Herein is a collection of Behind the Scenes (Classic Thunderbirds) shots taken during the filming of Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds Are Go, and Thunderbird 6.
(?) represents an uncertainty - for example, when a crew member is believed to be a particular person, but the editor is not 100% that it is that person (e.g., Alan Berry(?)).
Trapped in the Sky
Ken Turner working on a large-scale police car
Derek Meddings' drawings of Fireflash. Beneath the two drawings is what looks like a design for one of the buildings at London International Airport.
Getting prepared to feature in a scene
The damage caused by the dodgy Elevator Car
Photo taken during a press visit. According to Brian Johnson, the guy on far left is an electrician, however he cannot recall his name. Speaking of Brian Johnson, he is in fact in this pic - the guy second on left is him. On far right behind camera is Jimmy Elliott. Standing behind him is Michael Wilson.
Barry Gray'S music timings
City of Fire
SFX Tech/Modelmaker?
Sun Probe
Richard Conway with an complete model of the Sun Probe
Shaun Whittacker-Cook with a model of Thunderbird 2 on the Mount Arkan set
Martian Invasion
From L - R (on ground level below planks, on which Peter Wragg is standing): Ian Wingrove, Harry Oakes, Garry Coxall
From L - R (on ground level below planks, on which Peter Wragg is standing): Derek Meddings, Harry Oakes, Garry Coxall. In case you're wondering what that shiny thing is around Coxall's head, it's a light.
The crew about to film a scene involving The Hood's all-terrain vehicle and Thunderbird 1.
L-R (excluding Peter Wragg, who is standing on the planks above): electrician (name unknown); Ian Wingrove; John Howard; unknown person; Ted Cutlack; Derek Meddings; Garry Coxall; Harry Oakes
L-R (excluding Peter Wragg, who is standing on the planks above): electrician (name unknown); Ian Wingrove; John Howard; unknown person; Ted Cutlack; Derek Meddings; Garry Coxall; Harry Oakes
Terror in New York City
Derek Meddings (second right) with the model of the Empire State Building
Meddings (right) and another crew member at work on the Empire State and its atomic gantry
Meddings is the guy closest to camera. Shaun Whittacker-Cook is the person in background admiring the work of Meddings and the SFX Tech(?) / Modelmaker(?) next to him.
End of the Road
Part of the 'hour' script
Model-maker Roger Dicken (top left) and Special Effects Directors Ian Scoones (top right) and Shaun Whittacker-Cook (second at bottom right)
Operation Crash-Dive
A page of the script
Day of Disaster
Uh-oh, approaching....
The Impostors
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Mike Trim (left) and Charlie Bryant (right) adapt vehicles that will feature in said episode
Danger the Ocean Deep
Ocean Pioneer II
Alan Perry filming the launch of Ocean Pioneer II
A slightly alternative version of previous pic
Excluding the guy on far left whose face is behind the light, L - R is as follows: Derek Meddings, Alan Perry, Bill Camp
FAB 1 / Lady Penelope / Parker
Lady Penelope, Parker, and FAB 1. This photograph was taken on the same day that Space Models delivered the Rolls-Royce to Stirling Road.
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson with Penelope
Alan Perry in foreground
"'Gator, You're Not Eating Me."
Bob Bell and Grenville Nott are second and third right respectively
Derek Meddings with a small-scale model of FAB 1
Fireflash
Bill Camp with Fireflash
Path of Destruction
Part of the script
A puppeteer(?) adjusts Sanchos
Bob Bell (left) and John Lageu (right)
A crew member helps out with the cutting of a tree. On camera is Noel Rowland
Noel Rowland on camera
Peter Aston with the Crablogger
Filming the Crablogger crashing through a wall. Noel Rowland is on camera.
Derek Meddings (left) and Noel Rowland (right)
Meddings with Crablogger
On right in foreground is Ian Scoones. In background is Ian Wingrove.
