One great thing about these videos is they show that good as the visuals are, Barry Gray's music lifts these sequences to another level, thanks for your work putting this all together.
Of course the show was so good that no one ever saw the mistakes or noticed the slight continuity errors because we were all gripped by the stories, the action, the intrigue, the suspence and the superb work of all concerned. I've watched the show so many times and yet never saw any of the tiny things you would see if you weren't freeze framing. Damn good show, then and now.
You too? I was around 7 then and watched this show every chance I got, when I was a kid in Commack, New York. I thought it was a great show but I must confess, those puppet people cause me no end of confusion! I knew they probably couldn't be real people - and you COULD see the strings sometimes - and of course I'd seen other puppets. But THESE things were actually a bit TOO realistic! And I've sometimes wondered, since those were the first days when weed and psychedelics became prolific in America, what somebody under the influence of ditto would make of a show like "Thunderbirds"...I imagine it would be, let's say, interesting to watch their reaction -
The makers of "South Park" did a movie that fits the bill? Called "Team America"..... It was a pretty good tribute to the Thunderbirds style, but not really aimed at children? @@robertmaybeth3434
You have excelled yourselves, chaps. I had a silly grin on my face throughout this absorbing mini-documentary. How I would have loved to see this and know all about how it was done way back in 1965/66 as a nipper. The research is phenomenal, but the humour really makes it, for me. Thank you.
I could not agree more. This could so easily be a dreary succession of geeky facts but it’s brimming with geeked PLUS love, a light touch and humour in a perfect combination. Wonderful.
Wonderfully plausible, and wonderfully spoofed in Wallace & Gromit. I recently toured an automated concrete blockmaking plant, and as the moulds, concrete and batches of blocks moved along the production line, into curing rooms and were packed, it was SO reminiscent if the Thunderbird 2 launch that I wondered whether the set designers had worked in Materials Handling - or the Production Line Design Engineer had spent his childhood watching Thunderbirds.
My Dinky Thunderbird 2 broke its leg, made of very thin yellow plastic unfortunately glue in those days was not up to fixing it so It has been balancing on three for the past 60 years. Oh dear I suddenly feel very old which is probably why I am watching this.
It was genius how the Tracy brothers entered the Thunderbirds machines, being able to overcome the puppets limitations. Always looked great fun and a highlight of the series without doubt
Seriously each of these documentaries is a delight. I remember noticing Thunderbird 2 nearly clips the ramp when launching when I was a kid! Here's to 50k subs soon, 100k subs not long after!
Fantastic. Been watching Thunderbirds since it first came out and never noticed so many of the things you point out, such as the pods moving apart to allow for the wings. Great work on getting the longest take-off sequence.
I cannot possibly thank you enough for making these - they satisfy my head and my heart equally and make me laugh into the bargain. I can’t believe that, despite many rewatches over the years, that some of these things, thanks to you, I’m only noticing at the age of 66!
Been waiting for someone to compile this footage for ages. I remember the first time I saw this launch sequence like it was yesterday. Its really hard to describe how excited I was seeing her roll out of the rock face past the collapsed palm trees. It never got dull, no matter how many times I saw it. A word that is overused but entirely appropriate here..... EPIC. You lot are just brilliant. Thank so so, so much for all your continued work.
Been following you guys since you did the special episodes (came to the premiere in London - it was amazing) and you keep astonishing me with the finds. Thank you for all you do, I was having a really tough day today and this cheered me up perfectly.
Brilliant! Always wondered even as a kid all those years ago just how Virgil's passengers got to TB-2. Ant thank you for pointing out the supports holding TB-2 in place on its ramp! Something else to add if I ever get round to modelling the scene.
My absolute favorite Thunderbird ship. Loved the pods, 4 was always TB4, but the others were always a fun surprise. Also love the "bouncing" palm trees.
