A look at the three jigsaw puzzles using painted scenes from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's UFO TV series.
The jigsaws are dated 1970, and were produced by Arrow Games Ltd.
Each puzzle comprised of 320 pieces, and when completed measured 13 3/4" x 13 3/4" (35cm x 35cm)
My three are missing the odd piece, but are, nevertheless still fun to put together.
I like the painted scenes which take inspiration from various publicity photos , and each box carries a brief description of what's happening in the picture.
The jigsaw puzzles aren't in any particular order so I'll begin with the set using scenes which look like they're inspired from images seen in the UFO episode, The Computer Affair and Ordeal!
The artist decided to use inaccurate colours for the Aliens' spacesuits and the SHADO man's uniform.
The box synopsis suggests that Straker would like to capture a live alien. He does do that, albeit briefly in the actual series.
'Two trapped Aliens make a final stand as SHADO men close in on all sides. Commander Ed Straker dreams that one day an Alien will be captured alive. Only then can he hope to get some facts about these strange invaders, and their planet. Perhaps today he will be lucky!'
The second shows a Lunarscape showing scenes which look like they're images inspired by the episodes, Flight Path, Survival and Close Up.
Again, the artist alters some of the colour detail we see on screen; the main stand-outs are the black tip of the Interceptors' nuclear missile is changed to red, and the red livery of the Lunar Module is a greenie white!
'SHADO's space engineers desperately attempt repairs on an essential tracking satellite, as two UFO's zoom in to attack. Colonel Foster directs SHADO forces from the Moon's surface. These Interceptors must be space-bourne in seconds. On their launch pads they are just helpless sitting ducks.'
The third puzzle, set in a very crowded SHADO H.Q. with hints of SHADO's Moonbase uses a number of publicity photos. The completely made up large screen across the background gives the artist the opportunity to incorporate S.I.D. and SKY 1 into the scene. Straker is looking at what should be a radar screen, but is changed for the painting to a TV screen showing SKY 1 pilot, Peter Carlin. N.B. reading the box synopsis, the Sky 1 pilot, Peter Carlin uses the original script spelling Karlin.
'Two against one. Ed Straker, Alec Freeman, Paul Foster and Gay Ellis can only watch as Sky 1 pilot, Peter Karlin flies protectively between SHADO's Space Intruder Detector and the speeding UFO's, high above the Earth. Sky 1 is the target now, Karlin must work fast to destroy...or be destroyed.'
I like those and have often been tempted to get them. I didn't realise there were 3, I've not seen the forest one before.
ReplyDeleteThey're a nice set, Kev. I wonder who the artist was?
DeleteThanks for the presentation, Scoop. Only one single example (with the trapped aliens motif) spotted here - and that was 19 years ago! Missing two pieces at the left edge, but the box is great. I believe these were not for sale in Finland, as UFO the tv series was not aired either (our bad!)
ReplyDeleteCheers Arto. I didn't realise the series wasn't shown in Finland, sorry to hear that.
DeleteI have the third one but never seen the other two
ReplyDeleteThe SHADO HQ jigsaw might possibly be the more common one, David.
DeleteGetting heavily into restoring packages etc, I immediately think that as you have the box art as well as the "missing pieces", you could mock up a filler plug to fill the space if you wanted to display them fully made!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a thought, Lewis, although I don't have the space to display them at the moment.
DeleteThanks for sharing Scoop. I've always admired the talent of the box artists who did these exciting UFO covers and jigsaws.
ReplyDeleteGlad to do it Woodsy, this post is certainly popular.
DeleteThese jigsaw pictures could have been used for the video covers when the series was released on video in the 80s and regarding the inaccuracies many areas did not get the series until 1971 this was because a lot of the merchandise had to be in the shops for Christmas 1970 in that time only 5 regions were showing the series in the Autumn of 1970 and many of the firms who were doing the merchandise were based in London which explains the green on the Dinky models which were made in Liverpool
ReplyDeleteThe green Interceptor is certainly a bone of contention with a lot of fans, Darren, and you're right about certain TV regions dragging their heels airing the series. Sadly , that's one of the reasons we only had one UFO annual released at the time.
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