Thunderbirds (TV)

This original filming miniature was screen used in the 1960s marionette puppet series Thunderbirds created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.

This model miniature sand truck was used in multiple episodes of the series both as the truck used by International Rescue adversary The Hood and as the half-track, it was built by legendary special effects designer Derek Meddings (James Bond, Superman) who was responsible for much of the pioneering model miniature effects work of this period. Originally constructed as the half-track vehicle around a Vickers Vigor model tractor chassis, the tracks were later removed and replaced with wheels from model aircraft. The main body of the truck is constructed from wood with added model kit pieces, wire and other hand made detailing. The ingenious suspension system is intricately constructed to allow realistic movement of the vehicle whist travelling across rough terrain and includes two insertion points for the jetex motors used to create dust and smoke effects aswell as a piece of lead to suitably weight the rear end, it was these innovative details which contributed to the groundbreaking special effects of the series.

Used as the half-track vehicle in The Uninvited and Desperate Intruder and subsequently appearing as The Hood's truck in Martian Invasion and Cry Wolf it is the only model made in this scale. It went on to be used in Anderson's later series Joe 90, notably in Relative Danger.

The model is in untouched and original condition, some 48 years later it sadly lacks the front mudguard, roll hoop and other small details with some tyre splitting due to age, otherwise remains in excellent displayable condition and represents the most important filming miniature known to exist today from the Thunderbirds television series. The piece measures an impressive 19" in length and is approximately 10" wide.

With none of the principal Thunderbird craft believed to exist and only a handful of original Gerry Anderson filming miniatures from any series known worldwide this represents one of the rarest, most significant and important artefacts from this groundbreaking and much loved television series.