comet Miniatures Stingray which appeared in the late eighties. The clear acetate on that has already yellowed.
DeleteThe Annie certainly has personality, thanks to Sondar no doubt ;) I didn't mind the other Space Fleet ships. I know what you mean about them having no individuality, but I did have a fondness for the Space Rescue ship that is briefly seen in Operation Saturn.
A lovely piece of work. That smooth finish is pure 50's style modelmaking, before rivets seams and widgets became all the rage and spaceships changed from looking like Rocketship XM to the Nostromo!
ReplyDeleteYellowing acetate is a curse, and yet it just accentuates that period feel to your model. I have a sheet of yellowed acetate just waiting to be put into some as yet unmade model to make it look like an artifact from a previous time!
Thanks Lewis.yes, I know what you mean about that clean unweathered fifties look.
DeleteI agree with you about the acetate. There's not a lot can be done about it, but, like you I don't mind it's yellowed tinge.
A Superb Model of Anastasia. You said you made it for the Eaglcon80 Event. That was quite a Memorable Weekend. I Went with my friend Ian who was a Member of a Scottish Dan Dare Club in the 1950s. I Took My Models of Dan Dare Figures I Had Made and i was over the Moon When Frank Came and Looked at them and i Have Photos of Him Holding and Looking at My SELEKTROBOT Model. A Superb Day Meeting and Talking to Many EAGLE Heroes. The Displays were Amazing Particularly Pip Warwicks MEKON. Happy Memories
ReplyDelete