Issue 25 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the first week of December 1997. This magazine contains the second part of a three (or four) part illustrated article on building ENA Model's large scale (nearly three foot longl!) limited edition resin and vacuform plastic kit of the Fireball XL5 spaceship from Gerry Anderson's Fireball XL5 television series. Mike Reccia describes the construction of the Fireball Jr. portion of this big kit.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Comet Miniatures of London, England still have stocks of discontinued Matchbox and Vivid Imaginations Stingray, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet toys available. Comet lists as of December 1997:
Matchbox Stingray/Terror Fish twin pack £7.50
Matchbox Captain Troy Tempest £6.50
Matchbox Phones Sheridan £7.50
Matchbox Commander Sam Shore £5.00
Matchbox Thunderbird 1 £6.50
Matchbox Thunderbird 2 £12.50
Matchbox Thunderbird 3 £6.50
Matchbox FAB1 £7.00
Matchbox Scott Tracy £7.50
Matchbox Virgil Tracy £7.50
Matchbox Alan Tracy £7.50
Matchbox Parker £7.50
Matchbox Brains £7.50
Vivid Imaginations Angel Jet twin pack £6.00
Vivid Imaginations Spectrum Passenger jet £4.50
Vivid Imaginations SPV £12.50
Vivid Imaginations Cloudbase £HQ 45.00
Vivid Imaginations Mysteron Light Phaser £9.50
Vivid Imaginations Captain Scarlet £7.50
Vivid Imaginations Captain Blue £7.50
Vivid Imaginations Colonel White £6.50
Vivid Imaginations Destiny Angel £5.00
Vivid Imaginations Spectrum Command Team set £29.50
Comet Miniatures does international mail order by telephone and they accept most major credit cards. Call them at 0171-228-3702. From the USA, the number to call is 011-44-171-228-3702. Remember that England is five hours ahead of the US east coast and that most English shops keep 10am to 4pm shop hours Monday through Friday with some open a half day on Saturday.
Don't forget to tell Tony James at Comet that Marc sent you!
Issue 24 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the second week of October 1997. This magazine contains an illustrated article on building ENA Model's large scale (nearly three foot longl!) limited edition resin and vacuform plastic kit of the Fireball XL5 spaceship from Gerry Anderson's Fireball XL5 television series by Bob Smith.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
The latest issue of Science Fiction Modeler, issue 23, contains a two page illustrated article by Paolo Malaguti on Dr. Doug Jackson's jet as seen in the UFO episode, 'Exposed'. This wonderful article is not only filled with great photos of this actual Gerry Anderson prop, but it also describes how it was built.
To subscribe to Science Fiction Modeler, send $18 (in Australian dollars) for Australian/New Zealand delivery, $27 (in US dollars) for US/Canadian delivery, or $30 (in Australian dollars) for airmail delivery anywhere else in the world to Greg Martin, Science Fiction Modeler Magazine, 15 Bovey Street, North Mackay, Queensland, Australia 4740.
You can contact Greg Martin for more information at: sfm@r130.aone.net.au.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Issue 23 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the second week of September 1997. This magazine contains an article on making a large scale (nearly three foot tall!) replica of Thunderbird 1 from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds television series by Bob Smith.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Issue 22 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the last week of July 1997. This magazine contains an article on making a 100% accurate replica of the SHADO mobile vehicle from Gerry Anderson's UFO television series by David Sisson.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
ENA Models have a three foot long, 1/72nd scale model kit of the Fireball XL5 spaceship available. This huge 'garage kit' is made of resin, vacuformed plastic, and white metal. It comes with seated figures of Steve Zodiac and Robert the Robot and a full color decal sheet. The kit is limited to 100 copies and can be obtained through Comet Miniatures in London, England.
Comet Miniatures are expecting a similar four foot long 'garage kit' version of Thunderbird 1 and a two foot long 'garage kit' of the FAB1 Rolls Royce. These kits are expected during the fall.
For more information about these kits, call Tony James at Comet Miniatures at 0171-228-3702.
Issue 21 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the last week of May 1997. This magazine contains articles on the restoration of an actual 'Overlander' vehicle prop from Gerry Anderson's Terrahawks and an article on building a new resin Space 1999 Eagle spaceship model kit.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
The entire uncut Thunderbirds television series is finally available on NTSC videotape here in the USA! Columbia House advertisements in TV Guide magazine are listing Thunderbirds videos under their RE-TV Video Library. They are only available under one of those deals where you pay $4.95 plus shipping and handling for the first tape and then get additional tapes shipped to you by mail every six weeks at $19.95 plus shipping and handling. If you are interested in this deal, contact the Columbia House telephone order line at 1-800-538-7766 or take a look at the Columbia House web site for more information.
A major English newspaper recently announced that Polygram is going forward with a live action Thunderbirds cinema film. Production is supposed to commence in 1998 for a projected 1999 release. It is starting to sound as if Polygram is finally serious this time. However, don't hold your breath waiting for this thing to become a reality. We've been hearing rumors about a live action Thunderbirds film for some years now.
