Corgi releases new toy range to celebrate Thunderbirds’ 50th birthday

Posted on 30th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

50th anniversary Thunderbirds Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Thunderbirds and here at Fanderson we have an exclusive for you!

Die-cast model makers Corgi are producing a brand new set of fantastic Thunderbirds toys to mark this special occasion (see below!), and to make things even better we’re offering you the chance to win £50 to spend at Corgi.co.uk. Simply tell us….

Which Thunderbirds character is closest to the age of 50 in the series?

Is it:

A) Lady Penelope?
B) Brains?
C) Parker?

Please email your answer along with your full name to query@fanderson.org.uk, using ‘Corgi Thunderbirds competition’ in the subject line. The closing date is noon on Wednesday 7th October.

New Thunderbirds toys from Corgi

Corgi is proud to present a new range of Thunderbirds models based on the original classic series, for both long-standing enthusiasts and a new generation of fans.

You can check out the toys below and find out more on Corgi’s website

Thunderbird 1 – standing just over 9.5cm, the model also features operational swing wings for added authenticity and play value. Along with Thunderbird 3, TB 1 features all new tooling for 2015.

Thunderbird 2 – measures over 15 cm in length with a wing span of over 10.8cm. Thunderbird 4 fits neatly inside a pod concealed within the spring loaded undercarriage.

Thunderbird 3

FAB 1 – comes complete with Lady Penelope and Parker figures, front-firing missile and rear facing rockets.

Jeremy Wilkin joins the guest list!

Posted on 29th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Fanderson is excited to announce that actor and voice artist Jeremy Wilkin has agreed to join the party at The Future is Fantastic!

Jeremy voiced Virgil Tracy in the second season of Thunderbirds and both Thunderbirds feature films, and will be joining his fellow voice artists Shane Rimmer, David Graham and Matt Zimmerman on stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the series this weekend.

Jeremy also voiced a host of characters in Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and the The Secret Services, and played Lt. Gordon Maxwell in UFO.

The full guest is list is now as follows:

Sylvia Anderson (co-creator of the Anderson series and voice artist)
Matt Zimmerman (voice of Alan Tracy – Thunderbirds)
David Graham (voice of Parker, Brains, Gordon Tracy – Thunderbirds)
Shane Rimmer (voice of Scott Tracy – Thunderbirds) and Sheila Rimmer
Jeremy Wilkin (voice of Virgil Tracy – Thunderbirds)
Brian Johnson (visual effects designer)
Alan Shubrook (Century 21 modelmaker)
Peter Hitchcock (Century 21 effects)
Keith Shackleton (Head of Merchandising)
Mike Noble (TV21/Look-In comic artist)
Mike Trim (Century 21 modelmaker)
Mary Turner (Century 21 puppeteer and puppet designer)
Roy Scammell (actor – Space:1999)
Christopher Penfold (writer and story consultant – Space:1999)
John Lee (modelmaker – Terrahawks)
Judy Preece (puppeteer – Terrahawks)
Nicholas Parsons (voice of Tex Tucker – Four Feather Falls)
Terry Adlam (creator/director – Dick Spanner)

If you haven’t yet registered for The Future is Fantastic! – don’t worry! There’s still time to register online for the whole or part of the weekend. Find out more here.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE CONVENTION PROGRAMME?

We’ve had lots of questions from fans asking about the weekend’s programme. We are holding back on this for the moment because almost all items are subject to change throughout the weekend due to guest availability and we don’t want fans planning their days in minute detail only be disappointed later when things change! However, delegates will get a full programme in the convention package when they arrive.

