Thunderbirds merchandise

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of tie-in merchandise and non-televisual media associated with Thunderbirds, a British science-fiction series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, filmed by their production company AP Films between 1964 and 1966, and distributed by ITC Entertainment. Since the series' first appearance in the 1960s, more than 3,000 Thunderbirds tie-in products  including children's toys, print media and audio episodes  have been marketed.[1]

Books

Between 1966 and 1967, eight original Thunderbirds novels were written by John William Jennison (four under the pseudonym "John Theydon") and Kevin McGarry;[2] three focus on the character of Lady Penelope. In 1992, Corgi Books published four children's novelisations, all written by Dave Morris. In 2008, Minnesota-based FTL Publications, in association with Diamond Comic Distributors, launched a new series of original novels written by Joan Marie Verba with artwork by Steve Kyte.[3] Verba had attempted to obtain the licence as early as 2004, while Carlton Television was in the process of merging with ITV Granada.[3] After waiting several months, she contacted Granada, and after three years of discussions FTL Publications was finally granted the licence in 2007.[3] It was the first licence for Thunderbirds titles to be given to an American publisher, and the books constitute the first new, official series of Thunderbirds novels to be written since the 1960s.[4] Countdown To Action, published in June 2008, reveals the founding of International Rescue, exploring the establishment of the organisation and the construction of its machines.[3] The other books highlight the individual Tracy brothers, as well as Brains.[3]

Thunderbirds novels and novelisations:

Year Title Writer Publisher ISBN Notes
1966 Thunderbirds "John Theydon"
(John W. Jennison)
Armada Books Unknown
1966 Calling Thunderbirds "John Theydon" Armada Books Unknown
  • Lady Penelope and her cousin are kidnapped by a Peruvian explorer and the Hood, who are both seeking to recover ancient Inca treasure.
  • Re-printed as Thunderbirds 2: Calling Thunderbirds in 1990 (Titan Books, ISBN 978-1-85286-161-2).[5]
1966 Thunderbirds: Operation Asteroids John W. Jennison World Distributors Unknown A rescue mission to the Moon is hi-jacked by the Hood; he returns to Earth in Thunderbird 3, holding Lady Penelope, Brains and Tin-Tin hostage and plotting to attack major cities from orbit with nuclear devices.[5][6]
1966 Thunderbirds: Lost World John W. Jennison World Distributors Unknown On New Guinea, Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Tin-Tin are abducted by descendants of a lost but scientifically advanced tribe allied with the Hood, who intends to wreak havoc with the natives' anti-gravity technology.[6][7]
1966 Lady Penelope: Cool for Danger Kevin McGarry World Distributors Unknown Lady Penelope and Parker are embroiled in the initial stages of a coup d'état in the European state of Revonia, in part triggered by Penelope's arch-enemy Mr Steelman's desire for world domination.[7][8]
1966 Lady Penelope: A Gallery of Thieves Kevin McGarry World Distributors Unknown Mr Steelman's latest scheme is to hold the galleries of the world to ransom by stealing unique works of art and replacing them with counterfeits.[8]
1966 Thunderbirds: Ring of Fire "John Theydon" Armada Books Unknown Following a rescue at a disintegrating nuclear power station, Thunderbird 1 is caught in a volcanic eruption; the nuclear explosion has furthermore opened a fissure in the Earth's crust, threatening widespread destruction.[9]
1966 Thunderbirds Are Go Angus P. Allan Armada Books Unknown Novelisation of the film Thunderbirds Are Go (1966)[10]
1967 Lady Penelope: The Albanian Affair "John Theydon" Armada Books
Century 21 Publishing
Unknown Lady Penelope's mission to pursue a reporter who has photographed the Thunderbirds machines is complicated by the involvement of a criminal organisation intent on selling the images to a rogue Balkan state.[11]
1992 Sun Probe Dave Morris Young Corgi ISBN 978-0-552-52765-1 Novelisation of the TV episode "Sun Probe" (1965)
1992 The Uninvited Dave Morris Young Corgi ISBN 978-0-552-52763-7 Novelisation of the TV episode "The Uninvited" (1965)
1992 Brink of Disaster Dave Morris Young Corgi ISBN 978-0-552-52764-4 Novelisation of the TV episode "Brink of Disaster" (1965)
1992 Atlantic Inferno Dave Morris Young Corgi ISBN 978-0-552-52766-8 Novelisation of the TV episode "Atlantic Inferno" (1966)
2008 Countdown To Action! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-8-9653575-7-9
  • The story of the origins of International Rescue.
  • Central character: Jeff Tracy.
2008 Action Alert! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-0-9653575-8-6 Central character: Scott Tracy
2009 Deadly Danger! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-0-9653575-9-3 Central character: Virgil Tracy
2010 Situation: Critical! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-0-9825232-2-3 Central character: John Tracy
2011 Extreme Hazard! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-1-936881-01-7 Central character: Gordon Tracy
2012 Danger Zone! Joan Marie Verba FTL Publications ISBN 978-1-936881-08-6 Central character: Alan Tracy
2012 Arctic Adventure Anthony Taylor FTL Publications ISBN 978-0-9825232-5-4 Central character: Brains

