Welcome Aboard Mike!

I'm pleased to announce to readers of Moonbase Central that Mike 'Scoop' B has joined Wotan and me on the blog's editorial team as our latest official contributor.

From his coastal outpost at Glenn Field, Scoop has always been an enthusiastic contributor to the blog often wowing readers with his superlative modelling skills and fab dioramas. His debut, a cool model lay-out called simply SPACEX MOON BASE DIORAMA [yep, that one below] was way back in December 2008 when I'd first kicked off the blog and remains one of our most popular posts to this day having had 1600 visitors.

"Blog reader Mike Burrows has sent me this fabulous picture o

f his Space Moon Base set. Nice one Mike! Woodsy"

 

 

Throughout the years Mike has continued to send in fabulous models, photographs, research and insights from Glenn Field sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for all things Anderson with us Moonbasers, Swordies and SpaceXers.

 

 

In 2010 I had the pleasure of meeting up with Mike at Fanderson's TV21 convention in Bristol, an appropriate setting if ever there was one! As expected, we hit it off from the outset and it was great to have met the real Scoop B!

L to R: Scoop, Woodsy at TV21 [note the matching SWORD badges!

now that's devotion to the cause! ha ha!]

 

 

So, without further ado, I'm sure that you'll all want to join me in welcoming Mike aboard Moonbase Central! Glenn Field, come on down!

Space Models of Feltham, Master Models of Hounslow and AGM

Master Models and Space Models are often mentioned synonymously when discussing outsourced modelmaking for Derek Meddings. My previous post on Master Models jogged my memory and I recalled looking into them to see if they were one or indeed two different companies. There is certainly mention  of them both on many of the long-established Anderson sites like Fanderson [re. Doppelganger Mini Mokes], Blakes 7 site [Eagle] and in various books etc. Space Models are often cited as Space Models of Feltham and Feltham [erstwhile home of the Concorde] is but 3.5 miles from Master Models in Hounslow, both around the half hour mark away from Century 21 as was when based in Slough.

 

 

 

I wrote to what I thought a likely candidate for Space Models of Feltham exactly 3 years ago and asked Nick Phelps, Managaing Director "I am assuming that your campany is the same Space Models of Feltham, who worked on many of Gerry Anderson's fabulous shows" to which Nick confirmed that yes, they were indeed the same. Nick suggested that I contact him again regarding a member of staff on annual leave, who might be able to expand on the Anderson link but despite my further email, I heard nothing further. Space Models is now part of a lager group called Curvature.

 

 

 

There is also mention of another model making company called A&G, AGM or Aeronautical and General on various Fora like Fanderson and Space 1999 Eagle Transporter. Listening to the British Pathe clip audio again, they do indeed refer to the company as AGM and NOT Master Models. But the same people appear on Master Models own archive photographs. Were AGM forerunners of Master Models?

 

 

Anyone know any more?

Master Models On Film!

A couple of years ago I found some footage of a model making firm on British Pathe's online archive. Could it be Master Models, who made the Zero-X for Derek Meddings? Certainly they can be seen working on Mac's Car at the end of the clip!

The Pathe notes describes the firm being located in Hounslow, which I can see on Google Maps is just 13 miles from Slough Trading Estate, home of Century 21. But the final proof comes when you compare stills of the chap working on Mac's Car from Master Model's own online archive with those of British Pathe. Despite one being colour and the other monochrome, they are quite clearly the same chap!

Compare them for yourselves [can't show copyrighted material here but you can split your screen to compare the two stills]:

1. Master Models still

2. British Pathe still
[be patient, wait for clip 2.03 - 2 minutes 3 seconds - to appear at the bottom]

 

 

 

So, without further ado, watch original footage of Master Models in 1968, makers of Joe's 90's Car, various Thunderbirds craft and Zero-X for one Derek Meddings!


http://www.britishpathe.com/video/model-makers

 

And the icing on the cake, you can see all the famous model vehicles in one shot on Master Models site, including Zero-X, here! http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Television.html#10


Wonder who the modellers are? Did they go on to even greater things?



THE MYSTERY OF ZERO-X "ZX 26"

Recently Shaqui posed a question in the comments section regarding a mystery Zero-X photograph, where the tail fin of the plane is marked ZX26. Shaqui explained:


 "Does anyone know the origin of this photo and the unusual decals of 'ZX26'? (click on my name to see photo). It has been suggested these were the original markings put on by Space Models before it when to Century 21 Productions for modification before filming but no-one seems 100% sure... "

Looking at the Master Models [Space Models] website I found vintage photographs of a model Zero-X made by them for Century 21 Ltd for the 1966 movie Thunderbirds Are Go. The model is marked ZX26, which suggests it is the same one as in Shaqui's mystery photograph.

 

The links to Master Models pictures are as follows [check out ALL their pictures - well worth it!]:

http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Television.html#10 Zero-X tail fin, no markings visible, B/W

http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Film.html#5 Zero-X full view, no markings visible, colour

http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Film.html#26 Zero-X rear view, "26" visible on tail fin, B/W

http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Film.html#27 Zero-X side view, "ZX26" and "26" visible on three wing fins, colour

http://www.mastermodels.co.uk/Gallery_One/Pages/Film.html#28 Zero-X rear view, "ZX26" and "26" visible, B/W

 

"ZX" is obviously Zero-X but I have no idea what "26" refers to. Anyone know?