In the meantime, here is the essential information you need to help you start to plan your weekend at The Future is Fantastic!:

Friday 2nd October, from about 15:00 – registrations, Fanderson Sales, meeting up with old friends, screenings as soon as the room is set-up (and certainly by 18:00)
Saturday 3rd October, from 08:00 – registrations, opening ceremony (09:30), Fanderson Sales, exhibitions, workshops, screenings, interviews, presentations, merchandise dealers, meeting up with old friends
Saturday 3rd October, from 19:30 – evening entertainment including dinner for those with full weekend tickets, drinks in the bar with old friends, and making new ones
Sunday 4th October, from 08:00 – registrations, re-opening ceremony, Fanderson Sales, exhibitions, workshops, more screenings, more interviews, more presentations, merchandise dealers, closing ceremony at 17:00, saying cheerio to friends both old and new from about 17:30

Captain Scarlet soundtrack CD now on sale!

Posted on 27th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Fanderson’s eagerly awaited triple soundtrack CD of music from Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons is now available to pre-order online today!

The most comprehensive set of recordings from the series ever produced comes complete with a full-colour booklet and is presented in a special souvenir slip case. The release is limited to just 1,000 copies and is exclusive to Fanderson club members.

The CD box set will be officially premiered at The Future is Fantastic! next weekend and no copies will be available before then. However, we couldn’t prolong the wait for club members attending who wish to pre-order their copy in advance. We expect to start sending out the first orders from Thursday 8th October.

But remember, the fastest way to get your copy and to avoid the dreaded postage charge is to come along to next weekend’s convention and buy your’s in person!

PLEASE NOTE: Fanderson Sales items are only available to club members

Order your copy online now

Breaking guest news: Brian Johnson is coming to The Future is Fantastic!

Posted on 22nd September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Fanderson are excited to announce visual effects designer Brian Johnson as the latest guest to sign up for The Future is Fantastic!

As well as working on Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds, Brian contributed to many famous film productions, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. From that trio alone, it’s no surprise that he was also responsible for the special effects on Space 1999, and designing the now iconic Eagle Transporter.

Now fans will have the chance to meet and listen to him, alongside a wide range of special guests over the weekend from across the Anderson canon:

Sylvia Anderson (co-creator of the Anderson series and voice artist)
Matt Zimmerman (voice of Alan Tracy – Thunderbirds)
David Graham (voice of Parker, Brains, Gordon Tracy – Thunderbirds)
Shane Rimmer (voice of Scott Tracy – Thunderbirds) and Sheila Rimmer
Alan Shubrook (Century 21 modelmaker)
Peter Hitchcock (Century 21 effects)
Keith Shackleton ( Head of Merchandising)
Mike Noble (TV21/Look-In comic artist)
Mike Trim (Century 21 modelmaker)
Mary Turner (Century 21 puppeteer and puppet designer)
Roy Scammell (actor – Space:1999)
Christopher Penfold (writer and story consultant – Space:1999)
John Lee (modelmaker – Terrahawks)
Judy Preece (puppeteer – Terrahawks)
Nicholas Parsons (voice of Tex Tucker – Four Feather Falls)
Terry Adlam (creator/director – Dick Spanner)

If you haven’t yet registered for The Future is Fantastic! – don’t worry! There’s still time to register online for the whole or part of the weekend. Find out more here.

Keith Shackleton to attend The Future is Fantastic!

Posted on 19th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Fanderson are thrilled to confirm that Keith Shackleton will be attending The Future is Fantastic! As Head of Merchandising at first AP Films and then Century 21, Keith presided over one of the greatest British merchandising operations of the 1960s.

Now fans will have the chance to listen to his stories as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Century 21’s greatest achievement – Thunderbirds. We will also be welcoming the following special guests over the weekend:

Sylvia Anderson (co-creator of the Anderson series and voice artist)
Matt Zimmerman (voice of Alan Tracy – Thunderbirds)
David Graham (voice of Parker, Brains, Gordon Tracy – Thunderbirds)
Shane Rimmer (voice of Scott Tracy – Thunderbirds) and Sheila Rimmer
Alan Shubrook (Century 21 modelmaker)
Peter Hitchcock (Century 21 effects)
Keith Shackleton ( Head of Merchandising)
Mike Noble (TV21/Look-In comic artist)
Mike Trim (Century 21 modelmaker)
Mary Turner (Century 21 puppeteer and puppet designer)
Roy Scammell (actor – Space:1999)
Christopher Penfold (writer and story consultant – Space:1999)
John Lee (modelmaker – Terrahawks)
Judy Preece (puppeteer – Terrahawks)
Nicholas Parsons (voice of Tex Tucker – Four Feather Falls)
Terry Adlam (creator/director – Dick Spanner)

