Over the years I've mentioned the ocean colour scene in Thunderbirds Are Go 1966, in which Parker and Lady P sat in a hydroplaning FAB1 spot Zero-X in the sky above. It's a fleeting union of two Anderson icons.
You can see the super You Tube clip here
https://youtu.be/CJEczUhJ_do?si=2DCrVM5DebwiM2R3
And the fabulous marine action just prior
https://youtu.be/mUjNgDUaiGs?is=XyvLDSUBScnkFGQv
Well, spurred on by our Blue Milk 're-make' the other day, I thought I'd have a crack at recreating the above OX FAB1 scene or something like it.
I gathered my props, a smallish plaster OX and Carlton FAB1.
I finagled a set in the garden involving a tree to dangle the OX from in front of the sky and a wet glass table for the car.
Just as I set up it went dark with rain clouds!
I quickly took various shots before the heavens opened.
The last shot was then Woodsies up using the edit facility on my phone, basically smudging the background with my finger and then applying different filters (no AI).
These are the finished filtered scenes.
It was great fun doing it and messing like this gave me a very small glimpse of the monumental effort Derek Meddings and all the Century 21 team put in to create Thunderbirds et al.
Hope you like these.
A marvelous homage to one of the great movies of the 1960s! Yes, the amount of effort those Supermarionation Tech Wizards put in to create those moments of sheer cinematic beauty is awesome - and no lazy computer cheating like today! SFZ
ReplyDeleteThanks SF. Yes, Derek's Men and Women were a truly genius team. What they produced is breathtaking. My one photo shoot was full of issues and problems! Ha ha.
DeleteThat single image has stayed with me for decades. I've even pulled the DVD out just to watch that shot!
ReplyDeleteYou've encapsulated the meanings in your post, so I don't have to explain my reasons.
Other than to add that up to that point, Zero-X has been this big brash hunk of technology. This is the only shot that shows it small, fragile and venturing towards it's uncertain destiny...
Super observations Looey. Yes, a great scene. I wonder how Derek M et al actually got the OX so small in the sky?
DeleteI'm pretty sure it was back projection of the pre filmed Z-X with the puppet car set up in front.
DeleteGreat shots of FAB 1 and Zero-X alone in the world of mists. Thunderbirds Forever.
ReplyDeleteMisty, yes. Thanks Paul. If I'd have stayed out another five minutes the shots would have been rainy! Ha ha. It chucked it down.
DeleteMy 'Red Dwarf' model effects mentor at the BBC, Perter Wragg, was the Second Unit Effects Director on 'Thunderbirds are Go' so he may have even helped create that wonderful shot.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that Mish. Was he a good mentor?
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