Thank you, love the commentary. TB2 was always my favourite. Partly coloured by my father spending a large part of his life driving trucks, partly by characteristic of getting on making things happen, it seemed to me to be the most important part of the operation, require the most skill to pilot, and was just loaded with gadgetry.
thank you SO MUCH FOR COVERING THE SOUND EFFECTS! sound design, ESPECIALLY from shows pre-1990 have interested me for years! As well as collecting them, i love finding out what libraries they where sourced from, be it old commercial LPs or inhouse stuff. There's just something about the at times, distorted nature of these sound effects, they mediums they came frop (Optically stored, Magnetic tape, LP Records) and the EQing ontop that add so much, wonder to them. the low fidelity nature of the Optical soundtrack also adds its own flare, with the noise floor, Pops as dust and whatnot pass by the optical sensor, Mishandling during development and so on. Even with my edits i tend to replicate the original noise floor, just for consistancy and period accuracy. Ive said this before, but your use of those same sound effects is one of my fav aspects of these videos, knowing you went to the lengh of practically reconstructing the sound mix for that extra step of authenticity, that many people probably overlook nor even notice, warms my heart.
Brilliant loved this documentary, I actually remember the trailer back when it started 1965 can't remember the month so I was either 4 or 5, I do remember I was gob smacked with the trailer and never missed an episode, loved every part of it. T2 was my favourite that's why i loved driving vans but never had a green one but maybe one day. I shall watch this video many times in the future so well done
When I was a child playing with my TB2 toy (much more recently than many of you I imagine, I'm only 25) I would make the engine noise with my mouth and I discovered a new way to whistle by accident because of it.
How did you know my TB2 is in my attic? We didn't have a colour TV until 1981. After years of playing with a blue dinky TB2, imagine my trauma when we sat down to watch Thunderbirds in colour, and it's GREEN!
I had (have!) the first green Dinky TB2 (and the box too!) when I was about five years old in the mid 60s. Therefore I knew TB2 was green, even though I didn't see it in glorious colour on TV until years later.
I remember TB2 nearly clipping the ramp, and the smoke going backwards, but it never occurred to me that the pods had no clearance for the wings. Still, we knew how to suspend our disbelief in those days (and 405-line TV lacked the resolution of these films).
I love watching all these videos. 'Talking Pictures' started showing the series from Episode 1, then stopped. Restarted a few weeks ago and then stopped again. Pity, my grandson (13) loves them, wires and all. John Taylor produced the albums I made back in the 1980s at their studios in Handsworth. Jean Taylor did the sleeve designs. They would sometimes reminisce about working with the Andersons, explaining how some of the sound effects were done.
I am absolutely loving these unseen and indepth videos. It os clear you have ao much knowledge about every frame of every episode. If you need an idea for a future video series, I am nerdy enough that I would love an indepth look at all the small details, reuses, and mistakes for each episode. I'm many other fans would watch too... Well, I can but hope. Thanks agains for all you do and have done to keep Supermarionation alive!
I used to think the same about the entire launch sequence for all of them, when time was critical they spent what seemed like a morning just getting to the craft and then the remainder of the lifting off but it's what we were looking forward to every week.
I love watching these short documentaries of behind the scenes of Thunderbirds for they are very interesting and I love the humour that is included in the commentary for I always have a chuckle and it brightens my day and it was interesting hearing about the the people who did the sound affects and I have only recently been wondering who did the sound affects for Thunderbirds and all the other Gerry Anderson productions for the sounds that was added to the Gerry Anderson productions was very impressive and added a lot to the visial experience but when I was a child back in the early 1970s my brother and I would sit in front of the tv to watch Thunderbirds and we would record the sounds of the ships,vehicles and explosions on to cassette tape for the sounds really intrigued us and I've still got the cassette tape but I do love these short documentaries of behind the scenes.
I never cease to marvel at the inventive lengths the effects guys went to to avoid anyone walking anywhere! I never really thought about it as a kid, just a cool way to get from A to B, now it's a lot of fun looking out for the labour saving short cuts, clever stuff, they don't make it like that anymore, sadly, sigh!
Always funny that Virgil goes through that spine busting and headache inducing slide each time and even gets dropped into his seat but then has to immediately get up to put his uniform on from chair that doesn’t look to slide back and around the big consoles. Why didn’t Jeff invest in Batpole technology!?
I still think Thunderbirds may not have been the success it was if Barry Gray hadn't composed that magnificent theme. Those first few bars still manage to tingle the spine. Looking forward to Thunderbird 3's launch. Who would have thought an everyday sofa would be so important to a rocket taking off!