If you haven’t yet registered for The Future is Fantastic! – don’t worry! There’s still time to register online for the whole or part of the weekend. Find out more here.

Thunderbirds: A Complete Guide to the Classic Series

Posted on 9th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Panini Magazines are set to publish a lavish 116-page ‘bookazine’ celebrating the 50th anniversary of Thunderbirds. Writers include former Fanderson chairman Chris Bentley, Andersonic editor Richard Farrell and Thunderbirds author Sam Denham.

Highlights include:

A detailed guide to all 32 episodes of the classic series and the original feature films
Previously unpublished interviews with Gerry Anderson and director of photography Paddy Seale
A tribute to Derek Meddings by BAFTA-winning special effects director Mike Tucker
New interviews with voice artists David Graham, Shane Rimmer, Jeremy Wilkin and Matt Zimmerman, model-makers Alan Shubrook and Mike Trim, director David Lane and head of merchandising Keith Shackleton
A guide to 1960s Thunderbirds collectables

…and much more.

Thunderbirds: A Complete Guide to the Classic Series is edited by Marcus Hearn and designed by Mike Jones, the team behind the 50th anniversary book Thunderbirds: The Vault. “In terms of its content and scope the bookazine is very different from The Vault,” says Marcus. “The articles offer fresh perspectives on the series and we’ve uncovered some rare and previously unseen material. Fifty years is an important milestone, and it’s our aim to celebrate it in style.”

Thunderbirds: A Complete Guide to the Classic Series is available from WH Smiths and all good newsagents from 10 September, price £9.99.

Marcus and Mike will be attending Fanderson’s The Future is Fantastic convention on 3 and 4 October, where copies of the 50th anniversary publications will be available.

Space:1999’s Roy Scammell to attend The Future is Fantastic!

Posted on 6th September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Space:1999 fans will be pleased to know that actor and stunt artist Roy Scammell will be attending The Future is Fantastic on Saturday 3rd October.

Roy appeared as Jim Nordstrom in Space:1999’s opening episode, Breakaway, and went on to play monsters in the two Year Two episodes, The Bringers of Wonder Part 1 and The Dorcons.

There’s still time for you to register your tickets for the convention – Fanderson’s first full-weekend event in five years…. Will you be there?

Ticket Prices

Tickets to The Future Is Fantastic! are just £65 per person for one day, or £110 for the whole weekend. We’ve managed to keep the ticket price the same as our TV21 convention in 2010 because we’re a fan club and no-one is taking a salary from it. Note that Saturday or Sunday-only tickets do not include any refreshments that are included in the weekend ticket.

Trial Memberships

If you’re not already a Fanderson member you must apply for a trial membership with your ticket to The Future Is Fantastic! at a special trial price of just £10. The trial membership will start when you arrive at the convention and run until 31st December 2015. This will get you the latest issue of the club’s FAB magazine, membership badge, enable you to buy our merchandise at the convention at special prices, access to our full range of merchandise online, access to the members’ area of the Fanderson Forum.

