"DANGER WILL ROBINSON!"

Some photos of a couple of models I have of theB9 Robot from Lost in Space, the first being a Trendmasters  toy which I bought around 1997.

This is a really nice toy for the money, it’s well detailed, has flashing lights and utters two phrases – “Danger Will Robinson” and “My sensors indicate an intruder is present”.

As most LIS fans will know the B9, or just ‘ Robot ‘as it is generally  referred to in the series, didn’t  originally appear in the unaired pilot, along with the sneaky Dr. Zachery Smith.

The B9 Robot was designed by Robert Kinoshita, whose credits include Robby from the film, Forbidden Planet.

It was built by 20^th Century Fox prop maker Robert S Stuard, known professionally as Bob Stewart.

There were two props made.  One was a static prop, used for towing around the set, and the other was the ‘hero’ prop in which actor and stuntman, Bob May would ‘wear’. As the prop was difficult to get in and out of, Bob would stay in the ‘suit’ during breaks, even having an ash tray fitted inside. 

There’s a story that producer Irwin Allen saw smoke billowing out of the robot and thought it was on fire, however it was just Bob having a ciggie break.  So any smoke coming from the robot on screen was down to Bob having a drag.

The distinctive voice of the robot was down to actor and announcer, Dick Tufeld, who actually reprised the role for the 1998 feature film.

My second model is one of four classic Lost in Space die-casts released by Johnny Lightning, to coincide with the release of the feature film.

Again, plenty of detail, with a movable upper body, this is a nice little collectable.

Oh, and if anyone is interested the full title of the B9 Robot is Class M3 General Utility Non Theorising Environmental Control Robot!