Comics

A comic strip featuring the characters of Lady Penelope and Parker, set prior to their joining International Rescue, debuted in the first weekly issues of AP Films Publishing's children's title TV Century 21 in early 1965, several months prior to the first broadcast of "Trapped in the Sky".[12] A full-length "Thunderbirds" strip debuted in the comic's 51st issue, published in January 1966.[13] Originally written by editor and Thunderbirds TV scriptwriter Alan Fennell, this mostly replaced the "Lady Penelope" strip, which moved to a sister comic of the same name.[12][14] The "Thunderbirds" strip, illustrated by Frank Bellamy, was the centrepiece of TV Century 21 (re-branded TV 21 in January 1968)[13] for 186 issues and 30 serials, until October 1969.[12] At their peak, combined weekly sales of TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope in the 1960s numbered 1.3 million.[13] In 1966, Thunderbirds featured as a strip in the Daily Mail.[15]

A Thunderbirds Annual was published by Century 21 Publishing from 1966 to 1968, and a Lady Penelope version until 1969.[16] Thunderbirds also appeared in the parent TV Century 21/TV 21 annual until 1969; the same year, a joint Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds annual was released.[16] Starting in October 1991, the Bellamy-illustrated strips, as well as some that had first appeared in Lady Penelope, were re-printed in Fleetway Publications' fortnightly Thunderbirds: The Comic.[14][17] Again edited by Fennell, this new title had a 30-month publication run and achieved peak sales of 100,000 copies.[17] Re-prints had previously appeared in Polystyle Publications's Countdown (briefly titled TV Action + Countdown) and Thunderbirds Holiday Special series in the 1970s and 1980s.[12] In 1992, Ravette Books re-printed 13 strips in a graphic album series.[12]

Home video

In the 1980s and 1990s, there were a number of Thunderbirds VHS releases by PolyGram and its subsidiary, Channel 5 Video. Due to rights concerns, not all episodes were released un-edited; some were issued in the "Super Space Theater" format, whereby thematically-similar episodes had been paired off as double-length compilation films for US broadcast syndication. The compilations were: Thunderbirds to the Rescue (combining "Trapped in the Sky" and "Operation Crash-Dive"), Thunderbirds in Outer Space ("Sun Probe" and "Ricochet") and Countdown to Disaster ("Terror in New York City" and "Atlantic Inferno"). Videos started with a brief introduction by Parker, informing the viewer of other Gerry Anderson video releases. Volume 12 contained a selection of Lyons Maid advertisements featuring characters from the Anderson productions, and Volume 14 a "Making of Thunderbirds" featurette.