Another fascinating video. I always wished there was a theme park ride where you could do the Thunderbird 2 launch and lay on the slide like Virgil. The video I'm looking forward to is the Thunderbird 4 one and explaining how poor Gordon didn't get concussion when the pod was dropped from great height into the ocean.
I would have liked a breakdown on how many times each pod was used, and which episode each was used. To even what pod craft would be inside. It would be an interesting extra to this episode.
If you like nit-picking Gerry Anderson productions (which you obviously do) you should check out UFO - my wife and I take great delight in spotting the lovely blue eye-liner sported by Ed Straker and Paul Foster in the very sharp close-ups! You don't generally spot them in the regular shots but the super high quality of the DVD spares no blushes. Love your take on my precious childhood, I will never see Thunderbirds in the same innocent light again . . .
I am enjoying these videos, you are really noticing even the smallest thing! Although you didn’t mention that Thunderbird 2 only stands on the front two legs whilst the pods go past underneath. The rear legs are just temporary supports holding the model near the rear engines, creating extra space for the pods to clear the front legs. Looking forward to the TB3 launch.
Knew most of that and loved the lot. Thanks Century 21! But, the most disappointin on was when ya stacked Thunderbird 2, brought tears to my eyes, like, still when they wrecked the Enterprise in The Search for Spock.
The more you look, the more differences you see. In the launch bay, when TB2 is raised, the foot pads of the legs are rotated 90 degrees, then rotate back to the standard position as TB2 is lowered. One thing I noticed many, many years ago, is the positional change of the hydraulic rams that push the ramp up. In the films, the ram(s) have been moved quite far back by comparison to the TV show versions.
After 38 years I've just come to the conclusion that James Cameron totally ripped the concept of TB2 for Aliens, and the loading sequence. Even down to the military sounding drums.
After a quick Google, I came across the name Steve Begg. He was heavily influenced growing up by the early Anderson shows, and eventually worked for him on Terrahawks. As a special effects technician, he worked on Aliens, and it has been confirmed the crew were influenced by Thunderbirds, Space 1999 etc.
I wondered why Virgil landed in his seat instead of just standing by it. He had to get up right away to change into his uniform. I read they never thought about him changing and hurriedly made the set of the uniform rising from the floor to insert into the edit. Great work guys I have not seen a few things you pointed out.
Been looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint. I wonder if footage of pod 2 being selected was filmed but never used. I wonder if the shot of Alan coming aboard in Vault of Death was actually filmed for another episode, as the Virgil puppet seen in that shot is a different one to the puppet seen in the rest of the episode. Regarding the insert shot of Virgil that's usually shown just after Thunderbird 2 leaves the ramp, I've noticed that towards the end of series 1 they filmed some variants where Virgil is joined by either Alan, Gordon or both. It's a pity they didn't film one for Danger at Ocean Deep showing Virgil and John. It's interesting that for Perils of Penelope, they used mostly alternate takes. Guess they wanted to put the B roll footage to use. Also noticeable in that launch sequence is that Alan and Gordon are in their uniforms when they come aboard, whereas in other episode, they're still in their casual clothes at that point. Which begs the question as to where their uniforms are stored aboard Thunderbird 2. We know that Virgil's is stored beneath the floor. Another riddle for the ages is where does the passenger lift come out in the Tracy villa. We're never shown where passengers board the lift.
I seem to remember a continuity error in 'The Perils of Penelope' with the size of the number "2" on the Thunderbird model? (I think it was that episode)?
Never seen your channel before, but UA-cam just recommended this to me. I'm SO glad it did. Just knowing that there's someone out there, who's so fanatical about Thunderbirds, that they spent the time to investigate every launch, makes the world a better place. Amazing work.