Issue 20 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the second week of April 1997. This magazine contains the final part of their three part article on the work of Gerry Anderson's effects wizard Derek Meddings. Basically, these articles are the result of a series of interviews with Derek's son Elliott and Gerry Anderson SFX director (Terrahawks and Space Precinct) Steve Begg.
What's in this issue? Seventeen different production drawings by Derek Meddings of vehicles and props done for Thunderbird 6, Doppelganger, UFO and Red Dwarf plus four photos showing Derek Meddings in action on the set. Additionally, 20 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine contains two pages of designs done by 1960s Anderson production artist and modelmaker Mike Trim for the up-coming Aquanoughts television series. Mike Trim's aircraft and ground vehicle designs look like they came out of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Doppelganger or UFO!
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
The latest issue of Science Fiction Modeler, issue 22, contains a four page illustrated article by David Sisson describing how he restored an actual 'Overlander' vehicle prop from Gerry Anderson's Terrahawks puppet television series. Sisson is one of the world's best Gerry Anderson replica model makers
The next issue of Science Fiction Modeler magazine will feature photographs of actual prop aircraft models used in Gerry Anderson's UFO television series.
To subscribe to Science Fiction Modeler, send $18 (in Australian dollars) for Australian/New Zealand delivery, $27 (in US dollars) for US/Canadian delivery, or $30 (in Australian dollars) for airmail delivery anywhere else in the world to Greg Martin, Science Fiction Modeler Magazine, 15 Bovey Street, North Mackay, Queensland, Australia 4740.
You can contact Greg Martin for more information at: sfm@r130.aone.net.au.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
The second part of a three (or more) part article on the history of Supermarionation was published in FilmFax Outre magazine Volume 1 Issue 8 (available in the USA as of late March 1997). Part 2 of this article is profusely illustrated with black & white photos from Fireball XL5 and Stingray. It looks to me like many of these photos were taken during the early 90s effort to build replica puppets, sets, and model vehicles for Gerry Anderson's English Supermarionation exhibition. To obtain this issue of FilmFax Outre magazine, contact Outre Magazine, PO Box 1900, Evanston Il 60204, USA, 76703.401@compuserve.com.
Issue 19 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the first week of March 1997. This magazine contains the second part of what will be a three part article on the work of Derek Meddings. Basically, these articles are the result of a series of interviews with Derek's son Elliott and Gerry Anderson SFX director (Terrahawks and Space Precinct) Steve Begg.
So, what do you get in the four pages allocated to the second part of this article? You get a pile of text and 7 previously unpublished photos showing Derek Meddings working on the Bond films. You also get to see 10 different examples of actual Gerry Anderson Supermarionation production artwork such as the Captain Scarlet Unitron tank, Joe 90's flying car, and even the EUROSEC rocket sled from Doppelganger. If you are reading this web page, you've got to get your hands on a copy of this magazine!
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Supermarionation production artist and model-maker Mike Trim, the man who designed such things at the World Air Force aircraft carrier jet featured in the Thunderbirds episode 'The Duchess Assignment', will be designing futuristic craft for a new animatronic puppet TV series to be called 'Aquanaughts'. Check out some of Mike Trim's jet fighter designs and read all about it in issue #19 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models.
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Strange Light have published From Sketch To Screen, a 180 page illustrated book which tells the story of how many popular science fiction TV and film special effects miniatures were constructed. There is much in this book that would be of interest to Gerry Anderson fans. For example, the section which explains exactly how Steven Begg built the flying police cars used in Gerry Anderson's Space Precinct.
Strange Light is associated with Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models. To obtain your copy of From Sketch To Screen, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Issue 18 of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine hit the newstands during the last week of January 1997. This magazine contains the first part of what will be a three part article on the work of Derek Meddings. Basically, these articles are the result of a series of interviews with Derek's son Elliott and Gerry Anderson SFX director (Terrahawks and Space Precinct) Steve Begg.
So, what do you get in the five pages allocated to the first part of this article? You get a pile of text and 8 previously unpublished photos showing such things as Derek Meddings working a blow-torch behind the scenes to simulate the cutting equipment featured in the Thunderbirds episode 'City of Fire'. You also get to see 14 different examples of actual production artwork, many in full color, such as the very first concept drawings of Thunderbirds 2 and 3. If you are reading this web page, you've got to get your hands on a copy of this magazine!
To subscribe to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Imai have released yet another version of their plastic Thunderbirds Secret Base kit over in Japan. This thing is similar in many respects to Imai's Thunderbirds Secret Base II kit but comes with an expanded island and more mini-vehicles. The new kit comes with tiny spring-launched kits of TB1 - TB4, the US Army air ambulance helicopter seen in 'Pit of Peril', and a wire mounted kit of TB5. The new island casting is extremely 'deformed' and comes complete with launching facilities for the four main Thunderbird craft and replicas of the main Tracy house, the round house, and the cliff house. This new Thunderbirds kit can be seen in the review section of the January 1997 issue of Hobby Japan magazine.