On its acquisition of the brand in 1999, Carlton International Media commenced work on re-mastering Thunderbirds for the first Region 2 DVD releases.[1] Dolby 5.1 surround sound was added, and the existing picture and mono sound cleaned up with the aid of digital restoration and noise reduction technology.[1] The original soundtrack was enhanced with new sound effects and background foley (mainly explosions, aircraft and other mechanical noise, and vocal echo) at appropriate points.[1] Anderson, who had received no royalties from the series' distribution since relinquishing his rights in the 1970s,[18] was hired as re-mastering consultant.

Region 1 DVDs were released by North American distributor A&E Home Video in 2001, with a "Complete Series" box set following in 2002; it was re-released in slim packaging in 2008. The same year, Thunderbirds was released, both in instalments and as a box set, on Blu-ray Disc:[19] the region-free version distributed in Region B presents episodes in a vertically panned and scanned, 16:9 aspect ratio. A Japanese Blu-ray set, released by Geneon Universal in 2013, restores the original 4:3 picture.

Thunderbirds UK home video releases (the following is not an exhaustive list):

Title Format Region
(Non-VHS only)
Release Year No. of Discs
(Non-VHS only)
Picture Format Special Features
Countdown to Disaster VHS N/A 1986 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds in Outer Space VHS N/A 1986 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds to the Rescue VHS N/A 1986 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 1 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2 (DVD)
B (Blu-ray)
2000 (VHS/DVD)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • Characters FAB Fact File
  • Quiz with behind-the-scenes extra
Thunderbirds  Volume 2 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
B
2000 (VHS/DVD)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • Machines FAB Fact File
  • "Vehicles" featurette
Thunderbirds  Volume 3 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
B
2000 (VHS/DVD)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

Thunderbirds  Volume 4 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
B
1986 (VHS)
2000 (VHS/DVD)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

Thunderbirds  Volume 5 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
B
1987 (VHS)
2000 (DVD)
2001 (VHS)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • TV Century 21 Records and Mini Albums FAB Fact File
  • Making-of featurette
Thunderbirds  Volume 6 VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
B
1987 (VHS)
2000 (DVD)
2001 (VHS)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • TV Century 21 Comics FAB Fact File
  • TV advertisements
Thunderbirds  Volume 7 VHS
DVD
2 1987 (VHS)
2000 (DVD)
2001 (VHS)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • Novels FAB Fact File
  • TV advertisements
Thunderbirds  Volume 8 VHS
DVD
2 1987 (VHS)
2000 (DVD)
2001 (VHS)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
1 4:3

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • Production Crew FAB Fact File
  • "Secrets" featurette
Thunderbirds  The Complete Series VHS
DVD
Blu-ray
2
Free
2000 (VHS/DVD)
2004 (DVD re-issue)
2005 (DVD 40th-anniversary re-issue)
2008 (Blu-ray)
9 (DVD)
6 (Blu-ray)
4:3 (VHS/DVD)
16:9 (Blu-ray)

(DVD/Blu-ray only)

  • "The Thunderbirds Companion"
  • FAB Fact Files
  • Printable CD-ROM cross-sections
  • Featurettes, original artwork and memorabilia, TV advertisements
The Brains Behind Thunderbirds VHS N/A 2000 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 9 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 10 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 11 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 12 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3

(PolyGram/Channel 5 release only)

Thunderbirds  Volume 13 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 14 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3

(PolyGram/Channel 5 release only)

  • "Making of Thunderbirds featurette
Thunderbirds  Volume 15 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds  Volume 16 VHS N/A 2001 N/A 4:3 N/A
Thunderbirds: 40th Anniversary  Episodes 1-3 UMD Unknown 2006 1 Unknown Unknown

Music

The first Thunderbirds-exclusive music record was the mini-album Great Themes from Thunderbirds (MA 116; originally titled Requested Themes from Thunderbirds),[20] published by Century 21 Records in 1967.[21] Two soundtrack albums were released by Silva Screen Records, to favourable reviews on the AllMusic website and by Uncut magazine,[22][23][24][25] in 2003 and 2004.[26] A 40th-anniversary release  The Best of Thunderbirds, a double album featuring music from the first two CDs in addition to three previously un-released tracks and exclusive CD-ROM content[27][28]  was released in 2005.[29][30]

