Well here we are. Some of us even remember seeing the first episode of Thunderbirds in 1965.
I'm obviously Brains (see pic below) but who did you aspire to be?
I'm sure David
@Snowwolflair is The Hood, by the way :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/155/1517-300925150001.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=155172)
Here is the Fireflash in episode 1 (oh and almost everything was atomic powered in Thunderbirds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hahdKYRdY5k
At Dapol, we are proud to keep Gerry Anderson's legacy alive by still manufacturing the Kitmaster / Airfix Girder Bridge Kit. :D
Quote from: Adam1701D on September 30, 2025, 03:22:34 PMAt Dapol, we are proud to keep Gerry Anderson's legacy alive by still manufacturing the Kitmaster / Airfix Girder Bridge Kit. :D
Did he have a role in its design, or was it used in an episode? I can't remember. I expect many girder bridges have been blown up in play over the years :D
Bob
I was an avid watcher, what ever I was doing either on my own or with my Dad, we stopped to watch it.
Are there any episodes on YouTube I wonder?
Anyone visiting the Corby show on Saturday 4th? if so, I'm on Oakgrove Central, come and say hello.
Cheers
I can't recall ever having missed an episode. Smashing effects/explosions :)
Quote from: Firstone18 on September 30, 2025, 04:16:14 PMAre there any episodes on YouTube I wonder?
At least 1 'cos it's in the OP :D
Quote from: Firstone18 on September 30, 2025, 04:16:14 PMAre there any episodes on YouTube I wonder?
All 32 episodes are on ITVx
The girder bridge was used in to construct items like rocket gantries ,industrial sites and similar, a piece built with it appears in most anderson episodes, Talking Pictures TV show Thunderbirds 10.30 on saturday mornings
Quote from: Firstone18 on September 30, 2025, 04:16:14 PMAre there any episodes on YouTube I wonder?
Some of us are wise enough to have bought the DVD boxed set.
I credit Brains with being the reason for my choice of career, but I would probably have followed the same path without his inspiration. As far as I know he's still the only TV series hero who appears as "engineer" in the opening titles.
I've got the boxed set on DVD as well as a DVD of the remade 'new' episodes using the original puppets etc. from some stories that were recorded as LPs. (it was kickstarted some years ago to do before they scrapped the old studio. End result was good although the campaign was a bit of a shambles :) )
The fact that I have two Thunderbird 2 models on my desk (mini original one and a larger one from the recent remake series) hints at which of them I wanted to be :)
Quote from: zwilnik on September 30, 2025, 05:41:28 PMI've got the boxed set on DVD as well as a DVD of the remade 'new' episodes using the original puppets etc. from some stories that were recorded as LPs.
Actually they were 33.33 rpm 7 inch records. I still have one of them.
I always enjoyed Thunderbirds and watched the repeats when they were shown.
I was a fan of Thunderbird 2, but was always extra excited when Thunderbird 4 featured and it was dropped in its pod.
I will say that the modern animated reboot is actually very good and mini Skyline was a big fan at one stage.
It's certainly one of the better children's TV shows of recent years.
The less said about the early naughties film remake the better (poor old Sir Ben!).
Skyline2uk
What about the ones that came before,Supercar/Stingray, I'm sure there were others just can't recall them now after 60 odd years.
Quote from: Safety Engineer on September 30, 2025, 07:34:51 PMWhat about the ones that came before,Supercar/Stingray, I'm sure there were others just can't recall them now after 60 odd years.
Fireball XL5 for one.
Ian
I used to watch Supercar, Stingray and Fireball XL5 before Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet afterwards.
Four Feather Falls was before my time.
Didn't watch Joe 90 or anything else subsequent to that.
Martyn
Unsure how true it is but I remember my dad telling me that Gerry Anderson had been interviewed by the security services.
It seems the people working on it weren't best pleased seeing their top secret project on a kids programme..............
Quote from: GrahamB on September 30, 2025, 07:50:29 PMUnsure how true it is but I remember my dad telling me that Gerry Anderson had been interviewed by the security services.
It seems the people working on it weren't best pleased seeing their top secret project on a kids programme..............
I think that one might be a bit of an urban myth but it's a great story nevertheless :thumbsup:
Thunderbird 2 was always the one due to it's use of different pods.
But my heart remains with Fireball XL5, blasting down its track on a rocket sled to help thrust it into initial launch. I am in the process of building an N Gauge model..............
Ah yes, good old Fireball XL5. AS it shoots down the launch rail, you can see the shadow of the smoke on the sky backscene!
I am proud to be able to say that my late father in law worked on Thunderbirds in the sound department under John Peverill. Sadly, like a lot of crew he was uncredited. During the early days, Gerry Anderson used a studio on the Slough trading estate for the production of the series and others. Pinewood Studios was used for the production of Space 1999 (which I am rewatching). I believe some of the Space 1999 crew went onto Star Wars. Others worked on Bond films and notably 2001 A Space Oddesy.
