WE TRAVELLED BEYOND THE SKY TO FIND THE FUTURE

The sky was as red as pink champagne

The mist descended like soda

We approached the Base

The host, Woodsy, was waiting outside

He said:

Let's get this pardy started!

Happy New Year Readers!

PARTY LIKE ITS 2019: MY LOOK BACK AT A YEAR OF SPACE:1999

I couldn’t end the year without another nod to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s live action TV series Space:1999 . 

It’s nearly 45 years since it was first shown, and even now still retains a very healthy fan base, and for anyone scratching the surface of fandom will find it is still very much in the public consciousness

A recent edition of the BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind was won by British journalist Samira Ahmed who, dressed in a replica Space: 1999 tunic, provided by mega collector, James Winch, chose the sci-fi series as her specialist subject answering all the nine questions correctly. Following the later General knowledge round, which she also won, she was ultimately crowned Celebrity Mastermind Champion of Champions. Professor Bergman would be proud.

I even chanced on hearing a toy expert chatting on Radio Lancashire on Christmas Day about Space: 1999 Mattel figures, in particular a John Koenig doll. He waxed lyrically about the series. However, when asked about future values, he was putting his money on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise - foolish boy!

In spite of that, it’s been a good year for new commercially available Space: 1999 goodies. 

These are just some I’m aware of.

We’ve had Plastic construction kits from Round 2 around for a while, including their two versions of 22” Eagles, a 1:72 scale Mark IV Hawk, as well as a Nuclear Disposal Area 2 Diorama set. This year they’ve recently released a mega-accurate 1:72 scale 14” Eagle. 

Aside from models, in September, Big Finish Audio released a re-booted audio version of ‘Breakaway’, the opening Space: 1999 episode re-written to fall into line with modern sensibilities. 

A special edition was available briefly on the Anderson Entertainment site but, I'm told this has now sold out. Anderson Entertainment also have a limited edition Space:1999 calendar 

Depending on the success of the Big Finish 'Breakaway', other editions may well be in the pipe line. 

Have I missed anything? Only teasing – Sixteen 12 have been busy producing their ‘Episode Collection’ featuring their 12” die-cast Eagles during the year.

It’s no secret I’m very fond of these sets, as indeed, I was equally fond of Sixteen 12’s previous incarnation as Product Enterprise.

This year we’ve seen Sixteen 12 release their ‘Immunity Syndrome’ set which featured the Glider. Following on from their sell-out ‘Breakaway’ pallet Eagle, this limited edition run sold out shortly after its release.

The ‘Exiles’ set which had a manipulator arm, life pod, nuclear fuel cell and a top mounted laser gun, and the ‘New Adam, New Eve’ set, featuring magnetic side boosters. A few of both these sets are still available from the Sixteen 12 website.

The ‘Retro Eagle’; a nod to the vintage Dinky Eagle in green and chrome. Even after all these years some still didn’t understand the colour choice. With just a limited run of 500, it certainly didn’t stop it selling out on the Sixteen 12 website.

In spite of its cost the deluxe Eagle Hangar, which features a laboratory Eagle with a upper boosters, and a pallet Eagle with removable winch motor, plus figures and a hangar diorama has sold out on the Sixteen 12 website.

That said all these sets are still currently available from other retailers and dealers.

Simultaneously released with the Eagle Hangar is the ‘Breakaway’ Part 2 set, which features an orange V.I.P. pod as seen in the episode. There is also the additional bonus of a lunar tank first seen in ‘The Infurnal Machine’ episode. This striking set is unsurprisingly sold out on the Sixteen 12 website.

Some also got a 12” Eagle ‘signature’ edition, personally signed by SFX Director Brian Johnson, in a presentation box. This limited 300 edition is very much a special as there’s no link on the website. To get one or register an interest email Sixteen 12 directly.

Finally, as I acquired it only recently the 1:24^th scale Alpha Moon Buggy which appeared in January.

 I should also point out that the series is currently being run on Force TV, as well as The Horror Channel.

One thing that is eagerly anticipated is the Space: 1999 Vault book, which was due for release in September to coincide with the Fanderson Supercelebrition convention. Unfortunately, its release date has been put back until next year.

Well, that’s about it from me. I’m off to party on down at my local pub. I’ll resist the temptation to say, ‘party like its 1999’, oh, who am I kidding – Happy New Year everybody and…party like its 1999!

A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE FAB EVENTS OF 2019

As 2019 draws to a close I thought I’d look back this some of the Anderson related fan gatherings that stood out for me and I was lucky enough to attend this year.

One was the Smallspace 8 event which took place in the picturesque village of Hanslope near. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Strictly speaking it was more about celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing.

 As it would have been Jon Pertwee’s 100^th Birthday too, 3^rd Doctor lookalike, Scott Goodman was on hand to pose with other special guests.