I cannot remember if it was your channel or another blog/forum where it was mentioned British Areospace (BAE/ or what preceeded that) at Bristol conducted airworthyness and flyability of the TB2 design. I think they concluded that if not inefficient it was unworkable, but impressive nonetheless
I enjoyed The Thunderbirds as a child in the 1960's. As an adult, I have to wonder where did they get all the labor to build these "secret" facilities? Were the workers all forced labor who live in isolation camps? Who makes all the fuel in secret? Is there another major petroleum refining facility that also has forced labor and is at a secret location? My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek and this is all in good fun. It's like having a space ship with no regard to gravity. LOL.
well all the T-birds were 'nuclear' powered as I recall - but yeah, I always wondered about how all that building got done. (though you could ask the same questions about Batman!!)
"Pod 2 - a bed" *_LMAO_* - seriously - I *_DID_* spit my drink over the monitor and keyboard! (invoice for cleaning will be sent to you once I receive it from my Wife). OMG - I'd never spotted the fact that TB2 couldn't have lowered onto the pods due to the wings - this was 59 years ago and my brain(s) is blown! 12:43 - The full, extended, never-before-edited-together footage of the absolute *_BEST_* designed vehicle & launch sequence in the history of TV (and the movies) - with *_THAT_* music - nerdgasm! 😎😎😎
For some reason as a kid, I always thought Virgil was sucking his thumb as he went down the chute. Also I was today years old when I noticed the arm across his chest switched from his left to his right in the closeups
its just great......maybe new updated episodes with the extra long launches and new special effects, also relaying the barry gay audio track tapes onto the films could be put together to repackage some of the stories......just a thought
CORRECTION: The models were made of wood, not fibreglass. The narrator has been shot, and we’ll have someone better in next week.
are they in a wood or fibreglass coffin ?
@ Wood. Jelutong. Stupid error to
make.
The narrator narrates, not writes...
@@gregwoolliscroft6255 The narrator does both in this case.
@@century21films28 It's a rough life in puppet land!
Watching so many Thunderbird 2s lowering onto the pods made me disturbingly happy. Nostalgia turned up to 11 😄
it’s definitely a thing - I never realised a model set existed of TB 2’s hanger. That would have been awesome as a kid
One great thing about these videos is they show that good as the visuals are, Barry Gray's music lifts these sequences to another level, thanks for your work putting this all together.
A Thunderbird 2 launch never gets old!😃
Nearly spat my tea out over the "concussion inducing" comment!!
Thunderbird 2 - always my favourite. And Virgil was my fave pilot too.
Of course the show was so good that no one ever saw the mistakes or noticed the slight continuity errors because we were all gripped by the stories, the action, the intrigue, the suspence and the superb work of all concerned.
I've watched the show so many times and yet never saw any of the tiny things you would see if you weren't freeze framing.
Damn good show, then and now.
Inside I'm 5 again and watching the series for the first time... in 1965. BRILLIANT!
You too? I was around 7 then and watched this show every chance I got, when I was a kid in Commack, New York. I thought it was a great show but I must confess, those puppet people cause me no end of confusion! I knew they probably couldn't be real people - and you COULD see the strings sometimes - and of course I'd seen other puppets. But THESE things were actually a bit TOO realistic!
And I've sometimes wondered, since those were the first days when weed and psychedelics became prolific in America, what somebody under the influence of ditto would make of a show like "Thunderbirds"...I imagine it would be, let's say, interesting to watch their reaction -
Oh! It's the same for me! Special days back then and only seeing it all in B&W to then wait for the newspaper TV21 to see it all in colour!
The makers of "South Park" did a movie that fits the bill? Called "Team America"..... It was a pretty good tribute to the Thunderbirds style, but not really aimed at children?
@@robertmaybeth3434
Appreciating the little details is like eating icecream with a tiny spoon. You know what you're about, and I like that about you.
You have excelled yourselves, chaps. I had a silly grin on my face throughout this absorbing mini-documentary. How I would have loved to see this and know all about how it was done way back in 1965/66 as a nipper. The research is phenomenal, but the humour really makes it, for me. Thank you.
I could not agree more. This could so easily be a dreary succession of geeky facts but it’s brimming with geeked PLUS love, a light touch and humour in a perfect combination. Wonderful.
More entertaining than it had any right to be, thank you.
