What is new for the latest update of
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[ NOTE: ALL DATES LISTED IN STANDARD OBJECTIVE EARTH TIME ]
General site maintenance
Before that ...
Jim Sapp shows off his paper modeling skill with a new paper model Icarus
Zach sent me a link to an updated all-in-one source for the Jan Rukr "Icarus" paper models. Thanks, Zach! Find it under the "links" page
A bit of original POTA artwork entitled "Blowing the Hatch" by Steve Burg. I asked him to post his artwork here a long, long time ago and ... sorry, Steve. It's posted now. Maybe he'll do some follow-up POTA spacecraft artwork.
General site maintenance.
Look ... POTA spaceship stuff is hard to come by and I search fairly often so if you run across anything out there that is relevant to the POTA spacecraft email me a link or send it to me.
Before that ...
Calvin Sweet sends us images of a project I thought about a long time ago
but haven't yet gotten around to working on ... the melding of the Icarus with
the old AMT "Leif Ericson" Strategic Space Command galactic cruiser model.
Sci-Fi Air Show has added the "Liberty-2" (aka "Icarus tail lander") to
their collection. It's an interesting take on the concept and a great
background story of how and why this design exists.
Kim Huckaby sends us images from the old Artcraft POTA coloring and
activity books.
Mark Creighton has built a Wilco Model's Icarus and shared his work with
us.
Does anyone know what
happened to Phil Broad and his website?
I emailed him but haven't heard anything back from him. His was the only
other Icarus website on the Internet and I hate to be the number one Icarus site
by default of having no one else around. If any of you know what happened
to Phil and his website, please
email me.
Thanks!
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
A bit of a last minute
addition, Dave Barkovitz has sent me pictures of his ANSA flight suit, modeled
after the one that Charlton Heston wore in the original film. Find it
under the Modeling section since it is,
technically, a reproduction of one of the aspects of the ANSA space program.
Gemini Model Build-Up
Studios has produced an excellent Beneath the Planet of the Apes "Icarus II"
crash scene diorama, this one with miniature figures of Brent and Skipper!
Find it in the Modeling section.
Someone finally posted
a quality video of the ANSA Public Service Announcement.
Now, those of you who (like me) just didn't jump head-first into BluRay can see
and enjoy this previously BluRay only video extra found on the latest bundle of
POTA films.
A new link to a four part series of videos on YouTube detailing the build-up of the Wilco Models' 1/72 scale resin "Icarus" spacecraft.
Before that ...
Lord Vahmp (at long,
long last) gets his page. I know, I know, I've said it was coming this
week and I've been saying that since about 9 months ago but ... better late than
never.
A slight correction to the modeling page, some long overdue credit where credit was long overdue. An Icarus model finally gets the proper owner thanks to an email and correction from Joe Brown. Apologies to Randy Stuart and Joe Brown.
Before that ...
Well, it's official
(sort of, I guess). The astronauts were going to Alpha Centauri (not
"somewhere in Orion's Belt"). That is, according to the new ANSA short
film included on the Blu-Ray POTA collection. The transcript of this film
and the information itself is discussed in depth here. Unfortunately, I
don't have a Blu-Ray player (and don't really anticipate buying one any time
soon) so if anyone can rip this feature to DIVX and shoot it my way or provide
in-depth screen shots in high quality JPG I'd appreciate it greatly.
Randy Cooper, a
professional modeler, contributes images of his "Icarus II"
which is a two foot long diorama of Brent / Skipper's crashed ship from BTPOTA.
Amazing!
Rich Handley has written
a new POTA time line book! Comprehensive seems ... mundane in how to
describe this work. Epic would be a better description to use by far.
Find info under the "All Things ANSA" page.
An interesting question
is posed by Vahmp on the FAQ page. A question I'm not sure we have an
answer to ...
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
Thanks go out to Gordon
Carew who has sent us a very interesting rendered image of a full Icarus flight
vehicle. Find this newest entry on the Art page.