However, as always Anderson was well represented with models by David Sisson and others.

Another meet up was at this year’s, Fab Worlds of Anderson, at the Leicester National Space Centre.

Thanks to all the contributors and helpers this event, just like the year before was full of fabulous models and a record number of original puppets.

The main arena was dominated by the first showing of a huge model of Thunderbird 2 complete with hangar, Tracy Island Cliff House, runway and rising launch ramp.

This ambitious undertaking was built by Ben ten Westenend, a brilliant scale modeller who hails from the Netherlands. He and his assistant Robert Zijderveld brought this and several other models for display, all the way by car.

The Thunderbird 2 model is actually 4” longer than the original studio prop which was apparently 36”.

This year also marked the last two-day Fanderson event, Supercelebration, and I reckon it was just that, a super celebration, and great meet up with some old friends and some great guests including Dee Anderson, the late Sylvia’s daughter.

2019 marked the 50th anniversary of The Secret Service.

As to 2020, I don’t know if there are any dedicated Fanderson events planned. We, fans have certainly been treated this year and certainly my thanks go to all the organisers, contributors, guests and most importantly, the people who make it all worthwhile –the fans who attend!

For those who don’t, or can’t go for one reason or another, I hope my occasional posts on them in some way help you to enjoy them vicariously.

Forward to 2020 and an Anderson future.

HP MYSTERY MAN

I'm pretty sure I've seen the handsome chappie with the claw hands on this cover before but I can't think where. Can you readers?

*

Got it!

Nosferatu!

Just not the head!

IT'S NEW YEARS EVE!

Cheers Readers!

See you in 2020!

*

Video belongs to ITV Thunderbirds on You Tube.

DUNCAN WILLIS AND HIS STINGRAY STEERING WHEEL

Check out Duncan Willis's amazing project using original toy parts. Its a Stingray scratchbiuld par excellence! 

http://replicagerryandersonpuppets.weebly.com/projects.html

Duncan makes repro puppets and other stuff too! Have a look.

A LOOK AT THE SIXTEEN 12 STUDIO SCALE MOON BUGGY

Here are a few photos of the Sixteen 12 Collectables die-cast Alpha Moon Buggy which was released in January, 2019. 

It’s a highly detailed studio scale replica around 120mm long. Although it’s marked as 1/24 scale the detailing isn’t really based on one of the actual studio special effects model. Rather it’s based on the full size live action studio prop – the real life, Amphicat, using markings more associated with Year 2 of Space: 1999.

(The Amphicat, many will remember, also featured in the late sixties Saturday morning TV children’s show, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, as ‘Banana Buggies’, a spin-off model of which was briefly issued by Aurora as 1/25 scale plastic kits at that time)

The Sixteen 12 Buggy is designed as an addition to Sixteen 12’s 44” Studio Scale Eagle Transporter collection. The detailed authentic decals really look good, and there is the merest hint of some weathering.   

The die-cast Sixteen 12 model has a removable highly detailed Moonbase Alpha astronaut gripping the Amphicat’s two steering levers. The helmet, labelled ‘Sissons’ has a clear orange tinted visor. The detailed back pack has an air- pipe joined to the helmet. The shoulder insignias’ is very well detailed. The astronaut gives the buggy its scale, of course. I’ve read that some of the studio buggy props would have used model astronauts from the Revell 1/24^th scale Gemini Capsule kits, the same ones used in the 44” Eagle props.

(Like many of the models seen in most Gerry Anderson’s TV series’, scale is open to much debate. When it came to studio props, there were several different sized scaled buggy models used in the series:  200mm; 120mm; 60mm and 30mm. A much larger 460mm was also used in a few Year 2 episodes)

Here’s a photo showing the Sixteen 12 model’s dashboard detail which, on the studio prop was added to for Year 2. The side had a large ‘5’ and small ‘8’ on the side. In year 1, this was just the smaller ‘8’. Unsurprisingly, during the filming of episodes, changes did take place with the full size version, so I think it’s reasonable to say that the Sixteen 12 model is fairly accurate snapshot.

I suppose I should point the one or two minor inaccuracies which are bound to irk some, but are certainly not deal breakers to me. The Sixteen 12 buggy looks to have a brighter yellow colour than the studio version, not that it’s noticeable unless you happen to have a studio version nearby, I suppose. Something a little more obvious is the astronaut’s gloves are grey rather than white, but as the suit wrist bands are also white, I reckon the grey gloves give a little definition. Finally, the rear aerial looks to be a little too short, maybe by around 50mm, but considering when I initially removed the model from its packaging I couldn’t find the aerial which was well hidden in the box’s wrapping paper, I think I can cope without 50mm, believe me.

Like all of Sixteen 12 Collectables' current line-up, the model is a limited edition of just 200, and is currently priced at £195 plus p.p.

http://www.sixteen12.com/s1999_moonbuggy.html