Terranova47's Frank Collins Space Pirates Strip

In the OKAY ADVENTURE ANNUAL, this space story is illustrated by Dan Dare artist Harold Johns:

SPACE PIRATES by Frank Collins.

Terranova47

USA

Terranova47's OKAY Adventure Annual

Hello Woodsy

Further to the Boardman published books from 1954 I also have the OKAY ADVENTURE ANNUAL with works gathered from a number of sources, one story in particular is space related and illustrated by Dan Dare artist Harold Johns; SPACE PIRATES by Frank Collins (watch this Space).

It also contains an Iron Man story that predates the Marvel creation.

Here also is my reissued Pyro x-200 from the late 90's.

Terranova47

USA

DIGBY: Aunt Anastasia Comes to Stay

 Courtesy of Terranova47

BARBIE ASTRONAUT: SPACE PILOT OF THE FUTURE

Terranova47 sent me this neat picture back in 2020 during the Pandemic.

Two icons: his Dan Dare and the then new Barbie Astronaut!

Have you got icons together as well readers?

TERRANOVA47'S STRIP IN SPACESHIP AWAY #65

Hello Woodsy

The latest issue of Spaceship Away, issue 65 is available.

It contains a humorous strip written by me and drawn by Dave Windett.

Once again it is best understood if the reader is knowledgeable of the Dan Dare stories from 1950-1959.

Still here it is for the handful of readers that know the characters.

Terranova47

USA

Lone Star's 'White Hunter' Figure

Woodsy

Referring back to the 'White Hunter' figure by Lone Star in your Tarzan post last month, here is the figure as it first appeared as part of the ANZAC set of figures.

These have stood the test of time better than the paratroopers many of whom are now brittle and shatter easily.

The Lone Star diecasts as you see are in good form.

Terranova47

USA

TERRANOVA'S TARZANS

I have two Tarzan figures made by Disjorsa. 

I've attached a shot for size comparison with a 54mm Crescent soldier.

I would really love to see Tarzan meet Planet of the Apes. Would he be on their side? or the human side?

Terranova47

NYC

Just a Minic

Hello Woodsy

Here's my reproduction box for a Tri-ang Minic taxi. I bought it to display with the cab.

Terranova47

USA

Birthday Greetings from Terranova47

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL.

With Christmas being midweek we will not be in Connecticut on the day so Silver King who celebrates his 70th birthday then was out for his birthday spin this past weekend, Here he is in the foreground with my version of him in London Transport colours on Northern Heights.

Many Happy Returns

Terranova47

USA

MANHATTAN MISSIONS

Terranova47 has kindly sent me these Examples of 'Space' toys available in NYC this year.

Seasonal Greetings from Terranova47

Wishing you a Healthy Happy Holiday Season!

Pre-Holiday Greetings from Terranova47

Caption:

"I don't think those reports of Santa sightings were true sir"

"Just keep your eyes open Digby. Santa is around here somewhere"

*

Terranova47

NYC

TERRANOVA47: WORKING WITH ARTISTS

Having been in art school with future illustrators and having commissioned work over the years as a Graphic Designer for various projects I had to think about your question: what is it like to work with an artist?

In the case of the Godzilla art and story I storyboarded from a rough draft of the plot, where I wanted spot illustrations of a talking head and where I wanted a full page illustration. 

With artist Carmen Cerra it was nice that he worked in traditional materials. He liked to do both loose line art with a pen and tight drawings with pen and wash. He would also do brush and ink illustrations. Each style was a different rate as the calculation is on the time it takes. A brush and ink drawing might take just minutes, a detailed drawing an hour or more.

For reference Carmen was familiar with the Wind in the Willows characters, I sent him recent photos of Miles as he was nearly three years older than in the first book and photos of a Thames Skiff which he would not be familiar with.

Things are so much faster than when I was working, email has eliminated weeks of production time wasted waiting for snail mail. Carmen sent scans of pencil layouts for approval, then created the finished art. He scanned them, emailed them and mailed the original art to me. Having worked freelance myself the delay in receiving a cheque after 30 days or more was always a hassle. Now I can send instant PAYPAL payment, something I was never the beneficiary of.

Carmen as unusual in that he is an American familiar with British story books and artists. He recently illustrated a sequel to Winnie the Poo in the original style once the original copyright to the character had expired.

For the first Mileosaurus story I wanted a Beano style illustrator so went to PeoplePerHour.com which is mostly British artists available to hire Freelance. The rates are very competitive and the artists very talented. They are also young and have grown up drawing with computer programs rather than pen and ink. For me it was a new learning experience as colours and size could quickly be altered which in the past would be expensive changes to make as new art had to be drawn.

You blogged the first story I did for Spaceship Away [2023] with Dan Dare and Dennis the Menace. 

A second story was just published in the latest issue, 64.

Artist Dave Windett was found through PeoplePerHour in the UK. I again story boarded the page, sent dialog and reference pictures to Dave and he did the rest. The editor made many changes in colours which would have been prohibitive in traditional art but simple in software based drawings.

This story is for fans of the original Dan Dare stories from 1950-59. The punchline is in knowing the reference of who the Deputy Prime Minister is.

I quote from the HAYNES Space Fleet Operations Manual for the Deputy's father:

Dr Blasco. A brilliant scientist who discovered a way to stabilise and use monatomic hydrogen as a rocket fuel. He designed the Valiant battlecraft for the run to Saturn, but had his own power agenda. Secretly in league with Rootha forces on Saturn, on his return he planned to take over the Earth. Foiled at the last moment, he lost his life when his space helmet came off in a struggle aboard the Kroopak command craft.

So the Deputy Prime Minister is the son of a megalomaniac that wanted to enslave Earth but whose plans were thwarted by Dan Dare..

Terranova47

NYC

MONSTERS INK: Godzilla Drawings Commissioned By Terranova47

Hello Woodsy

Attached are the four commissioned Godzilla drawings by Carmen Cerra, from the story book I wrote, in sequence.

Even Godzilla is no match for Milesosaurus Rex.

I like them even if my Grandson didn't.

Regards,

Terranova47

NYC

[words in italics added by Woodsy]