Through Kickstarter I was a backer of Thunderbirds 1965 which was a project to recreate three Thunderbirds episodes using sound recordings from the 1960s. The episodes have now been recorded and the creators organised for visitors to the studio in Slough.
The building itself is scheduled to be demolished, so this was an opportunity not only to see the sets of Thundbirds65 but to see the original buikldings on Stirling Road.
Stirling Road, Slough
The next two hours was a fascinating look at how the episodes were made, looking at some of the sets and seeing some of the puppets, props and models.
The attention to detail by the modern producers in how they recorded these new episodes was amazing. Listening to the anecdotes of how they re-created the props, the visual effects and the images was equally fascinating.
Inside the studios
The characters
And here is the hand of a puppet
New characters,
The sets
The sets ranged from sets with models to sets sized for puppets.
Operating the puppets
Inside the head of a puppet.
Adding sound.
Lady Penelope on the ice room set, in danger from the Hood.
Thunderbird models and props
The only Thunderbirds appearing in the episodes were Thunderbirds 1,2 and 4.
Lady Penelope’s car, yacht and luggage !
There were also life-size props.
And here is the Pacific Ocean!
And scripts (optionally in the Backer Kit)
Lady Penelope’s Clothes
All designed to have an authentic 60s look.
The camera dolly
This piece of equipment has had a part to play not only in Gerry Anderson’s production but in films at Pinewood and came out of retirement (in a garage) so that the ‘jerky’ camera movement could be re-created for the new episodes.
And finally
My opportunity to sit next to a couple of my favourite characters.
Goodbye for now
This image is from the last days at the studio and shows everyone and is courtesy of Thunderbirds 1965 from one of their last posts on Kickstarter.
