PROJECT DYNA SOAR

I like this short film on You Tube by Okrajoe using NASA footage.

It helps bring to life the backstory to my Project SWORD Dyna Soar toy from 1967.

It compliments this other colour short published by Julian Budde on You Tube.

TV CRIME DRAMA TO FEATURE 'SUPERMARIONATION-LIKE' SEGMENT

The latest episode of the TV crime series, Endeavour may be of some interest to Gerry & Sylvia Anderson fans as it features scenes reminiscent of their famous puppet/marionette series.

Endeavour, a spin- off of the Inspector Morse TV series, which was set in contemporary times, and starred the late John Thaw, is set in 1969, and features a younger Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse, (played by Shaun Evans) earlier in his police career . 

Photo:  ITV/Radio Times

The episode is called ‘Apollo’, and takes place at the time of the first Moon Landing. According to an online Radio Times article by Mark Braxton, Endeavour creator & writer Russell Lewis says that the episode is a love letter to the puppet era of the Andersons, and goes on to say that without Gerry Anderson’s imagination firing his own, Russell doubts he would be doing what he does today.

The talented folk behind the Thunderbirds 1965 project, and the Halifax Bank advert featuring Lady Penelope and Parker were brought in to help film the puppet /marionette scenes, along with original Thunderbirds’ director, David Elliot, and original Thunderbirds puppeteer Mary Turner.

In the episode the drama takes place in a fictional film studio with Supermarionation influences, where a puppet series called Moon Rangers, which features a square-jawed hero called Major Rock Renton is being filmed. 

Photo: ITV/Radio Times

As a minor point of interest, most Anderson fans will be aware that in 1969 the last Supermarionation puppet series, The Secret Service had completed filming in January at the Anderson’s  Stirling Road Century 21 studio in Slough. 

Endeavour ‘Apollo’ first airs on ITV at 8.00 pm on Sunday, 17^th February 2019

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-02-17/endeavour-apollo-moon-rangers-studio-gerry-anderson-thunderbirds-stingray-supermarionation/

Quick update: Well, I watched it, but of course I wouldn't dream of giving the plot away.  The puppet scenes are uncannily reminiscent of the earlier A.P. Films series, and there's one or two in- jokes for the Anderson aficionado. The location chosen for the fictional film studio do bear a passing resemblance to the buildings used at Stirling Road in Slough, and a couple of genuine vintage toys can be seen in the studio office sets. Well worth a watch if you like a quality feature-length period crime drama with a little extra added. 

IF WE WERE INVADED FROM SPACE

Hello Woodsy,

It was the season of goodwill to all men, but if there is an Alien Invasion then I'm ready to repel invaders with both bright lights and sound effects.

LET THE GALAXY BEWARE!

Regards,

Terranova47

NYC

OFF BASE

I shall be off base for a while this week. Some much needed RnR is required.

My responses to comments and emails will be delayed as a result.

The Base, however, remains open for continuing operations.

THE EDGE OF THINGS: MY NEW GHOST STORY

I've penned a new short story. Its a sort of Victorian ghost story set in the countryside. If you like creepy writing then maybe have a read:

https://thegargoylesdispleasure.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-edge-of-things.html

STOMPERS BY LANCE

On the Stomper version of the Flex the tires do not split. Same with the Stomper version of the Animal, the claws are always out.

Galoob made large versions of the Flex and Animal where the tires reacted. If the Flex ran into an obstacle, the hubs moved in and made the tires balloon out so it could go over it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tPAktnTq9o

The Animal had 'hidden' claws that would come out (3 per each tire) when it encountered difficulty. People confuse the Animal with the Claw which on the latter, the tires would split open revealing claws and extend the overall size of the tire to clear an obstacle.

Both the Animal and the Claw can be seen in this commercial compilation video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy_vM7VzBn0

( it also features a low quality of Tomy's Monster Machine that you might like)

Lance

USA

WORLD NAVY SUB 57 AND THE TOY RACING CAR

Yorkie's ace observations  in the comments about this mystery toy racing car and its possible use as a Century 21 prop were so good that I had to post them.

Yorkie said that in the Stingray episode 'Man from the Navy', the World Navy Sub 27 is a converted racing car toy or model. A conning tower has been added and the rear of the car becomes the front of the sub. It could be the toy pictured.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/stingray/images/4/47/Wn27.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20170721030724

Yorkie said it also appears in Thunderbirds painted red in the episode The Man from MI5.

https://securityhazard.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/themanfrommi500015.jpg

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Woodsy adds:

Since posting the 'mystery' racing car post I've realised where I first saved the picture from. It belonged to modeller Mike Delamar and I asked to use it nearly 10 years ago on an online thread. You can see the thread on the Eagletransporter Forum [you may have to register after a while]. Mike's a master scratch builder and the old thread detailed his search for original parts to create the World Navy Sub 27 from the toy racing car. Sadly the thread peters out and the finished model is not shown.

See what you think anyway:

https://www.eagletransporter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68150

KEN HOLT REMEMBERED

Today would have been our ol' pal Ken Holt's 89th Birthday, so many happy returns in heaven, mate.