Jimmy Elliott (left) and Ian Scoones (right)
Ian Scoones (left) and Jimmy Elliott (right)
Camera crew(?) with the remains of Crablogger
Ian Wingrove (left) and Rodney Fuller (right) with the remains of the Crablogger
Ian Wingrove (left) and Rodney Fuller (right) with Crablogger
Alias Mr. Hackenbacker
Mike Trim at work on the airliner that will undergo destruction in the first few minutes of the episode
TB2 in front of the rolling sky
TB2 and Skythrust in front of the rolling sky
The Perils of Penelope
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson with Troy Tempest and Marina from the previous series Stingray on the set of The Perils of Penelope
Model-makers Mike Trim (foreground) and Roger Dicken (background)
Filming the Anderbad Express
Some props/models etc.
The Uninvited
A storyboard produced by Derek Meddings
Cry Wolf
A page of Barry Gray's music timings for the episode
David Wright makes an adjustment on the set of the Williams residence exterior
Mike Wilson hiding TB1's wires on the previously mentioned set
Thunderbirds ATV Today documentary
The model shop. Charlie Bryant in foreground on right working on a model of a house. Ray Brown is on far left. Man In Black to Bryant's right side with the left side of his body facing camera - Peter Aston(?)?
Ray Brown in foreground on right carrying a model of FAB 2 that is approximately 2½' long
Thunderbird 1
Ron Ashton with a model of TB1
An "extended" black and white version of previous pic
L - R: Derek Meddings, Brian Johnson, John Foley, Michael Wilson. Here on the set of the Tracy Island swimming pool above TB1's hangar, they get prepared for the aircraft's imminent launch
A crew member with TB1
Shaun Whittacker-Cook in background on left
Thunderbird 2
Derek Meddings (second right)
Ian Scoones effects repairs to the craft
A slightly alternative version of previous pic
TB2 leaving its hangar with at least two crew members nearby
Derek Meddings' silhouette admires TB2
SFX Tech(?) / Modelmaker(?) makes an alteration to TB2's underside
A slightly alternative version of previous pic
A slightly alternative, black and white version of previous pic
Filming TB2's launch. Alan Berry (left) and Ian Wingrove (right).
On the set of TB2's cockpit, a crew member strives to hide Virgil's strings. The silhouette of another crew member is visible in the background to the right
Harry Oakes on the previously mentioned set
Special Effects Assistants Ian Wingrove (left) and Alan Berry (right)
TB2 takeoff imminent
Filming TB2 during its taxiing to the launch ramp
Thunderbird 3
Derek Meddings' design for TB3, which at this point was - in common with the other four main Thunderbird craft, were known as Rescue 1, Rescue 2 etc... Here you can see both Rescue 3 and R3 written on the spacecraft.
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson with a large-scale model of TB3
Doug Luke (left) and Gerry Anderson (right) with a large-scale TB3
Alan Perry, anxious to film TB3 taking off
Mike Trim gets the Round House up to scratch
Derek Meddings getting the camera angle how he wants it
Alan Perry looking through camera
Alan Perry is second left on ground and Ian Wingrove is the guy on far right
On the set of the Tracy Villa during The Uninvited. According to Ian Wingrove, the guy in the photo was a scenic artist.
A crew member conceals TB3's wires
Alan Perry looking through camera
Alan Perry looking through camera
Brian Smithies at work on a model of TB3
Thunderbird 3 Launch Silo
Roger Dicken (left) and Mike Trim (right)
Thunderbird 4
Filming TB4's launch sequence
Thunderbird 5
Make it quick, guys - Gerry hates John and Thunderbird 5's (technological) guts!
Tracy Island
Move - and You're Dead
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson in foreground. In background are: Alan Pattillo (far left), Paddy Seale (leaning against wall behind Pattillo), Alan Perry (behind camera) and Ian Wingrove (behind Seale). The guy in front of Wingrove in the white shirt is a clapper loader.
30 Minutes After Noon
Brink of Disaster
Derek Meddings (second right).
Far left: Ken Turner(?) / Bill Camp(?)?
Second left: Ian Spurrier(?)?
Far right: Peter Hitchcock(?)?
Far left: Ken Turner(?) / Bill Camp(?)?
