Gerry Anderson Art

Hello Woodsy,

This is a web site I found when looking for Dan Dare material. 

There is something for everybody. 

https://www.artistsuk.co.uk/acatalog/GERRY_ANDERSON_PRINTS_AND_POSTERS.html

Terranova47

USA

Scout Master: Kevin Scratchbuilds a Project SWORD Scout 3

Around Autumn time last year I asked modeling master Kevin if he had ever had a crack at creating a Project SWORD toy.

No he said but Kevin was up to the challenge!

A model of the Scout 3 was in our sights.

Scout 3 is the red one at the front [pic: Ferryman]

As I owned a Century 21 Toys Scout 3 I sent it over to Kevin.

Based on this he planned to build another one from scratch!

To get the project rolling I raided my Century 21 spares box and sent over an original loose Task Force 1 friction drive unit with silvered wheels and an original loose SPC red-tipped missile, both very similar to those found on the Scout 3.

With these parts and a toolbox full of talent Kevin got to work.

To start, the basic structure was made of plasticard  and filling with the original friction drive wheel mechanism built in situ.

After sanding the superstructure was built from from plasticard. The wing blisters were bits of biro cut in half. Then yet more filling!

Then lots of the raised surface detail went on, which wasn't easy. For example, to do the raised rings near the wing tips, Kevin cut thin slices of tube, glued them on and then sanded them until they were almost gone! The front of the blisters were made from more pens. Then it was primed.

It was then painted. Kevin thought the shade of red wasn't ideal but it was the best match available. Kev made the engines from plasticard and plastic tubing and created the SWORD decal. 

Two things left, the cockpit canopy and the tyres. With Century 21 original wheels, 1.4 cm in diameter and a flange, the tyres needed a groove inside and Century 21 tyres were needed ideally.

With tyres en route, raided from my spares box, Kevin had worked tyre-lessly [ha ha!] and this is what it looked like at this penultimate stage.

The wheels were then glued on. 

Scout 3 was done!

Eh voila!

Here are a few pictures by Kevin of his finished replica.

An amazing job I'm sure you'll agree!

Looking at them its hard to tell the difference, even for me!

My original toy is in the background. Kevin's model is at the front!

Original at the front, Kev's model at the rear!

Original right, replica left.

Here are Kevin's shots of the replica on its own landing strip the moon!

What do you think readers?

Ideal Globemaster on Ed's Toys and Stuff

Further to Arto's fascinating post on the Ideal Globemaster, I've just noticed that there is an excellent series of photos of this toy and some great info on our own Ed's fabulous website Toys and Stuff:

http://toyconnect.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/ideal-globemaster-flying-boxcar.html

THUNDERBIRD 2 BOXCAR ORIGINS BY ARTO

Dear Woodsy,

 I came across this page in Ideal Toy Catalog of 1958 (from the http://www.usdimestore.com/ website).

Look at that boxcar - is it not a dead ringer of our dear TB2? 

The overall shape which with minor adjustments would turn into that chubby fella, the opening front which reminds me of an opened TB pod with ramp and all, but especially the similarity of textures both on the chequered body and on the striped tail fin.
The most important thing from the likeness list: it's all in the eyes! The line of four squinty windscreens zeroing on the potential threat and ready for rescue!

The Ideal plane was released as Globemaster Flying Boxcar

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ideal-globemaster-flying-boxcar-499048475

Looking at the toy itself, the resemblance is not as striking as in the catalog photo because of different materials and of the colour scheme. Perhaps Derek Meddings leafed through the Ideal '58 toy catalog and that stuck with him!

This might already be common knowledge among anderson aficionados, but wanted to share nevertheless as the similarity is (at least to my eye) so striking.

Cheers

Arto

____________________________________________

Woodsy's Footnote:

Arto has struck a chord here.

Looking at the 'pod' vehicles in the Globemaster a little closer I was amazed to see the Jeep and the Radar truck!

The amazing Toy Soldier HQ website showcases them all:

The Jeep could easily double up as the Land Rover in the JR21 Thunderbird 2 release [or the Spanish Molto version].

You can see what I mean in this comparison. 

Ideal Globemaster and descending green Jeep photographed by our own Ed Berg.

JR21 Thunderbird 2 and descending green Land Rover photographed by our very own Scoop.

Anything good on TV?

Anything decent on TV or online you've seen of late?

Films, series, documentaries?

What you watching readers?

GEE BRAINS! YOUR BEAUTIFUL MODELS!

The movie Thunderbirds Are Go is a must see for SWORD Fans. Its all about Zero-X after all!

The movie Thunderbird 6 has much to offer too. Besides the amazing Skyship 1 there are some beautiful models too.

I've discussed Brains' tantrum in Thunderbird 6 many times on the blog. Its a painful watch as the angry boffin destroys three superb model craft, all of which were his prototypes [or were they maquetes?] for Thunderbird 6. 

If you haven't seen it here's a handy montage of the three models being thrown on the floor, which I found on You Tube.

There is a toy connection to the red model shown above. It involves the Tarheel and Durham toy companies of North Carolina, USA. I first talked about it here years ago and was chuffed to have the idea included in the latest copy of the Gerry Anderson based fanzine ANDERSONIC.

Its interesting to note that the clip's You Tuber has also commented about the potential numbering of these three models if they had all become part of the fleet. Thunderbirds 6, 7 and 8!

This isn't the first time we've seen a Thunderbird 7. Certainly not in the model/toy world. Imai released a Thunderbird 7 in the 1980's.

We now know that this is actually the Snow Train from the Project SWORD universe and more exactly its the Snow Train with its heat shields up ready for magma diving as seen in the Project SWORD Annual.

In this shielded form its called the BEETLE.

Like the red Thunderbird 6 in the clip the Beetle would have made an excellent friction drive toy. Its a real shame that Century 21 Toys never released it as part of the Project SWORD toy range [although C21 did licence the Imai model].

We can get an idea of what a JR21 Beetle might have looked like in this superb mock-up done by collector Ferryman in 2009.

The actual model was released by Imai in orange plastic and intriguingly in plain white.

I shall write about the white version at a later date.

For now ....

Like Keaton's Batman says in '89,

"Shields!"

Scratchbuilt Doctor McCoy Medikit Spray Healer by Kev D

Hi,

I've made the next gadget in McCoy's medikit. The spray healer. This was made from aluminium tube and detail added with scored aluminium tape and scrap bits!

Take care,

Kevin

DALEKS INVADE KEV'S DIORAMA

Hi,

These are my toy Daleks, fine examples of how good modern toys can be. These are really good replicas and even though they're only 4 or so inches tall, the black one is radio controlled!

Kevin