Thunderbirds models

Other things

Marc J. Frattasio

Gyropedo

gyropedo
The Gyropedo was an advanced type of World Navy submarine launched torpedo featured in Atlantic Inferno. There were at least four Gyropedo models. They appear to have been made out of aircraft kit drop tanks or bombs with a new pair of diving planes attached.

USS sentinel missiles

sentinel missiles
These U.S. Navy surface to air missiles were featured in Terror in New York City The models look like they were made from modified Aurora Nike missile kits!

Target 1

target
This is the target sleeve which was towed by the large SAF aircraft featured in Trapped in the Sky. It looks like this simple model was made out of wood.

Hostile pyramid (Zombite's) dweller's missiles

missiles
These surface to air missiles were featured in The Uninvited. It looks like these simple models were turned wood with balsa wood sheet fins.

Hostile pyramid (Zombite's) dweller's monorail

missiles
This monorail vehicle was featured in The Uninvited. It looks like this simple model was made of wood.

Tracy Island monorail

missiles
Look familiar? This is nothing more than the Zombite's monorail model described above repainted and turned upside down! Many models were modified and reused from episode to episode in Thunderbirds.

Mobile homes

mobile homes
These mobile homes were featured in Desperate Intruder. The simple 1/24 scale models were made of wood with rubber wheels made for flying model aircraft.

Hover scooter

hover scooter
The International Rescue Hover Scooters were featured in Cry Wolf, City of Fire and a number of other Thunderbirds episodes. There appear to have been at least two different sized versions made, 1/24 scale for long shots and puppet sized for close up shots (as seen here). The Hover Scooters were made out of wood.

Cable car

cable car
This cable car was featured in The Cham-Cham. This highly detailed 1/24 scale model appears to have been made out of wood and metal wire. It has a sculpted plasticine figure inside.

Monorail train

monorail train
This monorail train was featured in Brink of Disaster and The Perils of Penelope. It looks like this model was made out of wood with kit parts and other bits stuck on for detail.

Aircraft hangars

hangars
These unfortunate aircraft hangars were hit by Red Arrow 1 in Edge of Impact. It looks like these structures were made out of wood. Note that the aircraft inside the hangars appear to be repainted B-58 Hustler kit based Spearhead jets from Stingray.

Monorail train station shelters

train shelters
Look familiar? These monorail train station shelters, featured in The Perils of Penelope were reworked from the Edge of Impact aircraft hangars described above. Many models were reworked and recycled from one episode to another in Thunderbirds.

Mobile camera

mobile camera
International Rescue's Mobile Camera was featured in Edge of Impact. It looks like this model was made from a wooden dowel detailed with kit parts and other bits. For example, the engines are from a B-58 Hustler kit and the landing gear leg's 'feet' appear to be from the Airfix OO scale model railroad Footbridge kit.

Sunprobe rocket gantry

sunprobe rocket gantry
The Sunprobe rocket gantry featured in Sunprobe was a complicated model which incorporated a number of kit parts (such as the Airfix OO scale model railroad Girder Bridge kit) in its construction.

Empire State Building mover

empire state building scaffolding
Look familiar? The machine used to move the Empire State Building in Terror in New York City was a rework of the Sunprobe rocket gantry which was described above.
This page published originally at the Supermarionation sfx WebSite
text ©1996 Marc J. Frattasio; not for reproduction for profit without his express permission