Flights Of Fantasy Exhibition (Photo Heavy!!)

[Thundershot]

Hi folks,
A few pictures from this weekend's Flights Of Fantasy exhibition the event, held in R.A.F. Cosford museums Cold War hanger, generates a fantastic atmosphere seeing all these futuristic creations among real military hardware of the period they were devised & created.

The exhibition is a celebration of the life & works of Gerry Anderson's, (& his Century 21 company's) television productions & famous puppet shows of the 1960-70's :


The original Steve Zodiac, captain of Fireball XL5, puppet:


Fireball Xl5 itself (replica model):


Stingrays Cpt Troy Tempest (replica puppet):


From 'Thunderbirds' the famous Tracy Brothers (Replica puppets):


Lady Penelope & Parker:


Lady P, herself (original puppet):


Tea M'lady?:


The Thunderbirds (Replica models):










All of these replicas have been built to original studio scale & standards, sadly very few genuine props exist these days

Captain Scarlet pic's to follow...

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The main cast of Captain Scarlet:


The only replica puppet is Scarlet himself, everyone else is either %100 or features screen used parts.

A few close ups:






You may notice Captain Black's eyes look 'strange', for added realism these puppets used photographs of real peoples eyes, the photographic paper used in their manufacture has deteriorated with age.

Symphony Angel:


Angel Interceptor (original studio model):


'Clooney' here was just a guest star, featured in one episode, but just foes to show how much attention to detail was put into these characters:


Dr Fawn & Cpt Ochre, with the original artwork which features in the end credits of every episode:


The head is known as a 'under control' puppet, controlled from below the rather than from a wire above the stage, for scenes set in aircraft cockpits or where wires would of been too visible.

The Spectrum Patrol Car (not sure if it's a studio model or replica):


More to follow...

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Joe 90:


By this time the Century 21 team had perfected the art of making puppets look almost lifelike:






As Joe 90 was more of a character story driven show the series featured fewer memorable vehicles, this is still a doozy the 'Explosives Truck' (replica model)



Next: Space 1999 & Terrahawks!

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Space 1999, please bare in mind that this show was created & made in the early 70's when the year 1999 seemed a very long way off, was a big budget production with real actors & (for their time) some awesome special effects model work... in fact some of the shows model effects still hold up better than modern C.G.I. effects.

Re-creation of Moonbase Alpha's control room & original show costumes:


Pre-production artwork:


Eagle One (original production model):


Original costume:


The Hawk (replica model) was the space fighter version of the Eagle Transporter:


In the show 'universe' all of the spacecraft were of a modular based construction, which explains why many of the Alphan craft looked similer

more to follow..

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Space 1999 continued..

The Swift Spacecraft (original studio model):


(Replica) Rescue Eagle sitting on it's (illuminated) landing pad:


An Eagle's rocket engine, this is a modern model created by a fan.. as are a lot of these replica's.. & show the kind of believability of some of the space ship concepts of the show:


Terrahawks.

Zelda:




Dr 'Tiger' Ninestien


The Battlehawk (reproduction model):


Once again I'm blown away by the detailing on this, it's amazing & most of it you never really got to see clearly on screen:


One of the 'Cube's', the sinister robot soldiers of Zelda hoards(original studio model):


Moid, an agent of Zelda, who's intent on the destruction of The Terrahawks:


He still gives me the creeps..

Stay tuned to this channel!

Cheers
T'shot

[paul463]

Brilliant! Wish i could have gone! Thanks for sharing

[Thundershot]

Cheer Paul

Here's a few more...

From U.F.O.:

Sky One (Large scale studio model):


Lunar Interceptor (replica model):


An authentic recreation of a Century 21 studio's model makers workshop, showing a many of the (genuine era) plastic kits & toys used for 'kit bashing':


The large toy tank is the Tiger Joe, now a much sought after toy indeed:


From Space Precinct, the Police Cruiser (replica) with working lights:


Terrahawks Battletank (replica):


A puppet sized hand gun.. the electrical wires, which would be concealed) are for the gun shot firing/lighting effect (sounds added later) this was used in a show called The Secret Service:


Captain Scarlet's S.P.V (replica model):
(In the s

For safety reasons, (in the show) to reduce the chances of serious injury in a crash, the drivers were seated in rearward facing ejector seats .. the S.P.V. was capable of 200+ M.P.H. & had no windshields.. using T.V. cameras to see where they where going.


T'shot

[Thundershot]

In other R.A.F. Cosford news:

Works progressing on the Dornier 17 that was recovered from the seabed earlier this year.






& spotted in the art galley, I know a few members are found of the old Commando comics:



"The Mighty Machine..
Lancaster Commando comic tribute
By John Hunter GAvA"

[gung-hoeddie]

These are some of the coolest pictures I have ever seen.

[meertoh]

I think I would start crying if I visited that exhibition, overwhelmed by the nostalgia and sheer fantastical brilliance!

Thanks for sharing, Ed.