MOONBASE CENTRAL

Thursday, 7 July 2016

SMALLSPACE PUPPET DISPLAY

I never tire of looking at the displays of original Supermarionation puppets that have been found and painstakingly restored by enthusiastic collectors . When I was a youngster in the sixties these heroic characters were just as real to me as the actors who played Napoleon Solo or Batman.

The Smallspace display featured, apart from Captain Scarlet, original puppet heads that had actually appeared on screen. So looking at the face of Captain Blue, it really was Captain Blue looking back at me.

This Captain Ochre puppet (below) has the only known surviving screen used head .

The 'normal' head of Captain Grey, whose likeness was apparently based on Sean Connery.

Destiny Angel , whose puppet likeness was based on Ursula Andress.

Melody Angel, whose puppet likeness was based on Eartha Kitt.

There was also the three main 'stars' of Joe 90.

Little Joe McClaine.

Professor Ian 'Mac' McClaine.

Deputy Head of W.I.N. Sam Loover.

I know nothing about restoring puppets, or how'd you go about creating authentic looking outfits, If someone had told me that the Captain Scarlet figure was real too, I'd believe it, such is the skill of these talented enthusiasts.

Looking at these sixties 'heroes' the other day at Smallspace, I have to say, unlike the actors who played Napoleon Solo or Batman, they haven't changed a bit!

DINKY DIE-CAST SPV WEBSITE

Here's an interesting site, one dedicated to the Dinky die-cast SPV no less. Have a gander:

http://www.captainscarlet.free.fr/English/Intro.html

Wednesday, 6 July 2016

A SMALLSPACE FOR THUNDERBIRDS 1965

A table at Smallspace had a few items from the recent fan-funded Kickstarter Thunderbird 1965 project based on the three original sixties Century 21 records.

There was a large, impressive looking replica of Thunderbird 2 .

There was several lobby cards made to look like something that might have existed in 1965.

A couple of newspaper covers seen briefly in 'The Stately Homes Robberies'.

A small helicopter model as seen in 'The Abominable Snowman'.

A puppet of the Hood.

On a separate table there was replicas of Thunderbirds' 1 & 4, which, according to the blurb below were apparently used during the filming. However, it's been pointed out to me by no less a person than the man behind the project, Stephen La Riviere, that both of these models weren't use during the production, But, in spite of that they're still great looking models. Thanks again for the update, Stephen.

JAPANESE CAPTAIN SCARLET PREMIUMS

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

SPACE 1999 MODELS AT SMALLSPACE

There was plenty of models to keep the Space 1999 fans happy at Smallspace, some original props and some excellent replicas. Here are a few photos of just some of the models on display.

Eagle Transporters were well represented with three impressive original models. Two 44" and one 22", as well as Chris Potter's excellent replica 44" laboratory Eagle.

Above, the popular Hawk miniature as seen in War Games. You can see part of the small Ultraprobe model next to it, which I've featured on an earlier post.

The three great looking lunar tanks first seen in The Infernal Machine.

I love the unique and alien design of the Kaldorian ship from Earthbound. I'm told this original model was built by Master Models.

Another strange design is Jarak's ship from Alpha Child. This is the smaller of the two models built by Martin Bower when he first got the job making models for the series.

Another Martin Bower model, the Dorcon Probeship from The Dorcons. The other ship in centre of the photo is one of the ships used in the space graveyard as seen in The Metamorph