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Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 11:06
by T.C.
Some of you who are old enough like me, may have grown up with, or if a bit younger have seen the re-runs of the original Thunderbirds series.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the original series and 3 new episodes have been filmed to celebrate this milestone.

As a backer, I will be one of the fortunate ones to get the DVD package of the 3 new episodes, which I should be getting in the next few weeks.

Anyway, yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the studio in Slough where the original and the new episodes were made.

It was an experience to re-live my childhod and actually handle the models, the puppets, the sets, to dscuss the techniques and how it was all put together.

I had school friends when I was a kid whose parents worked for Gerry Anderson, and we did have a visit to the Studio as a school trip back in the 60's, but I was too young to appreciate the technical aspect, I just loved the programme.

Now though it is both.

Can't wait for my DVD's to arrive now :)

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 11:08
by T.C.
Couple more pictures from yesterday

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 11:13
by kiwikrasher
I'm definitely old enough, that would've been pretty cool actually.

Didn't even know they were doing the new episodes.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 11:39
by Monty
Very cool

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 12:22
by Rossgo
Sounds great T.C. I watched the reruns when I was younger I also liked Captain Scarlet kids nowadays won't see puppets like that it's all graphics which somehow doesn't give the same impression in my opinion

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 14:08
by Jack
I reckon we now have the tech to do a full live version of all of those type shows - Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 ,Stingray et al

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 14:24
by StMarks
Fwiw I was never that into Thunderbirds (or Joe 90 etc...)
I did like the Magic Roundabout though,

I do remember particularly liking Marine Boy (he had a really hot mermaid girlfriend)

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 19:10
by D41
Yeah, but she was a mute....prolly hated Marine Boy and was trying to get away from him.

PS....you're weird for thinking a puppet was "really hot".

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 19:30
by Jack
Marine Boy was cartoon ( in a Manga style) not puppetry

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 19:40
by D41
Doh....you're right. The other show was Fireball XL5 or sommit...the chick was named Marina....always throws me.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 19:44
by StMarks
Jack wrote:Marine Boy was cartoon ( in a Manga style) not puppetry
Sorry, I wasn't aware that the subject was restricted to puppetry mate. (blush)

And Magic Roundabout would be included, remember Brian the snail.??

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 20:32
by Jack
StMarks wrote:
Jack wrote:Marine Boy was cartoon ( in a Manga style) not puppetry
Sorry, I wasn't aware that the subject was restricted to puppetry mate. (blush)

And Magic Roundabout would be included, remember Brian the snail.??
no just pointing out to D41 that Marine Boy wasn't a puppet as he suggested , I used to like Marine Boy too , and Noggin the Nog.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 21:39
by D41
I always thought it would be cool to have that APV that Capt. Scarlet drove....the one where the driver faced backwards.....imagine how the clerks would trip out when you went through the IN'N'OUT drive-thru???

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 14 Mar 2016, 23:04
by Deegee
I was a huge Gerry Anderson fan, and watched everything he was involved in until Terrahawks - which was awful. We bought Mini Gee the full box set of Thunderbirds as a present when he was about 5 - he loved it, we still have all the old large scale toys as well, plus boxes that he played with as a kid, they brought back fantastic memories for me too.

Btw, The silent girlfriend belonged to Troy Tempest of Stingray, her name was Marina, and her Father was Underwater King iirc, I don't recall Marine Boy having a girlfriend StM, but I recall his Oxygum (to breathe underwater) and the brilliant "Telstar" as a theme tune, great artwork as mentioned as well.
Btw, Daz - the sitting backwards vehicle in Capt Scarlet was the SPV (Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle) and yes it was very very cool, my mum bought the red patrol car for me instead of the SPV and I was damaged for life with disappointment, however I remember going to the cinema to see "Thunderbird 6" and coming away gobsmacked at how good it seemed, how life changes eh?

Anyway, well jel TC, so glad you had a great time, good to hear they're putting some new episodes together as well!

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 01:27
by T.C.
Deegee wrote:
Anyway, well jel TC, so glad you had a great time, good to hear they're putting some new episodes together as well!
But they will not be for general release at the moment. So if they remain limited, I might have something worth some value in years to come ;)

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 07:04
by D41
I always find it fascinating to learn about the whole movie-making process....sleight of hand of a grand scale, and ultimately you see what you expect to see....or are 'told' to see.
And models are the only way to go IMHO.....nothing can duplicate the shadowing and realism of something that is real, only smaller....it just doesn't translate well, and the better the resolution of modern TVs, the worse things look.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 16 Mar 2016, 18:50
by Jack
Silvia Anderson has passed away today

RIP M'Lady .

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 08 May 2016, 14:15
by T.C.
Well, after a long wait, the finished item in the form of a new DVD arrived yesterday and I spent a pleasant evening watching 3 new never seen before epidodes and re-living my youth of 50 years ago. :)

Was it worth the wait? You bet.

Lets hope that a full new series gets commisioned.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 08 May 2016, 14:34
by D41
Who did the voices??

I always remember the Andersons would get great voice-actors or soundalikes to do the audio....Capt. Scarlet sounded like Cary Grant or something....but the audio was always well-done....especially Parker & Lady Penelope.

Re: Thunderbirds

Posted: 08 May 2016, 15:00
by T.C.
D41 wrote:Who did the voices??

I always remember the Andersons would get great voice-actors or soundalikes to do the audio....Capt. Scarlet sounded like Cary Grant or something....but the audio was always well-done....especially Parker & Lady Penelope.
They used the original voices.

The three new episodes were taken from original audio recordings done in the 60's but were never used as an episode.

So the production of the 3 new episodes was constructed around these audio recordings thereby ensuring it was authentic.

Sylvia Anderson got to see the finished episodes before she died.