FULL CIRCLE: BILL EARLE'S SPECTRUM ATOMIC AIRCRAFT CARRIER SAILS BACK TO THE BLOG IN COLOUR

Below is the Captain Scarlet Specification Sheet

Front in colour and back in black and white

Back at the very start of the blog in 2008 the first real discussion we had was about the existence of an toy atomic aircraft carrier Wotan had seen in a shop window as a wee boy. Along the way we savoured the delights of the Spectrum Aircraft Carrier kit by Paramount described by one Bill Earle in an old old SiG article reproduced online. Having returned to this cool topic from time to time over the years [e.g. 2011] I'm super pleased to say that Bill has made contact and supplied us with the above fabulous new images of his terrific Spectrum Atomic Carrier for us to drool over. Bill is also in the midst of a grand quest to locate lost Andersonalia and wonders if anyone can help. I'll let Bill take up the fascinating story himself........

Hi Woodsy

I noticed your March 11, 2011 commentary concerning the Spectrum Atomic Powered Carrier in Project SWORD Moonbase Central and felt it was about time I made contact.

Attached are images showing my assembled and unassembled examples of the original Paramount kit; the associated page from the 1969-70 Paramount Hobby Kit catalogue; the assembled IMAI model; and two different examples of the 1968 Komatsuzaki Shigeru artwork. Although I can't prove it, I feel that this craft is based on an early rejected concept for Spectrum headquarters just as the early concept for the Mysteronized Captain Scarlet as a mechanical man was also rejected in favor of a flesh & blood human being. The majority of Gerry Anderson's creations went through a series of incarnations before settling on the one which fans remember. Should you wish to discover more concerning the Atomic Carrier, my best suggestion would be to attempt to have translated the Japanese text associated with the three illustrations.

After a lifetime of collecting Anderson memorabilia, I have found examples of the original specification sheets to Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and The Secret Service. In the case of Captain Scarlet, I've been able to locate only the small monochrome edition. The 23 by 36 inch original colour version has thus far eluded me. As contributor "pod7", I have recently been making related submissions to Fanderson Forum, beginning about half way down page 3 here . My hope is that some reader will respond, leading to my acquiring some high resolution stills, scans or an original Captain Scarlet specification sheet itself.

 All the best! FAB and SIG
Bill Earle

Please let me know of you can assist Bill in his epic quest. Thanks, Woodsy

POSTSCRIPT: Toy hound Terry has spotted the Imai boxed version currently gracing yahoo Japan. Note the C21 gold sticker. Thanks Terry.