Thunderbirds soundtrack releases:
Great Themes from Thunderbirds
EP by Barry Gray
Released January 1967[21]
Recorded 1 September 1966
Pye Studios, London[20]
Genre Television soundtrack
Language English
Label Century 21 Records[21]
Century 21 Records chronology

Topo Gigio in London
(MA 115)
[1967][20]
Great Themes from Thunderbirds
(MA 116)
Space Age Nursery Rhymes
(MA 117)
[1967][20]
All songs written and composed by Barry Gray. 
Side 1
No. TitleNotes Length
1. "That Dangerous Game"  From "The Cham-Cham" Unknown
2. "Joie de Vivre"  From "The Perils of Penelope" Unknown
3. "Let's Play Ad-Lib"  From "The Cham-Cham" Unknown
Side 2
No. TitleNotes Length
1. "The Man From MI.5"  From "The Man From MI.5" Unknown
2. "San Martino"  From "Path of Destruction" Unknown
3. "Jeremiah"  From "The Impostors" Unknown




Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)
Volume 1[23][31]
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released 24 February 2003 (UK)[26]
25 March 2003 (US)[22]
Recorded 8 December 1964 
10 February 1967[32]
Genre Television soundtrack
Length 1:01:25
Language English
Label Silva Screen Records
Producer Tim Mallett and Ralph Titterton
Barry Gray chronology

No Strings Attached: Themes from ATV Television Series
(Original Television Soundtrack)

[2002][22]
Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)
Volume 1
Captain Scarlet
(Original Television Soundtrack)

[2003][22]
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic website [22]
Uncut magazine [23]
No. TitleNotes Length
1. "Main Titles"  Stock track 1:36
2. "Sun Probe"  From "Sun Probe" 2:05
3. "Tracy Island and International Rescue"  Stock track 1:10
4. "Monorail to Disaster"  From "The Perils of Penelope" 2:10
5. "Thunderbirds Are Go!"  Stock track 4:28
6. "Dangerous Game  Latin Rhythm Instrumental"  From "The Cham-Cham" 2:08
7. "Suite from 'Vault of Death'"  From "Vault of Death" 8:47
8. "The Man From MI.5"  From "The Man From MI.5" 4:28
9. "Suite from 'Desperate Intruder'"  From "Desperate Intruder" 7:27
10. "Commercial Break"  (With stings and music to Thunderbirds-themed Lyons Maid advertisements) 2:46
11. "Dangerous Game" (Lyrical)From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope). 1:51
12. "Let's Play Ad-Lib"  From "The Cham-Cham" 2:20
13. "Lady Penelope on the Move/Suite from 'Pit of Peril'"  From Thunderbirds Are Go (1st part) 1:37
14. "The Fate of the Sidewinder"  From "Pit of Peril" 2:01
15. "Pit of Peril"  From "Pit of Peril" 2:49
16. "Rescue!"  From "Pit of Peril" 2:04
17. "Jeremiah and Lady Penelope"  From "The Impostors" 2:06
18. "Deadly Plot  The Hood and the Fireflash"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 4:09
19. "Fireflash Landing"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 1:15
20. "FAB 1 Pursuit"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 1:00
21. "The Tracy Lounge Piano"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 2:00
22. "End Titles"  Stock track 1:09


Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)
Volume 2[25][33]
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released 10 August 2004 (US)[24]
Recorded 8 December 1964 
6 November 1965[24][34]
Genre Television soundtrack
Length 1:00:05
Language English
Label Silva Screen Records
Producer Tim Mallett and Ralph Titterton
Barry Gray chronology

Captain Scarlet
(Original Television Soundtrack)

[2003][24]
Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 2
The Best of Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)