Thanks also go out to
Rich Handley for helping out with some of the Tim Burton info on the FAQ page,
mostly the names of the space pods, the space pod chimp pilot and the launching
agency. I knew that info from a long time ago but just had never really
included it which makes me lazy for not finishing that particular section of the
FAQs. Thanks to Rich for gently reminding me to include that bit of info
on my site. So let it be written, so let it be done.
General site
maintenance.
Before that ...
Eric Mauretto has sent
us some interesting CAD Catia V5 rendered images of a full Icarus flight
vehicle. Find this newest entry on the Art page.
Rich Handley fills us
in on the myth of the "lost" animated episode "A Date with Judy." Find
this new info on the FAQ page.
General site
maintenance.
Before that ...
Mark Longmire has
created two images of an alternate ending of POTA or beginning of EFTPOTA.
Anyway, what would it have been like if Brent was successful? What if
Taylor, Dodge and Landon had returned to Earth after their mission? Find
out in the Artwork section!
Update on the Larson
Designs 3" Mini-Icarus and where you can buy it direct. Hopefully, no
more bidding on this model and you can get it without a lot of fuss.
I found a rather nice buildup of
the Wilco Models "Icarus" with pictures. The artist put the WM "Icarus"
into a very Michael Walker style base to recreate the scene from the first
movie. The neat thing is, the ship can be removed from the base for
inspection of the interior, etc. and returned to the base for display.
Find it on the "All Things ANSA" page, link is listed under the Wilco Models "Icarus"
entry. If the owner of this model would like, please send me additional
pictures of this buildup and I'll add your model to the site.
Updated more pictures
from the TV Cartoon series crew and spaceship. A very special thanks to
Neil Moxham for the images. Sorry it took so long to finally get them up to the
site.
And speaking of taking
a long time... Geez. Sometime ago, Wes Carr sent me information solving
one of the minor mysteries of the POTA series... What was "Skipper's" name?
The mystery deepened when a production scene (not seen in the movie) showed a
hint of Skipper's name tag and it was either "Haddox" or "Maddox." People
wondered for a few months but Wes Carr solved the mystery by doing some Internet
sleuthing of the actor who played Skipper. Somehow, I forgot this bit of
info and never posted it. Doh! Well, the mystery was solved about a
year ago and I thought that I had updated the info on the FAQ page long before
now but sadly I did not. Skipper's name was "Maddox" and he was a Captain.
Find the info and links to the proof on the FAQ page. Better late than
never.
General site maintenance.
The ending to the
GameBoy "Planet of the Apes" game which shows the Icarus again...
Peter Flessas has done
some modeling work on the Kubrick "Baby Icarus" model by fashioning a
service module to the command section. Find his work under the modeling section.
Dave Barkovitz checks in with
his incredible artwork of yet another Icarus variant. Find his work under
the Artwork section.
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
Announcing an exclusive
for this site! Dave Ballard and Mike McColm have given me exclusive
permission to display the "Riders of the Storm" comic, otherwise often called
the "Milo story." "Riders of the Storm" is the story of Milo finding a
functional ANSA spaceship, learning how to fly it, convincing Cornelius and Zira
to accompany him and then leaving the planet Earth in the future to return to
the present. Enjoy!
Included new
information on Sideshow Collectibles Astronaut Brent figure.
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
Bill
King shares with us his build of the older Larson Designs six inch, two piece
solid resin Icarus. Find his work displayed under the modeling section.
I've
posted the first part of my rewrite of the original POTA script. I carry
you from the mission beginning up until just after the crash scene. More
to come later. Enjoy.
Wes
Carr sent me some snapshots he took not only of the original studio miniature of
the Icarus model located at Planet Hollywood in Orlando, FL but also of Taylor's
flight suit also on display at the same location. Find these new images
under the FAQ section.
Neil
Moxham has contributed some very clear scans of the crew and spacecraft from the
POTA cartoon series including an incredible full panoramic view of . Find
these new images (replacing my older, crude images) under the spaceflight photo
section.
I
finally got around to finishing the first part of my rewrite of the original
POTA script and how I would do it if I were shooting the movie today.
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
Jose
Ramone Ruiz Diez was kind enough to allow me to show you his 1/16 scale hand
built Icarus. Sr. Diez is a very talented artist with a host of POTA
models to his credit (check out his Ape House). Find his work displayed
under the modeling section.