Second left: Ian Spurrier(?)?
Far right: Peter Hitchcock(?)?
Warren Grafton
Shaun Whittacker-Cook in grey top, standing by the corner of the set
Shaun Whittacker-Cook (far left)
Attack of the Alligators
Ian Wingrove believes the guy with the pipe in his mouth was a handler
L - R: Keith Wilson, John F. Brown, Plugg Shutt. A model tail is required when you need a particular scene but the alligator(s) invariably fail to understand English...
Ian Wingrove believes the guy on right was a handler. The other two are Nick Middleton and Derek Meddings (left and middle respectively).
Derek Meddings (bottom left) wafting dry ice onto the surface of the water
The Hood
The Duchess Assignment
Mike Trim's drawing for the WAF Wombat
Julien Lugrin on right. The guy on the left who isn't wearing glasses is Ian Vinson.
Director David Elliott (left) and Mary Turner (right)
Getting ready to shoot a scene on the hospital set. David Elliott is pointing on right. Next to him is Mary Turner.
Thunderbirds 1 and 2
The Cham-Cham
This pic clearly illustrates that in the close-up model of the RTL-2 hangar, only one side wall was constructed
Lady Penelope's garden
Christine Glanville (left) and Wanda Webb (right)
Alan Pattillo in green shirt and yellow tie. On the bridge above is Christine Glanville, who is fourth on right. At bottom left of pic is Julien Lugrin. The guy at bottom right in the blue top is Ian Spurrier.
Alan Pattillo (bottom, far left)
Same set with Alan Pattillo in same place as he is in previous pic
Atlantic Inferno
Brian Smithies with the road-builder
Filming the Australian road-building vehicle
Jimmy Elliott standing in the water
Ian Wingrove(?) with Seascape
The guy in background behind Seascape is Jimmy Elliott
Ian Wingrove with the Seascape diving sphere
Ian Wingrove on left. In centre, the top of Noel Rowland's head is just visible. Clapper loader(?) on right.
Seascape burns
The Man From MI.5
Peter Aston at work on FAB 2
Same people as above in the exact same order L - R - the only difference being a slightly alternative version of the above pic
Geoff Meldrum shoots the scene where Parker fires FAB 1's grille cannon
Black and white, higher res version of previous pic
Security Hazard
Scott Tracy - do not tell Chip anything about Thunderbird 1!
Ian Spurrier in foreground with a lip-sync machine
Thunderbirds Are Go
Derek Meddings' design for the Zero-X, which was previously called ZX-26 - you can see the different name on the side of its tail
"ZX-26" in Mastermodels' Feltham workshop in 1966. Although still known by that name at this particular point, as can be seen on the tail, it would later change.
Zero X
Zero X
Alan Berry (left) and Shaun Whittacker-Cook (right) with Zero X
In foreground: Ron Ashton (standing) and Derek Meddings (on planks above)
Another photo of Ron Ashton and Derek Meddings
And another photo of the two gents...
Ron Ashton with Zero X
Shaun Whittacker-Cook (far left) and Bill Camp (far right)
Shaun Whittacker-Cook with Zero X
Alan Berry(?) / Bill Camp(?) with Zero X
Bill Camp with Zero X
Alan Perry (left, behind camera). David Lane (centre in dark shirt).
The behind the scenes set-up for shooting the meeting at the Space Exploration Center
Space Exploration Center set
Alan Perry is the guy next to the camera
Bob Bell with two guitar props. Unlike the smaller one, the larger guitar is incomplete.
A crew member next to the Trans American T.V. Network buildings, which didn't make it into the final film
Mary Turner with Cliff and the band
Parker chases after the Hood
Bill Camp(?) with FAB 1
Puppeteers(?) with Cliff and The Shadows
A puppeteer(?) with Alan Tracy on a space set
David Lane in foreground with Alan Tracy
Mel Cross carries out Brain Surgery on Patient Alan...
A crew member adjusts Penelope
David Lane (left) and Ken Turner (right)
FAB 1 ain't what it seems, folks!