Wonderfully plausible, and wonderfully spoofed in Wallace & Gromit. I recently toured an automated concrete blockmaking plant, and as the moulds, concrete and batches of blocks moved along the production line, into curing rooms and were packed, it was SO reminiscent if the Thunderbird 2 launch that I wondered whether the set designers had worked in Materials Handling - or the Production Line Design Engineer had spent his childhood watching Thunderbirds.
My Dinky Thunderbird 2 broke its leg, made of very thin yellow plastic unfortunately glue in those days was not up to fixing it so It has been balancing on three for the past 60 years. Oh dear I suddenly feel very old which is probably why I am watching this.
It was genius how the Tracy brothers entered the Thunderbirds machines, being able to overcome the puppets limitations. Always looked great fun and a highlight of the series without doubt
So much so that it was parodied in A Close Shave 30 years later! As a kid, I enjoyed both, so I instantly got the reference.
Thank you so much for continuing to the Thunderbirds legacy
Thank you for this. As a not so young 70 year old lifelong Thunderbirds fan, it brings back happy memories. 😃
Seriously each of these documentaries is a delight. I remember noticing Thunderbird 2 nearly clips the ramp when launching when I was a kid! Here's to 50k subs soon, 100k subs not long after!
Fantastic. Been watching Thunderbirds since it first came out and never noticed so many of the things you point out, such as the pods moving apart to allow for the wings.
Great work on getting the longest take-off sequence.
Still a wonderful thrill to watch Thunderbirds, and so lovely that ITVX has the series to watch today, as indeed I did this weekend!
Thank you so much, only waited 50 years for this exact video....
great detail on a iconic sequence great work by the lighting crew and editors.
Thankyou Thunderbirds for your fantastic series. Looking forward to seeing many more!
I cannot possibly thank you enough for making these - they satisfy my head and my heart equally and make me laugh into the bargain. I can’t believe that, despite many rewatches over the years, that some of these things, thanks to you, I’m only noticing at the age of 66!
Been waiting for someone to compile this footage for ages. I remember the first time I saw this launch sequence like it was yesterday. Its really hard to describe how excited I was seeing her roll out of the rock face past the collapsed palm trees. It never got dull, no matter how many times I saw it. A word that is overused but entirely appropriate here..... EPIC.
You lot are just brilliant. Thank so so, so much for all your continued work.
Been following you guys since you did the special episodes (came to the premiere in London - it was amazing) and you keep astonishing me with the finds. Thank you for all you do, I was having a really tough day today and this cheered me up perfectly.
Great insights into the making of Thunderbirds…really enjoying the tongue in cheek narrations too…😎
Love it, especially as Thunderbird 2 is my favourite.
Brilliant!
Always wondered even as a kid all those years ago just how Virgil's passengers got to TB-2. Ant thank you for pointing out the supports holding TB-2 in place on its ramp! Something else to add if I ever get round to modelling the scene.
My absolute favorite Thunderbird ship. Loved the pods, 4 was always TB4, but the others were always a fun surprise. Also love the "bouncing" palm trees.
Thank you, love the commentary. TB2 was always my favourite. Partly coloured by my father spending a large part of his life driving trucks, partly by characteristic of getting on making things happen, it seemed to me to be the most important part of the operation, require the most skill to pilot, and was just loaded with gadgetry.
I Like the long pod selection. It gives Virgil a chance to get his uniform on
I can just imagine the Benny Hill music playing while he nips into it.
Brilliant. The best of the launch sequences I think. Well done C21.
Thanks for this in depth look at details I totally missed until you showed us.
thank you SO MUCH FOR COVERING THE SOUND EFFECTS! sound design, ESPECIALLY from shows pre-1990 have interested me for years! As well as collecting them, i love finding out what libraries they where sourced from, be it old commercial LPs or inhouse stuff.
There's just something about the at times, distorted nature of these sound effects, they mediums they came frop (Optically stored, Magnetic tape, LP Records) and the EQing ontop that add so much, wonder to them. the low fidelity nature of the Optical soundtrack also adds its own flare, with the noise floor, Pops as dust and whatnot pass by the optical sensor, Mishandling during development and so on. Even with my edits i tend to replicate the original noise floor, just for consistancy and period accuracy.