If you
didn't pre-order your Sideshow Collectibles "Pre-Crash" Taylor and "Post-Crash
Forbidden Zone" Taylor 12" action figures, you're out of luck because they were
limited to 500 copies each. You may can find one if you hunt real hard.
The 12" Astronaut Brent figure is still available for pre-order as is the giant
18" "Lawgiver" statue. All four are headed my way as they become
available.
General site maintenance.
Before that...
Mateen
Greenway has graciously allowed me to host two of his Icarus pictures.
Find them under the artwork section.
There is a new action figure from Sideshow Collectibles though no info is available right now. It looks like we'll soon be adding Astronaut Brent to the collection. Find out what little we know on the "Everything ANSA and Icarus" page.
Before that...
Dave
Ballard has uncovered a rare image of the Icarus taken from a POTA coloring
book, circa 1974. It too shows the "complete" Icarus but the image is
rather simple. Still, it shows the Icarus attached to a larger body flying
through space, proving that the thoughts of 'more to this ship' were alive even
back when the movies were fresh.
Neil
Moxham has sent in some new images of Colonel Ronald Brent's ship (from the
cartoon series). Also, I have moved Colonel Brent's spacecraft from the
Venturer section and given it a section of its own. I am currently trying
to draw up some images of this spacecraft since none exist nor have they ever
existed before.
Jackill,
long known for their Star Trek blueprints, has just released two sets of
Icarus blueprints; the Icarus (Taylor's ship) and the Daedalus (3 seater EFTPOTA
and TV series). Find info and a link on the "All things ANSA and Icarus"
page.
Sideshow Collectibles has another Colonel George Taylor figure! This is post-crash, "Forget that! Hell! Let's go swimmin'!" Taylor with beard, ANSA suit, dirt rubbed into the suit, and of course, that special silver backpack. Find news and info on this figure in the "All Things ANSA and Icarus" page. This is a pre-order collectible shipping later this year, and it is apparently limited to just 500 so get yours now because there's only 499 left (I pre-ordered), if you're lucky and there's probably even less than that now.
Before that...
Alberto Lopez was kind enough to share with us some information and pictures of his full scratch build of the Icarus. When you first see Alberto's model, you may think you are looking at the Monsters in Motion kit, with all the detail that Alberto has put into his kit, but then you start to notice the little things, like the edge of card and paper. That's when you realize that this model is built in the same manner as Jan Rukr's models are, by hand and out of card, paper, and plastic sheet. Find Alberto's incredible model on the scale modeling section!
Before that ...
Dave Ballard has asked me to be part of an online POTA comic hosting project. The comic strip is "Beware the Beast" which is taken from a line from the Ape Scrolls which says "Beware the beast man." The story (by Dave Ballard) and artwork (by Neil Foster) are top notch. Dave thought that I might want to host Part 7 of this story, and after reading the three pages of Part 7, and seeing the final graphic frame, I now know why. I'm looking forward to Part 8 to see what unfolds. Find this comic and links to Parts 1 through Part 6 on the Art page. Enjoy!
Before that...
Dave
Ballard introduces us to some panel art from an upcoming comic project that a
talented friend of his, Mark McColm, is doing. This story will center
around Milo, the ape scientist from the third movie and will possibly tell us
how Milo found a working spacecraft and figured it out enough so that he,
Cornelius, and Zira could escape the destruction of Earth and return to the
past. Find this tantalizing bit of artwork under the Artwork section.
Toys
and models! I now have the direct mailing address and ordering information
for the Wilco Models Icarus kit. You may order direct from them now!
$40 plus $5 shipping and fondling gets you this kit. Overseas orders pay
slightly more shipping, but then that's what you get for living on the other
side of the pond so neh. Rejoice, Icarus fans!
Chris
Larson produces the World's Smallest Icarus. Coming in at a mere three
inches (yes, 3"!), it is the size of a Christmas tree ornament and is a resin
cast mold. I lucked up on this little gem on Ebay late one night and
purchased it. Chris also says he makes a version of the three seater
Icarus as seen in the third movie and the TV series.
