CENTURY 21 SPECIFICATION SHEETS: THE REPROS

The subject of Century 21 Specification Sheets has come up a few times on MC in the past. In particular years ago reader and Anderson collector Bill Earle was tracking them down.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/search/label/Captain%20Scarlet%20Specification%20Sheet

So I was interested to see that Fanderson now offer all of them as facsimiles on their website. Alas, for Fanderson members only [I'm not one].

https://fanderson.org.uk/product-category/specification-guides/

Have you a real Century 21 Specification Sheet readers?

I always thought there should have been a Project SWORD sheet!

CENTURY 21 CAPTAIN SCARLET SPECIFICATION SHEET: UPDATE 2015

Earlier in the year Moonbase was quoted as part of an Ebay listing for the rare Century 21 Captain Scarlet Spec Sheet, as follows:

Ebay seller: beruit

"A very, vary rare and virtually impossible to find and totally 100% original item from 1967 which is thought to not to even exist by some collectors. This is the larger version of the 2 sided poster which measures approx. 34.5" x 22.5" and is printed in full colour on both sides as seen in the 12 images which can be made larger by clicking on them. 

The piece available to purchase here has been in my personal collection for around 20 years but am now selling to fund another project, so this is a reluctant sale and will hopefully go to a good home. The piece was originally obtained from the estate of Ron Embleton who used the poster for notes and observations for use of his creation of the pages of Scarlet artwork in the pages of TV21 in the late 60's and his writing can be seen on a couple of the images in red pen. 

I purchased the piece at an auction with some other pieces, but have no provenance to authenticate the piece with regards to it's ownership. The poster has some wear and rips around the edges and a larger tear is also present at the bottom which has been repaired at some point with tape, however this has come off over the years with age and left residue marks from the tape. 

I have tried to take as many pictures as possible which will show the poster off to any potential purchasers. If you have any further questions or queries please feel free to contact me to discuss. I have added a link which will give you more information should you require it. http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/full-circle-bill-earles-spectrum-atomic.html

however anyone looking at this poster as a genuine collector and fan will appreciate the rarity of the piece. Thanks for looking and if you have any information I can add to this description please feel free to send any attachments and I will be happy to add them to help other buyers."

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When I saw the listing I immediately contacted collector Bill Earle, who first alerted us all to this rare item on the blog many moons ago. Here's Bill's reply:

Hi Woodsy

Thank you so much for remembering me with this notification. I've been going about in a euphoric cloud ever   since first being alerted to it. I'm thrilled to learn that this example not only exists but differs noticeably from each of the two other different full-size sheets of which I'd been aware.

The effort put into describing and illustrating this sheet on your blog back on July 14, 2012 is now clearly paying off in a very big way, all thanks to you! 

Here are some more images related to the above topic including two which show artist Mike Noble displaying the front and rear of his original Captain Scarlet specification sheet which he used as a guide while illustrating the Captain Scarlet comic strip in TV Century 21 magazine during the 1960's.

Also a much clearer image of the Angels Puzzle Book than the one shown on Moonbase on September 24, 2012...

and an image showing some examples from a set of fliers used to promote the Captain Scarlet television series in 1967. I have found neither original examples nor any further information concerning these last two items!

All the best!

Bill Earle

Birthday Monday Encore: The Captain Scarlet Specification Sheet: The Search Continues by Bill Earle

Dear Woodsy

Thank you very much for so nicely incorporating the images and commentary which I emailed along to you ... regarding the Paramount/IMAI Atomic Carrier - here . Please advise me should a source for a Captain Scarlet specification sheet [below]  ever become known to you, and feel free to contact me at any time if you believe I may be of assistance to you and your fascinating website.

I'll be just as interested as will you in a solution to this puzzle. I hope that your blog...revitalizes the topic and reveals new information. My similar "stirring of the pot" by submitting the first new contributions for two years at Fanderson Forum has thus far produced encouraging results, one of which privately suggests a source for an original full-size Captain Scarlet spec sheet which I understand is being investigated. I've also mailed off an inquiry to Chris Drake, author of the Boxtree book Captain Scarlet at his last-known (1999) address as to the source of his illustration showing another example of such.

As for the box artists at Century 21 Toys, I'd only be guessing. I know that in addition to being responsible for many of the comic strips, Mike Noble also admits to having produced technical cutaway drawings for TV Century 21 magazine. He's the only person of whom I specifically know that owns an original CS specification sheet which he displays in the YouTube video that I mention in my Fanderson Forum contribution. The spec sheet itself contains six pieces of artwork which may have been the work of one of the artists who also produced illustrations for the toy boxes. That Mike Noble doesn't specifically take credit for having done so causes me to believe it may have been the work of another illustrator. Artist Graham Bleathman is probably the best bet to answer your question.

Attached is an image showing the Century 21 toy of the Captain Scarlet Playchart game. It had been sold by Peter Rice of Destiny One several years ago. Notice that its package illustration showing an Angel Interceptor flying away from Cloudbase is the same as that which tops the reverse side of the Captain Scarlet spec sheet. Needless to say, I would very much like to locate one of these games, if for nothing more than its packaging.

Although I do not have as deep an interest in Project SWORD as I do in some other Century 21 concepts, nevertheless I do own the Project SWORD Annual, all of the TV Century 21 magazines and associated annuals which contain Project Sword content, plus five Project SWORD toy vehicles with associated badges and the official manual. My S.I.G. article concerning the model kits of UF here does mention the kit (s) of SHADO Moonbase containing three vehicles from the Project SWORD story; the Moon Prospector, the Scramble Bug, and the Explorer.

UPDATE: There have been few developments in my quest, I've just been advised that a long-time acquaintance allegedly owns an original 23 by 36 inch Captain Scarlet specification sheet, while I have zeroed in on the current home address of an author whose book includes an image of one.

In the event that I am unsuccessful in locating either of the full-size sheets, I have been making progress in sourcing higher quality examples of some of the images comprising it which may enable me to recreate from scratch a reasonably convincing facsimile. Toward this end, I am also seeking help in locating a reproduction of the related packaging artwork from The Captain Scarlet Playchart [pictured above] and of the front cover of The Angels Puzzle Book [picture: Jim Lewis]; images for both of which are attached.

FAB
Bill Earle