[2006][24]
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic website [24]
Starburst magazine [25]
Uncut magazine [25]


No. TitleNotes Length
1. "Main Titles"  Stock track 1:25
2. "Danger At Ocean Deep"  Suite from "Danger At Ocean Deep" 2:17
3. "Spoke City Jazz"  From "30 Minutes After Noon" 1:39
4. "Easy Listening Radio Music"  From "30 Minutes After Noon" 1:17
5. "Drama on the South East Asia Pass"  From "End of the Road" 5:22
6. "Taking a Desperate Chance"  From "End of the Road" 3:25
7. "Thunderbirds To The Rescue"  From "End of the Road" 2:40
8. "Penelope in France"  From "The Perils of Penelope", "The Duchess Assignment" and "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker" 4:02
9. "Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger"  From "The Perils of Penelope" and "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker" 2:52
10. "Dangerous Game" (Lyrical)From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Jack Clegg 1:39
11. "Century 21 March"  Stock track 2:01
12. "Space Observatory 3 Space FX"  From "The Impostors" 2:02
13. "San Martino"  From "Path of Destruction" 2:47
14. "The Noon Day Sun"  From "Move  And You're Dead" 1:15
15. "New York City Lights"  From "The Duchess Assignment" 0:56
16. "The Duchess"  From "The Duchess Assignment" 0:35
17. "World Exclusive Foiled!"  From "Terror in New York City" 1:38
18. "Moving the Empire State Building"  From "Terror in New York City" 3:31
19. "The Rescue of Ned Cook"  From "Terror in New York City" 2:33
20. "Dangerous Game" (Piano)From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Barry Gray 2:08
21. "Lady Penelope and the Mouse"  From "The Mighty Atom" 1:11
22. "Journey of the Martian Space Probe"  From "Day of Disaster" 1:32
23. "Coralville Surprise/The Bank Job"  From "Give or Take a Million" 3:41
24. "Christmas on Tracy Island"  From "Give or Take a Million" 4:01
25. "Sleepy Time"  From "Security Hazard" 0:46
26. "End Titles"  Stock track 1:07
27. "Flying High" (Bonus track)Un-used, lyrical end titles theme. Performed by Gary Miller. 1:25
The Best of Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)[28][29]
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released 2005 (UK)[30]
7 February 2006 (US)[27]
Genre Television soundtrack
Length 1:33:32
Language English
Label Silva Screen Records
Century 21 Records chronology

Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 2

[2004][27]
The Best of Thunderbirds
(Original Television Soundtrack)
Joe 90
(Original Television Soundtrack)