Bill
Early shows us his completed, scratch built Icarus model. At two feet long
and 1/22 scale, it's a pretty big model!
James
Long's eagle eye caught the new Sideshow Toys 1/6 scale POTA figures.
Among the final figures being produced is a 12" ANSA Taylor the Astronaut model.
The detail is incredible, especially in the facial features, and this looks to
be a much better offering than the 'remade GI Joe' Taylor that Hasbro offered
several years ago. Find this new info on the "Everything ANSA" page.
Shane Johnson signs in with an interesting question about the third ship. Find this info on the FAQ section.
Minor site maintenance.
Before that:
An
interesting piece of comic artwork submitted by Zachary Scott which shows
that Landon's first name might be "John." Find it on the Artwork page.
Before that:
Shane Johnson has submitted
his original concept artwork for the ANSA tail-lander spacecraft. Find his
interpretation of this mysterious spacecraft and its total design on the Space Flight Art
Gallery section and I've also included it in the discussion about the second spacecraft
design on the "What went wrong?" section. Thanks, Shane!
Before that ...
Dave Ballard has returned once again from a several month long deep space mission and he brings us his latest design, the Narcicarus! You will remember Dave as the owner of the large, custom built Icarus by Andrew Wright and Artifex. Dave was inspired by Tommy Wade's artwork and decided to merge the classic Icarus with the Narcissis escape shuttle from the movie ALIEN. The result you may see for yourself under the modeling section.
Before that ...
Chip D. Williams has
submitted some more pictures taken from the Japanese release of the POTA movies,
featuring, of course, the Icarus and a photo you have never seen before; the three
ape-o-nauts / astronauts at the controls of the Icarus, proving that the ship which
returned in EFTPOTA was not the same one that Taylor arrived in during the first
movie. Enjoy!
I am deeply saddened by the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia. I remember being 16 years old and watching the space shuttle Challenger explode shortly after takeoff. Columbia held a special place in my heart, for it bore the name of the city I live and serve in. A local factory, Pioneer Aerospace, also makes the recovery parachute for the shuttle, so the name has a little more heart to it. Columbia was also the first shuttle to fly in the shuttle program, and NASA's oldest. America had great plans for Columbia, which was to serve 100 missions in her life of duty. I have added the names and images of the astronauts to the REMEMBERING THE HEROES page. It is not a page I like to update, but one I believe should exist so that we never forget who the true heroes of humanity and civilization are. The true heroes are not professional sports players, they are not rock stars or fashion models or movie actors. The real heroes are the astronauts. In a hundred years, people will remember who first stepped foot on the moon, but they won't remember who won the Super Bowl in 2003. My heroes have always been astronauts. Your thoughts and prayers for the families of the lost astronauts, for the United States, and for Israel, two great nations who are in mourning, are very much appreciated.
Before that ...
Jan Rukr has submitted several new views of a VTOL capable "Icarus". Check them out under the Space Flight Art Gallery!
Dave Ruther has submitted two pictures of his scratch-built "Icarus" depicting the famous splash down scene from the original movie. Find these images under the "Modeling" section.
General site maintenance.
Before that ...
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Jan Rukr submits a completed paper model of his concept for the Icarus! This is the full Icarus, the one pictured in his original submission of the reentry scenes. Jan is also working on a paper model of the lander and the crashed "Damocles" ANSA spacecraft belonging to Brent and/or Skipper. Stay tuned.
Mark Longmire is still working on the flash intro. Patience, he advises.
General site maintenance.
Peter Noble sends in pictures of his scratch built "Icarus". It looks to be 1/35th scale. Very nice! He says that he'll send in more details as he can.
I finally purchased the UBISOFT / FOX PC video game "Planet of the Apes". I paid $9.99 for it at Toys-R-Us in their discount bin, and I figured that at most, I would lose ten bucks. What did I get for my money? An intriguing look at a much better 'remake' of the 1968 film, as a game, than Tim Burton did with his remake. For one, ten bucks allowed me to watch a FMV sequence of a whole new NASA spacecraft, the "Cassiopeia", and its crew who return to Earth and the Planet of the Apes. More information on this NEW spacecraft and its crew can be found under the Spaceflight Gallery. Interesting, I wouldn't pay much more than ten bucks for this game, but for 2 CDs and the FMV sequences, it's worth that much easy. Enjoy. Find this information under the 'photo gallery' section.