Imai's Little Red Booster

Earlier this year I acquired a second Imai Thunderbird 7 kit, aka SWORD Beetle, from 1972 for building up. The cool box with fab Shigeru Komatsuzaki art is shown below. Having no modelling skills whatsoever I predictably made a complete hash of the main vehicle, which now lies sad and discarded in its box for a rainy day when I will have miraculously gained Martin Bower-level skills Matrix-style!

I did manage, however, to glue the little red booster rocket together, which came with the kit, pictured below. I was thrilled with its simplicity and will refrain from painting it, prefering to leave it as it is.

I was double chuffed as the little Booster fits perfectly with my other hard plastic SWORD miniatures from Japan. Adding my new Morinaga Zero-X was the icing on the cake! What do you think?

Ferryman's Fantastic SWORD Fleet: Re-Entry Task Force 1, 2 and 3

 

Top Five Photos: Century 21 Task Force 1,2,3

Photo Six: Yellow US Tarheel Task Force 2 and red C21 original

Photo Seven: US Tarheel Task Force 2

Bottom Photo: LtoR: Orange US Tarheel Nova III, green US Tarheel Nova II, yellow US Tarheel TF2

SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW: Report from our Glenn Field Correspondent Scoop B

Hi Woodsy, I attended the Southport Air show, northern England, last weekend and as usual took a few snaps. Thought maybe you and the blog readers might like to see one or two.

 

There was plenty to see, wing walkers, helicopters, aerial display flying, parachutists and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

 

But, like most overgrown schoolboys with Thunderbirds in the blood the Jet displays are what I look forward to.

 

The show opened with the fabulous Red Arrow display team, always a crowd pleaser. Seen them dozens of times but their precision flying never fails to impress me.

 

As with last year the mighty Vulcan XH558 once again flew majestically over Southport beach. I’m told that next year might be its last outing as it’s Olympus engines would by then have reached the end of their operational life.

 

Another restored vintage aircraft also made an appearance. The Gloster Meteor, the first operational British jet fighter. Looking like a design straight out of a Dan Dare comic strip, these jets first saw service towards the end of the Second World War, shooting down V-1 flying bombs. Unfortunately, these planes were involved in quite a few crash landings, as they proved a bit too fast for pilots at the time who were used to flying Hurricanes and Spitfires.

Coming right up to the present day, the Typhoon Eurofighter multi-role combat aircraft flew past the crowds at a fantastic pace. This futuristic plane is capable of Mach 2, around 1,400 mph.

Finally, two Tornado GR4 swing-wing aircraft treated the crowd to a simulated bombing run, complete with a pyrotechnic display. Both Tornado’s sped above the onlookers from either direction accompanied by loud explosion's and clouds of smoke coming from the beach.

Great stuff.

Watch The Skies

Mike Scoop B

Glenn Field

 

Capsulissima

This simple post has been a while in the preparation,mainly because I had to wait till all the Moonbase Supply bags had landed. Now the cats out of the bag, I can proceed with the post! It all began a few weeks back when I received a Saturn capsule with chute, generously supplied by Kevin D. This is as close as I have got so far to the Project SWORD Saturn and is one of the toys which fascinated me as a kid.

Sunny days on the beach or in the garden almost always involved some kind of flying toy and often it involved a parachute. Countless cheap plastic soldiers and astronauts got tossed into the air and stranded in trees or inaccessible roofs but they were always disposable and easily replaced items, bought for a few pence from the corner shop. Since then, such toys have become rarer due to their limited lifespan and now I find if I come across such a toy, it never leaves the house.

Besides the wonderfully simple and fragile SWORD capsule, here are a few of my other favourites.

The Saturn Sword capsule is a simple clear plastic and 'lance' shaped affair, with a printed card insert showing the astronaut. A  similar shaped capsule came on top of the large Quercetti MACH X catapult rocket, which returned to Earth with its own chute. This three piece capsule has the astronauts moulded into the lower half and a transparent cockpit.

Not designed as a throwable toy, the Dinky Seaking Apollo Capsule is a neat little accessory which had a small ring at the apex where the copters winch could lift it. Simple, but detailed construction with an opening hatch to show the three astronauts.

A recent trip to Cornwall and the rather excellent museum in Truro revealed a neat toy in the gift shop. A basic plastic capsule and parachute. Cast in garish purple plastic, a swift wash of white enamel calmed things down. Lacking the style and aerodynamic properties of its fellows, it was a pleasant reminder of times past.

Finally, a toy which managed to slip under my radar as a kid, but which I found on ebay some years later. The Lone Star mercury capsule was also offered as a mail away with Askeys Ice Cream. A much more complex and delicate toy, the capsule is fitted with a mechanism, which when the capsule touches down, ejects the hapless astronaut out the capsule window. Consequently, it was amazing to find it intact!

So coming back to the Moonbase Supply Bags for the blog birthday - in the spirit of nostalgia, i'd urge everyone to open the bag, hitch the astronaut to the working parachute and let fly! Photos welcome!