The recent appearance on Ebay of the original MEV model prop from the Captain Scarlet pilot TV episode and various other Thunderbirds prop vehicles has got us all very excited. Seeing it reminded me of a blog theme I've wanted to kick off for ages but never have. Now seems like the perfect moment so here goes. Where are all those fabulous prop vehicles from UFO, Space Odyssey, Thunderbirds, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Diamonds Are Forever, Moon Zero Two and so on?
To kick-off here's a before and after of the gyrating Space Station in Kubrick's 1968 opus 2001 A Space Odyssey [thanks to Andy B for pointing this out.]
1968
pic: wordpress.com
1974
pic: trevor parsons/ kubrick FAQ
You can read about how the model was dumped at a tip and photographed in 1974 in this fascinating account by Trevor Parsons on the excellent Kubrick FAQ website. A sad end to a beautiful model. Was Kubrick right to dump them like this do you think? Did anything survive from the film?
Not a prop as such, but FAB-1 had gone derelict until discovered in a field and then restored by Peter Nelson of the "Cars of the Stars" museum in Cumbria (where I saw it for real, many moons ago). Sadly the museum closed last year, and the whereabouts of the cars are unknown (tho the old website link redirects to another museum in Florida).
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Best -- Paul
I would love to own an original prop (and am working on it), the closest I can manage is that I own 3 original costumes from the short-lived BBC series, 'Star Cops'.
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ReplyDeleteOn July 22, 2004, the FAB1 built for and used in the movie Thunderbirds Are Go! was auctioned on eBay by Cooper Owen Emporium. The decription says that this particular car was also on show in Blackpool World of Gerry Anderson exhibition.
Winning bid was £80.000, and I have a recollection of it being sold to Australia.
Cheers Arto
I just can't get over the fact that the 2001 props were just dumped on a council tip - Some intriguing pics on how it was constructed, though - Thanks for pointing this out, Andy.
ReplyDeleteIt's rumored that Kubrick did keep the Moonbus and had it in his office at home. However when Kubrick died it is said that Mrs. Kubrick locked the door to his office and it hasn't been opened since.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad end to the models.
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