SPACE ARK from the film ‘When Worlds Collide’ (1951) Produced by George Pal, Directed by Rudolph Mate

This science fiction classic produced by George Pal is based on the novel by Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie. The story concerns the discovery of a new planet called Zyra and its sun Bellus which are on an orbital path that will pass right through the Earth! A group of independent businessmen and technicians work around the clock to build an Ark to carry a handful of hand picked survivors away from the Earth with the hope of making a new life on Zyra. It is all surprisingly convincing, and throughout the film we see the progress on the construction of the Ark. The base has a giant sign in the main work area that reads ‘waste anything but time’ which is chiiling.

The Ark is a glorious piece of 1950s rocketry. design, by the celebrated rocket and science fiction artist Chesley Bonestall. The visual effects for the film were under the supervision of the great Gordon Jennings and the climactic launching is thrilling.

In the early 2000s Pegasus Models released a 1/350th scale kit of the Space Ark - including a section of launch rail. and is about 14”(35cm long). Great for those of us who remember the film from our childhood - if only from showings on TV - and would have loved a model kit of it back then.

Designed by Chesley Bonestall / Special Photographic Effects by Gordon Jennings

Check out the video ‘ What If .. Fantasy Model Kit Box Art #5’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xGrtTGJmQ