Ive said this before, but your use of those same sound effects is one of my fav aspects of these videos, knowing you went to the lengh of practically reconstructing the sound mix for that extra step of authenticity, that many people probably overlook nor even notice, warms my heart.
Brilliant loved this documentary, I actually remember the trailer back when it started 1965 can't remember the month so I was either 4 or 5, I do remember I was gob smacked with the trailer and never missed an episode, loved every part of it. T2 was my favourite that's why i loved driving vans but never had a green one but maybe one day. I shall watch this video many times in the future so well done
Absolutely Fantastic, well done! Fantastic launching of My Favourite Thunderbird!
1:06 An Another Awesome Thunderbirds The Original Series Behind The Scenes Look Episode. Thanks Century 21 Films Buddy Amigo Dude Mate. XXxxx 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇺🇸
The Mighty Thunderbird 2 will always be my number 1 favorite science fiction craft, The Mean Green Rescue Machine.
Mind-numbingly thorough!
Brilliant video
When I was a child playing with my TB2 toy (much more recently than many of you I imagine, I'm only 25) I would make the engine noise with my mouth and I discovered a new way to whistle by accident because of it.
AHH pure gearporn before it was a thing.
Brilliant stuff.
How did you know my TB2 is in my attic?
We didn't have a colour TV until 1981. After years of playing with a blue dinky TB2, imagine my trauma when we sat down to watch Thunderbirds in colour, and it's GREEN!
I had (have!) the first green Dinky TB2 (and the box too!) when I was about five years old in the mid 60s. Therefore I knew TB2 was green, even though I didn't see it in glorious colour on TV until years later.
Watching Thunderbird 2 launch makes me happy. To geek out over this level of analysis is wonderful. Thanks
Fabulous. Watching the original colour run on LWT I could only have dreamed of such content.
I remember TB2 nearly clipping the ramp, and the smoke going backwards, but it never occurred to me that the pods had no clearance for the wings. Still, we knew how to suspend our disbelief in those days (and 405-line TV lacked the resolution of these films).
I love watching all these videos. 'Talking Pictures' started showing the series from Episode 1, then stopped. Restarted a few weeks ago and then stopped again. Pity, my grandson (13) loves them, wires and all.
John Taylor produced the albums I made back in the 1980s at their studios in Handsworth. Jean Taylor did the sleeve designs. They would sometimes reminisce about working with the Andersons, explaining how some of the sound effects were done.
I am absolutely loving these unseen and indepth videos. It os clear you have ao much knowledge about every frame of every episode. If you need an idea for a future video series, I am nerdy enough that I would love an indepth look at all the small details, reuses, and mistakes for each episode. I'm many other fans would watch too... Well, I can but hope. Thanks agains for all you do and have done to keep Supermarionation alive!
Interesting to learn about the different camera shots and set ups for this classic Thunderbirds series. Thanks.
"the indeterminate length of Virgil's chute". Quite lovely.
LMAO 🤣
Thanks guyz, thorough as alwayz... FAB 👌
Thank you, so delightful!
FAB so thanks a lot 😊
I never once noticed how long the TB2 sequence was until now. I'm unsure if I should thank you or not ;-)
Was I the only child to think what a complicated way to get in to a Thunderbird. But it was all part of the fun and happy memories
I used to think the same about the entire launch sequence for all of them, when time was critical they spent what seemed like a morning just getting to the craft and then the remainder of the lifting off but it's what we were looking forward to every week.
Never noticed that the pods magically moved apart so they are not hit by the wings when thunderbird 2 descends 😂 Ah the joys of being a child
thunderbird 2 was always my favorite
Same here too!
Pure Gold!!!
Wonderful stuff. It must have been one huge bed in pod 2.
These vids are great, keep up the good work!
I love watching these short documentaries of behind the scenes of Thunderbirds for they are very interesting and I love the humour that is included in the commentary for I always have a chuckle and it brightens my day and it was interesting hearing about the the people who did the sound affects and I have only recently been wondering who did the sound affects for Thunderbirds and all the other Gerry Anderson productions for the sounds that was added to the Gerry Anderson productions was very impressive and added a lot to the visial experience but when I was a child back in the early 1970s my brother and I would sit in front of the tv to watch Thunderbirds and we would record the sounds of the ships,vehicles and explosions on to cassette tape for the sounds really intrigued us and I've still got the cassette tape but I do love these short documentaries of behind the scenes.