Members

£110 full weekend Member includes some refreshments click here
£65 Saturday only Member click here
£65 Sunday only Member click here

…and if you have already paid a deposit:
£60 as final payment of £90 – full weekend Member click here *
£25 as final payment of £55 – Saturday only Member click here *
£25 as final payment of £55 – Sunday only Member click here *

Trial Members

£120 full weekend Trial Member includes some refreshments click here
£75 Saturday only Trial Member click here
£75 Sunday only Trial Member click here

…and if you have already paid a deposit:
£70 as final payment of £100 – full weekend Trial Member click here *
£35 as final payment of £65 – Saturday only Trial Member click here *
£35 as final payment of £65 – Sunday only Trial Member click here *

* Final payments for fans who have already paid a deposit for the early bird prices. Early bird prices have now closed. If you have yet to purchase your ticket or to pay a deposit, you must pay the full price.

You can find out more about what to expect at The Future is Fantastic! here.

ITV to release Thunderbirds 50th anniversary DVD set

Posted on 2nd September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

ITV Studios Global Entertainment has announced the release of a new classic Thunderbirds DVD set to celebrate the series’s 50th Anniversary.

The limited edition DVD set is available from 28th September and has an RRP of £39.99. Also available from the date will be the Stingray Complete Collection and Captain Scarlet Complete Collection. Details of these to follow soon! In the meantime, feast your eyes on the beautiful cover artwork for this release!

As well as all 32 episodes of the series, there’s a host of special features available, including a set of collector’s edition postcards and No Strings Attached Documentary, a documentary about the making of Thunderbirds Are Go that was presented by Reggie Yates broadcast earlier this year.

Steve Cage Terrahawks interviews to appear in best-selling crime thrillers

Posted on 1st September 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

The 2015 edition of SFX maestro Steve Cage’s best-selling crime thriller, Now The Killing Starts, includes a 25-page interview with the author about how he started his career in SFX on Terrahawks. “Part 1: Working for Gerry Anderson” includes digitally-restored, never-before-seen SFX photos from Terrahawks. Part 2 of the interview carries on in Cage’s To Kill The Queen, with more photos from his work on Terrahawks and Aliens. Book 3, due out in October, also has restored Terrahawks photos of the AS4 and the World President 1, plus many other general SFX shots.

These behind-the-scenes DVD-style extras are in direct response to readers’ desire to learn more about the author.

Please note: only the paperback editions contain the extras, NOT the Kindle versions.

The titles are available from Amazon now for all fans of Terrahawks and fast-paced action-adventure!

…And just to prove that Steve hasn’t left SFX behind altogether, the exploding lorry on the front of Book 3 is a 1/16th scale miniature which he shot! Likewise the cars on the back of Now the Killing Starts. This was the only way to get just the right look for his cover!

Marcus Hearn unlocks Thunderbirds: The Vault

Posted on 28th August 2015 by 1266 Nick Williams

Thunderbirds: The Vault

Gerry Anderson’s official biographer Marcus Hearn has released a sumptuous new Thunderbirds book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the series.

Thunderbirds: The Vault is a beautifully packaged hardback bursting with design sketches, production memos and specially commissioned photographs of original costumes, studio artefacts and vintage merchandise.

Compiled with the help of Fanderson’s own FAB Co-Editor Mike Jones, the book required unprecedented access to the ITV archive. It also draws upon numerous exclusive interviews with the people who made the show, including John Blundall, David Lane, Alan Perry, Shane Rimmer and Keith Shackleton!

Published by Ebury Publishing and released on 10th September, this book looks like it’s going to be a collector’s dream and is available to pre-order on Amazon now.

About the author

Marcus Hearn is the official biographer of Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson and author of the New York Times bestseller Doctor Who: The Vault. His other books include the award-winning The Art of Hammer, Saucy Postcards, The Avengers: A Celebration and Eight Days a Week, the story of The Beatles’ final world tour.

Marcus has written for The Times, The Guardian and The Independent, and has contributed booklet notes, audio commentaries and documentaries to nearly a hundred DVDs and Blu-rays.

He is an associate research fellow at Leicester De Montfort’s Cinema and Television History Research Centre and is the official historian of Hammer Film Productions.

A long-time supporter of Fanderson’s conventions, Marcus will be attending The Future in Fantastic! in October to sign copies of the book. Will you be there too?