Ed Valigursky's 'Moon Base' from 'Man in Space' |
http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2017/07/we-land-on-moon-coloring-book-based-on_7.html
Memory can be a difficult beast and after seeing this edition, I recalled having a colouring book back when I was 8, which was left in my old house the day we moved out, along with a Thunderbirds book, bought at the same time. Ordinarily, I would just put it down to the passage of time and being in a rush to leave the property. But the more I thought about it, It occurred to me that the reason I missed the book was because it contained references to Project SWORD. At first, I assumed I was just recalling the Valigursky drawings, but the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that the colouring book had a drawing of a Sword Moon Crawler in it. Since then I have checked various copies of the We Land on the Moon series, to no avail.
Then, a few weeks ago, while visiting a local car boot with Woodsy, we found an old used copy of a colouring book in a box of annuals, which I bought for 50p. 'Man on the Moon' is a British publication and a similar format to the American series, but not as well produced.Pioneer and Sputnik |
Ranger 4 and 5 |
Some of the drawings are clearly based on photo reference, such as the classic Ed White spacewalk, while others show more unusual fare, such as the suggested rogallo parawing capsule return for the Gemini missions.
One or two of the pages had some high spirited colouring, but nothing too bad on the more interesting artwork.
Once more, some of the astronaut suits were a little fanciful and some of the futuristic themed art is inspired by conceptual images, such as the West German Junkers shuttle concept seen in Kenneth Gatlands ‘Frontiers of Space’.
The bug then appears in other drawings, notably in a spread next to the Junkers Shuttle, which again is influenced by the TV21 annual.
Finally, tucked away is another more oblique Sword reference in the form of a large ‘moon bus’.
Oh my. I have been searching for years for that picture of the Gemini landing with a Rogallo wing. When I was very young, my Mum bought me that colouring book. Even at that age I remember thinking something was not right about that landing on land! Says more about me I suppose. Thanks so much for posting this!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Kevin! I think the parawing would still be safer than the soviet capsule returns, which are always on land! Ouch! Bill
DeleteHeres the real thing to: https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/paraglider-capsule-gemini-ttv-1/nasm_A19750833000
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious find! Those 60s space designs (real and fictional) have never been topped, and never will!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Artwork!
ReplyDeleteWhat a satisfying conclusion to 50 odd years of vague anxiety! Isn't it funny how things seem to come together in our twilight years?
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I saw a fairly recent YouTube video of Brian Johnson recreating classic Thunderbirds model set ups for the camera.
-All a great inspiration for what I want to do with MY Twilight years!
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these.
There was a children's book in the late 60's early 70's on wild flying machines...years before the movie RADIO FLYER...that had a child on a winged wagon...
any ideas?
Nope but I shall look!
DeleteGreat post Bill. So many Bugs in there. I love how you've taken them to their source. Cool research that. What a find!
ReplyDelete