I never cease to marvel at the inventive lengths the effects guys went to to avoid anyone walking anywhere! I never really thought about it as a kid, just a cool way to get from A to B, now it's a lot of fun looking out for the labour saving short cuts, clever stuff, they don't make it like that anymore, sadly, sigh!
Always funny that Virgil goes through that spine busting and headache inducing slide each time and even gets dropped into his seat but then has to immediately get up to put his uniform on from chair that doesn’t look to slide back and around the big consoles. Why didn’t Jeff invest in Batpole technology!?
Well that certainly gets a Like from me.
I still think Thunderbirds may not have been the success it was if Barry Gray hadn't composed that magnificent theme. Those first few bars still manage to tingle the spine. Looking forward to Thunderbird 3's launch. Who would have thought an everyday sofa would be so important to a rocket taking off!
Another fascinating video. I always wished there was a theme park ride where you could do the Thunderbird 2 launch and lay on the slide like Virgil. The video I'm looking forward to is the Thunderbird 4 one and explaining how poor Gordon didn't get concussion when the pod was dropped from great height into the ocean.
Enjoyed watching vintage tv series. Amazing puppets and model details growing up 60s now I am 66yrs. Managed get box set for vintage tv collection
I would have liked a breakdown on how many times each pod was used, and which episode each was used. To even what pod craft would be inside. It would be an interesting extra to this episode.
I've seen someone break this down. Just can't remember where.
Thanks for the tid bits.
Be seeing you👌🏻.
Awesome footage.
If you like nit-picking Gerry Anderson productions (which you obviously do) you should check out UFO - my wife and I take great delight in spotting the lovely blue eye-liner sported by Ed Straker and Paul Foster in the very sharp close-ups! You don't generally spot them in the regular shots but the super high quality of the DVD spares no blushes. Love your take on my precious childhood, I will never see Thunderbirds in the same innocent light again . . .
Brilliant and beautiful. Always wondered where the jet engine sounds originated
So much research Absolutely 💯 brilliant job.
I am enjoying these videos, you are really noticing even the smallest thing! Although you didn’t mention that Thunderbird 2 only stands on the front two legs whilst the pods go past underneath. The rear legs are just temporary supports holding the model near the rear engines, creating extra space for the pods to clear the front legs.
Looking forward to the TB3 launch.
OK - I was going through all the posts "liking" every one - but there's too damn many! 😇🙂
Well there’s only one comment that really applies, that was FAB😊
That's a good point, where did that passenger lift come from?!
Quality content :D sometimes you don't know you need something until someone serves it to you :D
ICONIC
I love one thing about Thunderbirds launches. How to get around having no way to 'dress' a puppet on screen. Smash cuts.
Knew most of that and loved the lot. Thanks Century 21! But, the most disappointin on was when ya stacked Thunderbird 2, brought tears to my eyes, like, still when they wrecked the Enterprise in The Search for Spock.
Brilliant
The more you look, the more differences you see. In the launch bay, when TB2 is raised, the foot pads of the legs are rotated 90 degrees, then rotate back to the standard position as TB2 is lowered. One thing I noticed many, many years ago, is the positional change of the hydraulic rams that push the ramp up. In the films, the ram(s) have been moved quite far back by comparison to the TV show versions.
After 38 years I've just come to the conclusion that James Cameron totally ripped the concept of TB2 for Aliens, and the loading sequence. Even down to the military sounding drums.
After a quick Google, I came across the name Steve Begg. He was heavily influenced growing up by the early Anderson shows, and eventually worked for him on Terrahawks.
As a special effects technician, he worked on Aliens, and it has been confirmed the crew were influenced by Thunderbirds, Space 1999 etc.
I wondered why Virgil landed in his seat instead of just standing by it. He had to get up right away to change into his uniform. I read they never thought about him changing and hurriedly made the set of the uniform rising from the floor to insert into the edit. Great work guys I have not seen a few things you pointed out.