[2006][27]
Disc 1
No. TitleNotes Length
1. "Main Titles"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 1:31
2. "Deadly Plot  The Hood and the Fireflash"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 3:45
3. "Thunderbirds Are Go!"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 4:26
4. "Fireflash Landing"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 1:14
5. "FAB 1 Pursuit"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 0:59
6. "The Tracy Lounge Piano"  From "Trapped in the Sky" 1:58
7. "World Exclusive Foiled!"  From "Terror in New York City" 1:38
8. "Moving the Empire State Building"  From "Terror in New York City" 3:32
9. "The Rescue of Ned Cook"  From "Terror in New York City" 2:33
10. "Spoke City Jazz"  From "30 Minutes After Noon" 1:39
11. "Easy Listening Radio Music"  From "30 Minutes After Noon" 1:17
12. "Suite from 'Desperate Intruder'"  From "Desperate Intruder" 7:29
13. "Jeremiah's Theme" (Alternative)From "The Impostors" 2:02
14. "Martian Space Probe"  From "Day of Disaster" 1:32
15. "Stand By For Lift Off"  From "Sun Probe" 1:59
16. "Penelope in France"  From "The Perils of Penelope" 4:04
17. "San Martino" (Stereo)From "Path of Destruction" 2:48
18. "Drama on the South East Asia Pass"  From "End of the Road" 5:22
19. "Taking A Desperate Chance"  From "End of the Road" 3:25
20. "Thunderbirds to the Rescue"  From "End of the Road" 2:39
21. "Jazz Atlantica"  From "Atlantic Inferno" 1:01
22. "Suite from 'Vault of Death'" (Edited)From "Vault of Death" 5:28
23. "The Red Arrow"  From "Edge of Impact" 3:18
24. "The Voyage of Ocean Pioneer 1"  From "Danger At Ocean Deep" 2:17
25. "Espionage on the French Riviera" (Edited)From "The Man From MI.5" 2:49
26. "The Fate of the Sidewinder"  From "Pit of Peril" 2:00
27. "Pit of Peril"  From "Pit of Peril" 2:49
28. "Rescue!"  From "Pit of Peril" 1:58
29. "End Titles" (Revised)From "Pit of Peril" 1:25
Disc 2
No. TitleNotes Length
1. "Parker"  Originally included in Lady Penelope Themes (Century 21 Records, EP, MA 111, 1966).
Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope).
3:16
2. "Lady Penelope"  Originally included in Lady Penelope Themes.
Performed by David Graham (as Parker).
2:58
3. "Dangerous Game" (Lyrical, stereo)From "The Cham-Cham".
Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope).
3:53
4. "Let's Play Ad-Lib" (Stereo)  2:56
5. "The Abominable Snowman"  From audio episode F.A.B. (Century 21 Records, EP, MA 107, 1966).
Performed by Sylvia Anderson and David Graham (as Lady Penelope and Parker).
1:32

Toys

When Thunderbirds was first broadcast, AP Films Merchandising awarded licences to companies such as Matchbox and Dinky to manufacture plastic and die-cast metal Thunderbirds vehicle toys.[35] The subsidiary issued approximately 120 such licences,[35] even buying a company (J. Rosenthal) to keep up with demand.[36][37] Among the first items released by Dinky were a blue (rather than green) Thunderbird 2 and a six-inch-long (15 cm) FAB 1,[38][39] of which more than two million were manufactured.[40] By 1966, British commentators had dubbed the end-of-year shopping season "Thunderbirds Christmas" in the light of the series' popularity.[41] Themed birthday cards for children, for ages 6 to 10, were available in Australia in the mid-1960s.

Scale, toy model of a tropical island, with stationary, futuristic air- and spacecraft and "Thunderbirds" title
Matchbox Thunderbirds TV advertisement featuring its Tracy Island toy, which experienced high consumer demand in the UK in the early 1990s when BBC Two repeated the series

Japanese model kits of the vehicles continued to be marketed into the 1980s.[42] In the early 1990s, Matchbox launched a new range of toys to coincide with the BBC's Thunderbirds revival.[43] Despite poor sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas 1991, when demand overwhelmed supply, by the following December the series had provided manufacturers and retailers with the most successful British tie-in merchandising campaign since Star Wars.[14][43][44] Matchbox's Tracy Island playset quickly became the UK's most sought-after toy, resulting in stock shortages, fights between customers in shops,[45] and a rising black market surrounding the item;[43] the story was reported in the national press.[42][46]

The 1991 Matchbox range included:

  • Tracy Island Electronic Playset  with electronic sounds and moveable palm trees, swimming pool and Thunderbird 2 launch pad. So rare was the item in the run-up to Christmas 1991 in the UK, that the shortage was reported on BBC News.[47]
  • Electronic Thunderbird 1  with mechanised opening wings, electronic firing light and sound
  • Electronic Thunderbird 2  holds two action figures, and with electronic sounds and miniature Thunderbird 4
  • Die-cast Thunderbirds 14 and FAB 1  available separately, as a rescue pack, or in commemorative packaging (Radio Times exclusive)
  • Pullback-action Thunderbirds 1, 2 and 4
  • Thunderbird 2 Pod Vehicles  Mole, Firefly and Recovery Vehicle; all compatible with electronic Thunderbird 2
  • Action figures  Tracy brothers, Jeff Tracy, Brains, Hood, Lady Penelope and Parker (Alan initially with cream sash, later white)
  • 10-inch dolls  Tracy brothers

