A Dundee cancer victim has received a replica of one of science fiction’s most iconic spaceships thanks to a model maker working on Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson’s new show.
Ronnie Dignan, 56, from Charleston, was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year.
A keen model maker, he asked for help in finishing a model of the Swift spaceship from Space 1999.
The 1970s television series was the last produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, who had created iconic shows such as Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Fireball XL5.
Although the show, which starred Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, was live action it was renowned for the quality and design of the models used for its spaceships.
However, Ronnie was unable to complete the model and so asked for help among friends in Dundee’s model-making community.
Donald Suttie from Dundee read the appeal and although he did not have time to complete the model himself, put Ronnie in touch with Rob Carson from Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Rob helped create a model submarine for a new show created by Gerry Anderson called Firestorm that is due to premiere in November.
Although Gerry Anderson died in 2012, his son Jamie procured the rights for the series and has been working for two years to make the series using marionettes.
Not only did Rob complete the model for Ronnie, he also got Martin Bower – who designed the models used in Space: 1999 – and Oscar winning special effects legend Brian Johnson to send Ronnie signed photographs.
He also brought along a 44-inch model of the Eagle spaceship used in the show.
Ronnie said he was extremely grateful to Donald and Rob for their work.
He said: “It is just amazing they could go out of their way to help someone they don’t know all that well, someone who is basically a stranger.
“I know Donald from Dundee but had never met Rob. It’s amazing. I am really grateful.”
Rob, who lives in Berwick-upon-Tweed and is a facilities manager in a hotel, was part of a team asked to create the Ocean Sorm submarine for Firestorm.
The 52-year-old said: “I built it over about four nights. I would come home from work and stay up until three in the morning working on it.”
Donald, who contributed the display stand to complete the model, added: “A few weeks ago Ronnie reached out to me regarding an expensive model he bought, and with his current health in decline it was his wish to see it finished.
“I was too busy too do the work in a short space of time, so I asked around and found Rob.”
Despite Ronnie’s delight at receiving the intricate model, he admitted he is more of a fan of the ship than Space: 1999 itself.
He said: “The programme was kind of bad but everybody likes the spaceship. It’s like the Enterprise: people like the ship but Star Trek wasn’t great.”