Been looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint. I wonder if footage of pod 2 being selected was filmed but never used. I wonder if the shot of Alan coming aboard in Vault of Death was actually filmed for another episode, as the Virgil puppet seen in that shot is a different one to the puppet seen in the rest of the episode. Regarding the insert shot of Virgil that's usually shown just after Thunderbird 2 leaves the ramp, I've noticed that towards the end of series 1 they filmed some variants where Virgil is joined by either Alan, Gordon or both. It's a pity they didn't film one for Danger at Ocean Deep showing Virgil and John. It's interesting that for Perils of Penelope, they used mostly alternate takes. Guess they wanted to put the B roll footage to use. Also noticeable in that launch sequence is that Alan and Gordon are in their uniforms when they come aboard, whereas in other episode, they're still in their casual clothes at that point. Which begs the question as to where their uniforms are stored aboard Thunderbird 2. We know that Virgil's is stored beneath the floor. Another riddle for the ages is where does the passenger lift come out in the Tracy villa. We're never shown where passengers board the lift.
I seem to remember a continuity error in 'The Perils of Penelope' with the size of the number "2" on the Thunderbird model? (I think it was that episode)?
Thunderbird 2 is GO!
🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫
I always wanted Thunderbird 2. Instead, my parents bought me Penelopes car...because it had rockets! Thanks for taking me back 50-odd years or more.
I guess I'm just an anorak, because that was fascinating.
Presumably as the chute retracts, Brains (or Kyrano?) pulls Virgil’s padded sled back up on a long piece of rope.
Never seen your channel before, but UA-cam just recommended this to me.
I'm SO glad it did.
Just knowing that there's someone out there, who's so fanatical about Thunderbirds, that they spent the time to investigate every launch, makes the world a better place.
Amazing work.
Excellent
So we're not talking about the fact that Virgil's sash is the wrong way when it comes out of the floor, but the right way when we see him wear it
Or the fact he does a LOT of steering down a STRAIGHT runway...
There’s no obligation to hang clothes as you would wear them…
@@alanclarke4646 That's Brains' fault for cheaping out on the wheels.
@@alanclarke4646 Preflight flaps check or dodgy tracking. or both.
@cosybike surely the aerofoil check is done before you start moving?
I cannot remember if it was your channel or another blog/forum where it was mentioned British Areospace (BAE/ or what preceeded that) at Bristol conducted airworthyness and flyability of the TB2 design. I think they concluded that if not inefficient it was unworkable, but impressive nonetheless
I enjoyed The Thunderbirds as a child in the 1960's. As an adult, I have to wonder where did they get all the labor to build these "secret" facilities? Were the workers all forced labor who live in isolation camps? Who makes all the fuel in secret? Is there another major petroleum refining facility that also has forced labor and is at a secret location? My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek and this is all in good fun. It's like having a space ship with no regard to gravity. LOL.
well all the T-birds were 'nuclear' powered as I recall - but yeah, I always wondered about how all that building got done. (though you could ask the same questions about Batman!!)
"Pod 2 - a bed" *_LMAO_* - seriously - I *_DID_* spit my drink over the monitor and keyboard! (invoice for cleaning will be sent to you once I receive it from my Wife).
OMG - I'd never spotted the fact that TB2 couldn't have lowered onto the pods due to the wings - this was 59 years ago and my brain(s) is blown!
12:43 - The full, extended, never-before-edited-together footage of the absolute *_BEST_* designed vehicle & launch sequence in the history of TV (and the movies) - with *_THAT_* music - nerdgasm! 😎😎😎
Love your comments! 🤣
Never realised the pods were spaced too closely to lower the craft. Childhood ruined!
I hope you'll find the deleted scenes from Thunderbirds Are Go: The Movie soon
For some reason as a kid, I always thought Virgil was sucking his thumb as he went down the chute.
Also I was today years old when I noticed the arm across his chest switched from his left to his right in the closeups
its just great......maybe new updated episodes with the extra long launches and new special effects, also relaying the barry gay audio track tapes onto the films could be put together to repackage some of the stories......just a thought
You mean tamper with the original episodes???
Virgil was named after my favourite astronaut so I simply had to have TB2 as my favourite!