The eyesore credits are a bit beyond our control - sorry to you readers! To provide a reason (but in no way, shape, or form, a justification!), this behind the scenes shot appears in the credits of a small doco on a Thunderbird 6 DVD.
Brian Bennett (left) and Hank Marvin (right) on the set of the Swinging Star (space variant)
Derek Meddings visits the Shooting Star - but does that and the Head of Special Effects mix well? We will have to wait and see....
Alan Tracy's bedroom
Space backdrop
Shaun Whittacker-Cook (right) and another technician pour dry ice on the set.
A crew member adjusts some puppets on the set of the The Swinging Star (the Earth variant)
Filming outdoors. Harry Oakes and Derek Meddings are second and third on right respectively. To the right-hand side of Meddings towards the background is Roger Dicken.
Puppeteer Judith Shutt (left)
Supervising Visuual Effects Director Derek Meddings (left)
Ron Ashton (left) and Peter Wragg (right)
Preparing to film the live-action part where Alan Tracy carries out maintenance work in Zero X
Alan Berry setting out debris around the written-off Zero X
Zero X Autopsy Crew 1966. L - R (in foreground): Ron Ashton, Derek Meddings, Shaun Whittacker-Cook, Alan Berry, Peter Hitchcock. L-R (in background): Ted Cutlack, Bill Camp
A colour shot of members of the Zero X Autopsy Crew. L - R: Ron Ashton, Derek Meddings, Shaun Whittacker-Cook, Peter Hitchcock
That spacecraft is on fire - get extinguishing, lads!
David Lane - second on left. Immediately to his left on camera is Alan Perry. On far right is Robin McDonald.
Filming the end titles sequence on.... July 2nd, 1966!
David Lane is third right - the guy who is closer to the camera - not the person standing behind him
L - R (in foreground): Barry Gray, Vivian Dunn, Norman Foster
Robin McDonald holding the clapperboard on right
Not counting the guy whose head you can just see behind the guy on left with his back to the camera, Norman Foster and David Lane are second and third on right. The person to Lane's left is a marine guy.
Thunderbird 6 (film)
Derek Meddings' drawing for Skyship One
Derek Meddings' drawing for one of Brains' proposed models for the Thunderbird 6 desired by Jeff Tracy
Derek Meddings on right in background
Meddings with Skyship One
Director David Lane about to dump a body in the sea
Who's holding Brains?
Wanda Webb (right) and crew with the Tiger Moth
Wanda Webb (far left) and crew with TB6
Wanda Webb with Parker
Derek Meddings in foreground
Tony Dunsterville (second left) and Charlie Bryant (far right)
Fly, Tiger, Fly!
A puppeteer(?)
Joan Hughes in Tiger Moth. David Lane on right - he has his left hand on the plane.
David Lane and Camera Operator Peter Nash (behind camera obviously) on a van during location filming
Derek Meddings (foreground) with a model of Skyship One
Skyship One about to meet her demise. Derek Meddings is on left.
David Lane communicating with Tiger Moth pilot Joan Hughes
A crew member helps someone up the stairs
Outdoor filming with a large-scale Tiger Moth
Derek Meddings in middle
On the set of the motorway built by A.P. Films
A crew member on the previously mentioned set
A Tiger Moth model on location outdoors
Gallery
Images that can't be tied to specific episodes / feature films...
Concept art of Thunderbirds 1-4, FAB 1, and the Tracy Villa building
A craftsman at Space Models attaching the canopy to the puppet-sized variant of FAB 1
Christine Glanville (right)
Roger Dicken (left) and Mike Trim (right). Behind them are props from episodes including but not limited to Desperate Intruder and Edge of Impact.
Paddy Seale next to camera in foreground
Peter Hitchcock (in background) pushing the gantry that Scott Tracy is standing on as part of filming TB1's launch sequence
Another pic of Ray Brown
Desmond Saunders (left) and Bob Bell (right) c. 1966
Bill Camp (above on right)
Wanda Webb with Penelope and Virgil on the Tracy Villa set
Prop store containing some props used in Thunderbirds
Shaun Whittacker-Cook (right)
The Production Crew
