Ajax, Emperor Ming's War Rocket |
Fantastic Plastic is offering a model kit of Ajax, Emperor Ming's War Rocket. Well sort of, they have a web page describing it but it's on backorder. Via The Unwanted Blog.
Flash Gordon Official Trailer #1 - Max von Sydow Movie (1980) HD
This rocket is from the movie Flash Gordon which was released back in 1980. I loved that movie. I mean it was silly and nonsensical, but as long as you didn't let that bother you it was a great story. I remember wishing we could see more of this rocket, but like most science fiction movies it was just background to the story. There was one very cool / silly scene where this rocket glides up to a landing platform much like a limousine glides up to deliver celebrities at a red carpet gala. It even made burbling exhaust noise like a Cadillac. Totally ridiculous but totally cool.
Chronicle Collectibles built 100 larger, display models (I can't tell when) and sold them all for $1500 each.
A different model of Ajax |
Chronicle Collectibles built 100 larger, display models (I can't tell when) and sold them all for $1500 each.
Reflecting Ajax. Reconstruction from plaster cast. Glyptothek, München. |
I imagine the rocket was named after Ajax, the Greek hero from the Trojan War in ancient Turkey. Arch villains always are up on their history. Surprisingly I couldn't find any images of Ajax being heroic or warlike. Everyone seems to want to focus on his suicide, which is supposedly what he is contemplating in this sculpture.
Glyptothek Museum |
The sculpture was evidently constructed by Glyptothek, a museum in München. I couldn't find anything about how it came to be. I suspect they took a couple of old pieces and then imagined the rest. The museum was built by King Ludwig I. His grandson, Ludwig II, built Neuschwanstein Castle, the famous fairytale castle.
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