As Moonbase
Central moves towards its eighth anniversary I feel the urge to immerse myself
in all things SWORD…..
The year is 3031, and the Earth is a
dying world after being stuck by a giant meteor. Surviving land masses resemble
the surface of the Moon. Prior to the catastrophe the world’s natural resources
were already running out, and Project S.W.O.R.D had been created by the World
Council to probe space searching for minerals and colonise the planets. Now it
would be tasked to be mankind’s saviour, evacuating those deemed to be best
able to create habitable environments on alien worlds, and creating
rehabilitation camps for the thousands left behind known as The Rejects.
But then there are those survivors
who see Project S.W.O.R.D as just another interfering face of authority
organising their lives. Even though the Earth is shattered they see a clean
slate, and a new start. Some of these survivors also see Project S.W.O.R.D as
the enemy and carry out acts of terrorism against them. These are The Casuals.
And finally, using its vast array of
specialist vehicles normally used to probe deep into other planets, S.W.O.R.D
is now tasked to investigate the colossal damage caused by the meteor, and
attempt to save the dying Earth.
As many Gerry
Anderson toy collectors and readers of TV21 will know, this bleak dystopian
future for mankind was one of the more complex concepts dreamed up to help sell
a range of space toys marketed by Century 21 Toys.
A space
exploration themed comic strip back story for Project S.W.O.R.D started in 1967 with issue 19 of the short lived’
Solo’ comic. This story ended abruptly with the cancellation of Solo in issue 31
with a rushed text ending. However it was the grittier dying world scenario
that I preferred. I didn’t really
concern myself that it was set over a thousand years in the future, and that technology
would have advanced to a point when everyday things today would be totally
unrecognisable in that far future.
I didn’t worry about the fact that a NASA
experimental Dyna-Soar or a Space Glider from the late fifties and early
sixties was part of the range, or even a then contemporary Apollo Saturn V
imminently about to help put men on the Moon was also part of the fleet. Most of the designs were futuristic, and I was
quite happy to read about the adventures of S.W.O.R.D Commander Bill Janson and
his team as they struggled to maintain order on the dying Earth using a vast
range of space-age vehicles in the 1968 Project S.W.O.R.D Annual, which was
much more like the Century 21 publications that I was already familiar with, that
and the text stories in TV 21 which started in April 2068 with the opening story,
The Earth Will Die, in issue 168.
I don’t know
whether the text stories in TV21, which lasted until issue 217 with a story
entitled, ‘The End of the Beginning’,
would have increased the toys sales. Personally, I would have preferred a comic
strip, similar to the ones in the annual, but at least we got something.
Then there
was the range of toys, many of which I never had at the time, but certainly enough
to fuel my space-age childhood imagination, plus I got a free badge and a Space World Organisation for Research and Development manual.
Next time I’ll
focus on the S.W.O.R.D Re-Entry Task Force fleet.
Brilliant pic of the Booster Rocket on launch pad. Is the launch pad one of your creations, Scoop?
ReplyDeleteIt is Tony. It's something I've had a while, but it's being dusted off for a feature on the Booster Rocket.
DeleteIsn't it funny that during that era (late '60s) Star Trek was selling optimism and adventure while Century 21 was selling doom and gloom? you can see which one became more popular
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought Ed. When the TV21 SWORD stories appeared Captain Scarlet was on TV which had much darker story lines than the previous upbeat Thunderbirds. Maybe that was the mood at the time here in Britain. I remember The Invaders TV show in the sixties as being very downbeat, even the music was grim, it didn't stop me enjoying it, though.
DeleteLovely shots, Scoop, with a great sense of atmosphere! Good write-up too.
ReplyDeleteI never knew of Sword when I was young (it being restricted to the UK) but I'm doing my best to overlook the premise that mankind is still using 1960s technology a millenium+ in the future (not to mention the idea (as related in a paper kit book) that it was all supposed to've been invented by one man). And yes, gloomy. But the toys are brilliant and that's what counts!
Best -- Paul
Thanks Paul, I put that texture on the photos to give the impression they'd been scanned from the annual, I'm glad you spotted it.
DeleteAs to the future setting I suspect it might have been down to the editor not wanting to worry the youngsters reading it,thinking the world is about to end, and the relative contemporary technology would give those same kids something to identify with, and as you quite rightly say it is about a range of toys. : )
As to Jose Feraz coming up with all the designs I'll side step that one. ; D
My family was very poor, and my mum belonged to a club at a local newsagent. I can remember late one summer afternoon, going off with the club card to get the T2. I found myself oddly fascinated by the engines for the series, even then being struck by the relatively sophisticated moulding. I decided to paint the pilots after finding out that the vehicles were screwed together, to find that they were identical to the pilot figure supplied in a kit of the SAAB Drakken I'd just built, so I knew that the toys were 1/72 scale. I was always unhappy with the mix of scales, as represented by the pilot figures in the other series, like the Probes".
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that memory Trevor.and I'll be looking at the SWORD Task Force ships next. Yeah, the scale thing is interesting.As you point out all the Task Force ships are 1/72 (I didn't know about the Drakken pilot) and at least two of the Probe force are around 1/32. It makes it awkward when you're trying to build a diorama.
DeleteI only had one Probe ship. I wasn't happy with the standard of production even then: hollow moulded side rockets, "rolled over" leading edges; looked a bit cheap even to me. I cut the motor and wheels out, and found a spare 1/72 pilot to try and "improve" it.
DeleteSuperb post Scoop, like a magazine article. Lovely. I never tire of seeing that brilliant Booster Rocket stand you made either and the disposable razors always bring a smile to my face. True Century 21 recycling! Thanks for sharing all your great photos and ideas with everyone on the blog over the years and long may it continue.
ReplyDelete