Thunderbirds

TV, Movie, Comic & Character

Thunderbirds is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. It was made between 1964 and 1966 using a form of electronic marionette puppetry (dubbed "Supermarionation") combined with scale model special effects sequences. Two series, totalling thirty-two 50-minute episodes, were filmed.

Set between 2065 and 2067, Thunderbirds follows the exploits of the Tracy family, headed by American industrialist and ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff is a widower with five adult sons: Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. The Tracys make up International Rescue, a secret organisation founded to save human life. They are aided in this mission by technologically-advanced land, sea, air and space vehicles that are called into service when conventional rescue methods prove ineffective. The most important of these vehicles are the five "Thunderbird machines", each assigned to one of the five Tracy brothers:

Thunderbird 1: a blue and silver hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and danger zone reconnaissance. Piloted by Scott, rescue co-ordinator.

Thunderbird 2: a green supersonic carrier aircraft that transports supporting rescue vehicles and equipment in detachable capsules called "pods". Piloted by Virgil.

Thunderbird 3: a red single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft. Piloted alternately by Alan and John, with Scott as co-pilot.

Thunderbird 4: a utility yellow submersible. Piloted by Gordon and usually launched from Thunderbird 2.

Thunderbird 5: a grey and gold space station that relays distress calls from around the world. Manned alternately by "space monitors" John and Alan.

The family live on Tracy Island, International Rescue's base of operations in the South Pacific Ocean, in a luxurious villa that they share with four others: Jeff's mother, Grandma Tracy; the bespectacled scientist and engineer Brains, who designed the Thunderbirds machines; Brains' assistant Tin-Tin, who is also Alan's girlfriend; and Tin-Tin's father Kyrano, the Tracys' retainer. In this remote location, International Rescue is safe from criminals and spies who envy its technology and aim to acquire the secrets of the Thunderbird machines.

For missions requiring espionage, the organisation incorporates a network of undercover agents headed by English aristocrat Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her butler Aloysius Parker. Based at Creighton-Ward Mansion in Kent, Penelope and Parker travel in FAB 1, a specially-modified Rolls-Royce.

International Rescue's most persistent opponent is master criminal the Hood Based in a temple in the Malaysian jungle and possessing powers of hypnosis and dark magic, the Hood exerts a telepathic control over Kyrano, his estranged half-brother, and manipulates the Tracys into rescues that unfold according to his own malevolent designs. This gives him opportunities to spy on the Thunderbird machines and, by selling their secrets, make himself rich.

The Thunderbirds
Thunderbird 1 Thunderbird 2 Thunderbird 3 Thunderbird 4 Thunderbird 5
Thunderbird 1 Thunderbird 2 Thunderbird 3 Thunderbird 4 Thunderbird 5

The Crew
Matchbox 41751; Thunderbirds Figure; Scott Tracy Matchbox 41752; Thunderbirds Figure; Virgil Tracy Matchbox 41753; Thunderbirds Figure; Alan Tracy Matchbox 41757; Thunderbirds Figure; Gordon Tracy Matchbox 41759; Thunderbirds Figure; John Tracy
Scott Tracy Virgil Tracy Alan Tracy Gordon Tracy John Tracy
Matchbox 41760; Thunderbirds Figure; Jeff Tracy Matchbox 41754; Thunderbirds Figure; Brains Matchbox 41755; Thunderbirds Figure; Lady Penelope Matchbox 41756; Thunderbirds Figure; Parker Matchbox 41758; Thunderbirds Figure; The Hood
Jeff Tracy Brains Lady Penelope Parker The Hood

The Vehicles
Dinky Toys 100; Lady Penelope's FAB1 Matchbox TB780; Thunderbirds Vehicles; Pod Vehicles for Thunderbird 2, Mole, Firefly & Recovery Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58294; Thunderbirds Vehicles; Hoverbikes - Attack of the Alligators Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58291; Thunderbirds Vehicles; The Hood's Submarine - Desperate Intruder Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58292; Thunderbirds Vehicles; The Firefly - City of Fire
FAB 1 Pod Vehicles for Thunderbird 2, Mole, Firefly & Recovery Hoverbikes - Attack of the Alligators The Hood's Submarine - Desperate Intruder The Firefly - City of Fire
Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58293; Thunderbirds Vehicles; The Mole - Pit of Peril        
The Mole - Pit of Peril        

Sets
Matchbox; Thunderbirds are Go, Radio Times Set; Thunderbirds 1,2,3,&4 & Lady Penelope's Fab 1 FEVA; Thunderbirds Set; 1, 3 & 5; Spaceships Corgi CC00901; Thunderbirds; Thunderbirds 1 & 3 Set Matchbox Collectibles TB54321; Thunderbirds Are Go 4 Pce Set; Gold Plated Matchbox TB-700. 27; Thunderbirds Rescue Pack; 5 Pce Set; Thunderbird: 1 2 3 & 4 w/ Fab1
Matchbox; Thunderbirds are Go, Radio Times Set FEVA: Thunderbirds Set, 1, 3 & 5 Corgi CC00901; Thunderbirds; Thunderbirds 1 & 3 Set Matchbox Collectibles TB54321; Thunderbirds Are Go 4 Pce Set; Gold Plated Matchbox TB-700. 27; Thunderbirds Rescue Pack; 5 Pce Set; Thunderbird: 1 2 3 & 4 w/ Fab1
Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58220; Thunderbirds Vehicles; 6 Vehicle Super Set        
Vivid Imaginations Ltd 58220; Thunderbirds Vehicles; 6 Vehicle Super Set        

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Last Edit: 10/04/2023   Page Added 16/10/2022