A company over in England called Stratford Precision Models recently obtained a license from Polygram to produce a series of limited edition metal replica models of vehicles from the Supermarionation television programs. These pre-assembled models will be expensive high quality hand finished collector's items similar in concept to the metal automobiles available from organizations like the Franklin Mint here in the USA. It is expected that production will be limited to something on the order of 2,500 units per subject. Expect them to be very, very expensive! For more information about this up-coming range of Supermarionation models contact Stratford Precision Models, Chapel House, Boycott Avenue, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, England MK6 2PN, telephone 01908 694349.
A three (or more) part article on the history of Supermarionation began in issue number 7 of FilmFax Outre magazine (available in the USA as of late December 1996). Part 1 of this article is 5 pages long and profusely illustrated with black & white photos from The Adventures of Twizzle, Torchy the Battery Boy, Four Feathers Falls, and Supercar. It looks to me like many if not all of these photos were lifted from the old John Peel Supermarionation Files book and much of the text looks similar to what I read in Gerry Anderson's recent biography. However, the article does make for an interesting read. To obtain this issue of FilmFax Outre magazine, contact Outre Magazine, PO Box 1900, Evanston Il 60204, USA, 76703.401@compuserve.com.
A completely different six page illustrated interview with Gerry Anderson was featured in the November issue of Infinity magazine. To obtain this magazine, contact Starlight Publications Limited, PO Box 36, Liskeard, Cornwall, England PL14 4YT, telephone 01579 340100.
The October 1996 issue of SFX magazine did not contain an interview with Gerry Anderson as had been previously reported and neither did the November issue. The Gerry Anderson interview was actually in the December issue, two months delayed. Anyways, the December issue did contain the interview, 6 color illustrated pages by Anderson biographer Stan Nicholls. It's worth having. For information on ordering SFX magazine, contact Matt Bielby at: sfx@futurenet.co.uk.
The official Gerry Anderson biography, Gerry Anderson the Authorized Biography, by Simon Archer and Stan Nicholls, is now available! One of the places you can get it from by mail order is Ambrosia Comics & Collectibles, 10679 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles Ca 90064, USA, telephone number 310 475-5825. As for Ken to get price and shipping information.
This 228 page hardcover book was published in the UK by Legend Books, the same people who published Simon Archer's FAB Facts some years ago. The book's ISBN number is 0099781417 and the UK price is 15.99 Pounds. This translates to about $25 in US funds.
Although weak in photographs and innacurate in some areas (for example, the book claims that the word Supermarionation was coined for Supercar. Not true, it was coined for Fireball XL5.) the book has a surprising amount of interesting technical information and behind the scenes descriptions. It really complements Sylvia Anderson's recent biography, Yes M'Lady.
The Best of Science Fiction Modeler is available by mail order. This 92 page special issue of Science Fiction Modeler magazine contains color enhanced reprints of material which was originally published in long out-of-print issues 1 through 7. Although there is quite a bit in this special publication that would be of great interest to science fiction modelers of all subjects, there is much content specific to Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and UFO.
To order your copy of the Best of Science Fiction Modeler, send $15 (in Australian dollars) for Australian/New Zealand delivery, $15 (in US dollars) for US/Canadian delivery, or $20 (in Australian dollars) for airmail delivery anywhere else in the world to Greg Martin, Science Fiction Modeler Magazine, 15 Bovey Street, North Mackay, Queensland, Australia 4740.
You can contact Greg Martin for more information at: sfm@r130.aone.net.au.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models Volume 1 is available by mail order. This 132 page special edition contains enhanced material which was originally printed in early unavailable issues of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine. The super Anderson related content in this publication includes articles by Martin Bower (of Space 1999 fame), and master studio model replica maker David Sisson (check out his full scale Thunderbird 4).
To order Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models Volume 1, contact Mike Recchia or Dave Openshaw for details.
Don't forget to tell them that Marc sent you!
The November 1996 issue of Fine Scale Modeler magazine contains a great article on superdetailing the old Airfix Eagle Transporter model kit by Airfix and MPC. You should be able to find Fine Scale Modeler magazine at any good news stand or hobby shop.
This isn't strictly Supermarionation related news but this is so neat I've just got to tell you about it. A guy over in Italy made a shareware flight simulator using a software engineering product called "Flight Sim Tool Kit" which is based upon Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's UFO television series. Download this game and fly a SHADO Sky aircraft or an alien UFO saucer as seen in UFO!
My good friend Mike Reccia of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Models magazine has a large number of professionally built Supermarionation replica display models available for sale. Many of these models are 100% authentic duplicates of the actual studio miniatures, built exactly the same size and using the exact same materials as the original props by master model maker David Sisson. Included in this collection is a full set of replica Thunderbirds and a beautiful MSV from Captain Scarlet. Any of these things would be real head turners in the office!
Contact Mike Recchia for details on this great model collection.
Don't forget to tell him that Marc sent you!