Following the success of the Thunderbirds repeats and merchandise, the BBC scheduled Stingray for repeats, for which Matchbox again issued a small line. In 1993, the children's programme Blue Peter broadcast a "making-of" showing viewers how to build a Tracy Island of their own using  as descrived by the show's publicity  "old newspaper, pipe cleaners, yoghurt pots, cereal packets and bits of sponge".[42][48] So high was demand for a free instruction sheet detailing the process that the BBC was forced to withdraw its giveaway offer and release Anthea Turner's demonstration, Blue Peter Makes a Thunderbirds Tracy Island, on home video.[48] When the BBC repeated Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons in the early 2000s, the Thunderbirds toy licence was re-issued to Vivid Imaginations, who later produced a similar range of Thunderbirds products for the series' second BBC revival in 2000.[49]

Scale, toy model of a tropical island, with stationary, futuristic air- and spacecraft and "Thunderbirds" and "Carlton" titles
Vivid Imaginations' Tracy Island electronic playset TV advertisement

The 2000 Vivid Imaginations range included:

  • Tracy Island Soundtech Electronic Playset  similar to Matchbox design, capable of holding Thunderbirds vehicles, and with 12 sounds
  • Tracy Island Powertech Transforming Playset  miniature containing vehicle hangar interiors with various sounds and features
  • Action Adventure Set  to scale with Thunderbird 2 playset, featuring Mole, Firefly, Hood's submarine (from episode "Desperate Intruder") and six figures
  • Thunderbirds 14 Soundtech Electronic Playsets  with miniature figures and sounds
  • Thunderbirds 1 and 4, FAB 1 and Mole  available separately or together, made of plastic and larger than Matchbox's
  • Thunderbird 5  withdrawn due to unsuitable electronic sounds, later re-issued but no longer capable of docking with Thunderbird 3
  • Action figures and dolls

A limited-edition Thunderbird 2 by Virgin Group was also available, albeit in red as opposed to green. Some items from the Vivid Imaginations collection were re-released in different packaging for the series' 40th anniversary in 2005, with the Tracy Island playset being advertised as having "new, interactive launch stations".

Bandai manufactured toys to coincide with the release of the live-action film in 2004, and fellow Japanese companies Aoshima, Konami and Takara continue to manufacture Thunderbirds toys today from the original schematics  for example, Takara's Thunderbird 2 (with functioning lights and landing struts). Vivid Imaginations will market a line for the series' 2015 re-make.[49]

Video games

In 1985, a Thunderbirds video game was released for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum; in the game, the player was required to explore an Egyptian-styled labyrinth using Thunderbird 1 and Thunderbird 2. In 1989, Grandslam Entertainment released a title for the Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MSX and ZX Spectrum;[50] Activision released a NES version the following year.[51] In 1993, a title by Super Famicom, subtitled Kokusou Kyuujotai Shutsudou Seyo!, was released in Japan only. SCi Games published a Game Boy Color title in 2000.[52] The following year, it released a collection of Microsoft Windows themes and screensavers titled "F.A.B Action Pack",[53] as well as Thunderbirds: International Rescue for Game Boy Advance.[54] In 2004, a second Game Boy Advance title was released by Vivendi Universal Games.[55] A new Thunderbirds video game was released in Europe for the PlayStation 2 in July 2007;[56] the North American release was cancelled.[57]

See also

  • List of Thunderbirds episodes#Audio episodes

References

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bentley 2008, p. 117.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Bentley 2005, p. 109.
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Bibliography

  • Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-53481-5. 
  • Bentley, Chris (2005) [2000]. The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2 ed.). London: Carlton Books. ISBN 978-1-84442-454-2. 
  • Bentley, Chris (2008) [2001]. The Complete Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Episode Guide (4 ed.). London: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 978-1-905287-74-1. 

External links

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