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Added artwork from Jim Key's article in the now defunct magazine "SCI-FI & FANTASY MODELS INTERNATIONAL". This artwork consists of Jim's impressions of the exterior plans of the "Icarus", the interior layout, and several pieces of hand drawn and colored artwork including the interior and the crew, images drawn from scenes in the movie itself.
Before that...
Dave Ballard, long thought MIA in the ANSA spaceflight program has returned from deep space! You will remember Dave as the owner of the excellent Artifex "Icarus" and now Dave has contributed even more pictures of his model, both preliminary construction pictures as well as action shots!
Dave Ballard also sent me a black and white POTA comic strip featuring the further adventures of Virdon, Burke, and Galen! This comic strip ran sometime between 1975 to 1977 and features yet another ANSA spacecraft! This time, Peter Burke's old sweetheart, Serina, makes an unexpected crash on the Planet of the Apes and the two astronauts have to help her escape back through the time warp. Check it out!
Before that ...
Before that ...
General site maintenance, little stuff, really.
Added "Icarus" mission plaque and mission flight patch to the "Last Flight" section and to the "Legend of Daedalus and Icarus" section.
I'm going to offer a limited run of ANSA hats. These will be black hats with silver "ANSA" lettering done in the traditional "NASA" font. Details inside!
Before that...
Added three new pictures of two new models from Peter Flessas! Check out Peter's Ansanauts in full spacesuits and his scratchbuilt ANSA lunar module. And to all the rest of you, get off your butts and start building those models!
Added a correct URL to an updated version of the "Challenger" memorial page. Thanks, Michael.
Added a URL to RECONS, the Research Consortium on Nearby Stars. Todd Henry graciously let me use one of their graphics to further explain my Alpha Centauri argument. Visit their site for a lot of information on the stars around Sol.
Before that...
Entire new look for Table of Contents page. Less cluttered interface.
Added several questions to the FAQ section, including a surprise revelation about Virdon's chronometers!
Added a new image to the ANSA Spaceflight Gallery, a visual image of the Hasslein Curve!
Added image of the Teledyne Rand nuclear reactor to Stage 2 of the Icarus drawings.
Added Contractor listing for the Icarus.
New look to the "Fickle Hand of Fate" page, more pictures and better summary.
You will notice some links for NEW stuff which do not work yet. Sorry, I couldn't do everything...
Just a whole bunch of housekeeping, spell checking, rearranging, etc. Enjoy!
Before that...
Added images of Brent's / Skipper's "Icarus" tail lander to the "Last Flight of the Icarus- What went wrong?" section.
Jim Lewis has provided us with factual information on the Orion nebula, again showing that Orion simply cannot be Taylor's destination. Find this new information under "Last Flight ofthe Icarus- What went wrong?" section.
Before that...
Some general site maintenance
Included new section on the ANSA Prometheus, including sketches of the full vehicle design never before seen. Find this under the ANSA SPACE FLIGHT ART GALLERY.
Moved RANDOM HUMOR FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES to my VIRTUAL SHADOW site, under the HUMOR section. I thought it was better suited for there.
Before that...
Added a picture of myself and Mark Longmire from our historic meeting in Knoxville, TN over the holidays. It didn't snow so we couldn't build the full scale snow Icarus that we had planned on but a good time was had over dinner (during which, strangely, the Icarus was not discussed at all). So, if you've always wanted to know what Ansanaut looks like, then check out the picture under the ASTRONAUT FIELD TRAINING MANUAL.
Added a few pictures of astrogeographical data to the MISSION questions, namely a star chart of local area (better one coming soon!) and a few pictures of Orion in the section on that topic.
Added a new section; RANDOM HUMOR. This is just a collection of funny stills that I found in my research with captions added by me. Enjoy.
Before that...