Quote from: Adam1701D on September 30, 2025, 03:22:34 PMAt Dapol, we are proud to keep Gerry Anderson's legacy alive by still manufacturing the Kitmaster / Airfix Girder Bridge Kit. :D
https://youtu.be/__90Sm0gfYM
Many Airfix parts were used in the making of Thunderbirds. You'll also find parts from the Airfix/Dapol dockside crane:
https://youtu.be/bN77RPBVUjY
Oh I really enjoyed watching these two videos... and then I got drawn into some of his others...
No work will get done today!
Does this count as modelling? Research?
Bob
FAB Steven and Adam!
Quote from: Bob G on October 01, 2025, 10:02:34 AMOh I really enjoyed watching these two videos... and then I got drawn into some of his others...
No work will get done today!
Does this count as modelling? Research?
Bob
Of course it does!
I loved Thunderbirds as a child, more recently I began to reflect on how visionary it was in so many ways - things like video conferencing, aircraft design (including canards - the little wings at the front of aircraft), space technology etc etc...
Am I the only one though, who wondered how TB2 generated it's lift and didn't just flop off the end of it's take-off ramp?
Fireball XL5 - the launches - I used to wonder who went and collected the roller skate it took off on - or was there a big pile of them building at the end of the ramp :laugh:
Quote from: Roy L S on October 01, 2025, 10:40:56 AMAm I the only one though, who wondered how TB2 generated it's lift and didn't just flop off the end of it's take-off ramp?
You just need a very high thrust to weight ratio. It was a V/STOL aircraft after all. Like an F35 on steroids.
Quote from: Roy L S on October 01, 2025, 10:40:56 AMFireball XL5 - the launches - I used to wonder who went and collected the roller skate it took off on
That's why skateboards were invented.
Bob
Quote from: Bealman on October 01, 2025, 10:15:47 AMQuote from: Bob G on October 01, 2025, 10:02:34 AMOh I really enjoyed watching these two videos... and then I got drawn into some of his others...
No work will get done today!
Does this count as modelling? Research?
Bob
Of course it does!
But only if money or SECR locos change hands >:D
Quote from: Newportnobby on October 01, 2025, 11:06:55 AMBut only if money or SECR locos change hands >:D
I've started researching Rhapsody Angel now. I've moved on from pre-grouping locos.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/155/1517-011025112313.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=155204)
Fancy adding a little TB magic to your layout?
TB1
https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/products/adventures-in-plastic-thunderbird-1-1-144-plastic-model-kit?utm_source=scalemates&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=marketplace
TB2
https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/products/adventures-in-plastic-10012-thunderbird-2-w-firefly-1-144-model-kit?utm_source=scalemates&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=marketplace
Heavy prices!
Weren't the Angels hot! ;D
Quote from: Bealman on October 01, 2025, 11:37:11 AMHeavy prices!
Weren't the Angels hot! ;D
Rhapsody Angel was based on sixties IT girl Jean Shrimpton.
I sold my Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Joe90 annuals a long time ago. :*(
Ooh God! Not the woman who shocked people at the Melbourne Cup with her short dress! ;)
One of the Freeview channels, possibly ch82 Talking Pictures, has run most of all the various series at various times. I think they tend to be in school holidays. I've definately seen Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, and Stingray advertised on there (no, I didn't watch them, but they are still good despite their age).
Martyn
£250 for a plastic TB2?? :o :o
A pic of a Person Of Restricted Growth holding a 1/144 scale model?? ???
In later life I watched 'Terrahawks' which was quite adult for a programme aimed at youngsters :D
Quote from: Bealman on October 01, 2025, 11:51:59 AMOoh God! Not the woman who shocked people at the Melbourne Cup with her short dress! ;)
You mean this one?
Someone buy the girl a hat.
Hard to believe she's 83 now and living in Cornwall.
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Guess we'll have to celebrate 30 October 1965 as the 60th Anniversary of That Dress now... all thanks to Gerry Anderson and
@Bealman
That's the picture! :thumbsup:
Cheers, Bob!
Mind you, at time, I was a kid in school in Durham! ;D
Bit late to this one, but like others TB2 was my favourite.
As for Jean, like George I was still in primary school, but mine was in Bedfordshire
The set and vehicle builders for Thunderbirds etc were great kit bashers. It wasn't just plastic kits they used. They also raided the kitchen - the Thunderbird 1 launch hall has a lemon squeezer on the wall for example.
Quote from: Steven B on October 01, 2025, 02:48:41 PMThe set and vehicle builders for Thunderbirds etc were great kit bashers. It wasn't just plastic kits they used. They also raided the kitchen - the Thunderbird 1 launch hall has a lemon squeezer on the wall for example.
That was so that the rescues would be easy peasy lemon squeezy...