Updated: February 28, 2018

ABOUT THE MODEL:

Scale: 1:72 Length: 11.5 inches Material: Resin Number of Pieces: 23 Pattern and casting by Anigrand Craftswork Decals by JBOT

ABOUT THE DESIGN:

The interstellar spaceship that brought Commander Taylor and his fellow astronauts to the fabled "Planet of the Apes" is seen only briefly -- and partially -- in the seminal 1968 classic of the same name. During the early "splashdown" sequence, the spacecraft's nose rises dramatically above the lake waters into which it has crashed, clearly suggesting a much larger aft section hidden below the waterline. Although the exposed section of the "Icarus" (a name given to the unnamed spacecraft by film fan Michelle Evans in 1972) was later used as a stand-alone vehicle in subsequent "Apes" movies (The 1970 sequel "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" inelegantly paired it with the Lost in Space Jupiter II landing gear), the ship's true configuration continued to be the subject of speculation for decades.

One of the most elegant solutions to the "missing aft section" question was posited by fan Jan Rukr in 2002. He extended the nose section's lines, then cut the rear back in stepped angular configuration reminiscent of Lockheed's "Hopeless Diamond" Stealth demonstrator of the 1970s. This aerodynamically credible airframe could have ridden atop (or in front of ) a larger drive section, automatically separating before re-entry.

Although just one of many Icarus concepts published in the last 20 years, Rukr's solution remains a fan favorite and was thus chosen for kitting by Fantastic Plastic.

Value: $200.