Fireball XL5: Century 21 Tech Talk [1.4] | Hosted by Brains [Thunderbirds] and Prof Matic

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Wait! Brains AND Professor Matic on one video! Worlds collide in the next episode of Century 21 Tech Talk. Are you excited?

[@williamschwartz7428]

Professor Matic and Brains together is going to be brilliant!

[@colinp2238]

Don't forget Zoonie you tootie!

[@VBaskin2010]

Yep!

[@markcooper8561]

Thanks. Just... thanks.

[@crispycritterz]

We need more interaction of the organization in the Anderson universe! PLEASE!

[@dougmorris2134]

That reminds me to pick up my next prescription of oxygen tablets. Fireball XL5 has to be my (first) favourite Gerry Anderson programme when I watched on TV in the UK. I’m 71 now and still love the programmes. XL5 for Ever 🇬🇧🚀

[@GerryAndersonTV]

60th anniversary this year too!

[@augustinboyd9626]

Talk about breing me back to one of the best times in my childhood. I lived in Alaska and no cable tv but every time I had the chance to watch this show. Became a fan early on and still to this day. Thanks KZbin and other streaming services and catching up on shows that I didn't get a chance to watch. Great job guys thank you

[@harrybrown3657]

Even though i was 9 years old i always fancied banging one or two into Dr Venus. Loved the humour in this, well done.

[@michaelalexander43]

Seeing Supercar in local TV syndication a year before Fireball XL5 began airing on Saturday mornings on NBC, whetted this former four year old appetite for more Gerry Anderson type of sci-fi action/adventure and excitement. It also prodded me to learn how to tell time so I could keep track of my growing list of TV kid shows I wanted to watch. My fertile mind of curiosity for space science fiction coincided with space exploration fact. It was at a fever pitch throughout the 1960s of following the exploits of mankind first steps into space. But never mind of not knowing how 'oxygen pills' work as I later learn the horrors of what decompression in space can do. Viewing Fireball XL5 back in 1963 (as a six year old while in 1st grade) took me a life long ride for fascination and passion that still continues...

[@jimwoods2180]

i remember when fireball xl5 crashed into the tower - it was so cool but turned out by the end to be a dream sequence - still, it was, to a small boy, really exciting :)

[@newbernpuppets929]

Such a wonderful little clip about the Fireball Xl5 ship - loved the narrator voices and characters.😊

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

Fun Fact: According to one episode, XL5's main engine is not intended to be run continuously at full power for extended periods of time. If this is done, the engine will eventually overheat and explode, although not in the totally catastrophic manner you might expect. A fire extinguisher is recommended for dealing with any internal fires caused by the explosion. Fortunately, the fire extinguisher is such a simple piece of equipment that even a Lazoon can operate one... ;) Another Fun Fact: According to a story in a TV21 annual, Zooney the Lazoon actually has a very high intelligence potential. It must therefore be presumed that he's so lazy that he prefers to be a pet. Or in other words, he's an interplanetary moocher. :D

[@TralfazConstruction]

This is truly amazing. I'm impressed as to just how immense the XL5 is when Steve is passing the vertical stabilizer (necessary for atmospheric flight) on his way to the command module; a.k.a., Fireball Junior.

[@routeman680]

Fireball XL5 here is bigger than I remembered it in relation to "human" figures. As a child I was fascinated by all the tubes of the rocket engines aft and the retros forward on the tailplane. The basic shape is like the X-15, the last of the rocket planes of the 1950s, which itself was a beautiful impressive machine. Interesting that for manned space flight NASA had to switch to putting the capsule on top of an ICBM, which I don't think was anticipated in science fiction.

[@bobwood856]

IMHO Fireball XL5 is the best-looking spaceship ever. And the launch-rail system, I assume dreamed up by Gerry Anderson in the early 1960s, is now thought to be the most fuel-efficient method of launching a rocket. Visionary, or what?

[@ACtheLegend]

Gerry got the inspiration from the Russians, who were experimenting with rail-lanched rockets at the time.

[@iandeeley9033]

Great performance by David Graham as always! FAB

[@GerryAndersonTV]

He's great!

[@whovianhistorybuff]

Amazing to think he's in his 90s and can still do all those voices perfectly

[@LouisL1963]

Recently watched DG in 8 episodes of 70's classic SF show "Timeslip" 😊

[@unicron129]

the connection goes even further. In the Haynes manual and probably supported by Fleetway and TV21, Captain Black was the captain of Fireball XL3

[@brianmason2378]

Aka Colonel Conrad Turner.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Canon! I don't care what anyone says! Canon!

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

If you come across the out of print Haynes manual for the TVC-15 I could use some information on it I recently got one from a surplus sale, and I can't find anything about it online.

[@SoloWing88]

I'm curious about how many connections there are in these shows. As I just fell into these thanks to a friend who grew up on these

[@donwebber7034]

When I saw the later Star trek movie I immediately recognized the end credits done in the FXL5 style, and I smiled broadly!

[@2150dalek]

XL5 is a beautiful ship, I can see the influence of the B-36 Peacemaker on it .....stunning....and Maglev launches, saves onboard fuel on take off.

[@MediaArchive2-z9f]

You forgot Starship 1 created by Elon Musk.

[@AndrewChapman]

Wow, they got David Graham to reprise the voice of Prof. Matic too? Awesome!

[@MediaArchive2-z9f]

My fan theory was true. Brains and Matic do know each other and respect each other's work.

[@theshoeburger]

There must be a niche for this in modern pop culture, like the Marvel films. I'm honestly surprised no Hollywood producers have snapped up these optimistic/heroic 60s treasures!

[@timepoet77]

Oh please, don’t give those Hollyweird wackos any more ideas.

[@allenjones3130]

@@timepoet77 I must concur with you, Mr. Skidmore. The last time a Supermarionation series was adapted for the big screen, that adaptation was a boxoffice failure. (The series was"Thunderbirds".)

[@defiantance]

@@allenjones3130 Look up Thunderbirds (2004). It didn't go very well if I remember right.

[@allenjones3130]

@@defiantance No, it didn't. Despite a fine cast that included Ben Kingsley and the late Bill Paxton, it wasn't a very good film.

[@defiantance]

@@allenjones3130 I did say it didn't go very well.

[@dalethelander3781]

Always wonderful to hear David Graham. I always thought Space City was in South America.

[@alanruyten8226]

Another excellent episode! I loved XL5 when I was a kid and it was good to see the ship, crew and Space City in colour. Especially enjoyed the Professor’s explanation of the switch between colour and B&W footage 😄 Same with not getting info on how the Oxygen Pills worked... great scripting guys!

[@cjlist9731]

there's a reason for that...(walks off screen :)).

[@tonywilliams8426]

Think about it....XL5 was an SSTO BEFORE GEOFF BEZOS EXISTED....,

[@matt0044]

That was a clever way to make it seem an actual in-universe video file.

[@teto85]

I have only one word for this series. BRILLIANT!!!

[@bobbova8708]

darn those vinta-rays! thanks for another great video.as an older Anderson fan seeing these brings back some great memories.everyone involved did a great job here! I can hardly wait for the next episode.!

[@VBaskin2010]

This show deserves a reboot!

[@stevebushell4810]

Amazing that Professor Magic has still got it after all this time. He's still 'Boss'.

[@steverogers500]

Another FAB Tech Talk and Fireball XL5 looks amazing in colour! 3 1 4 '3' 5 to go

[@cjlist9731]

to be honest though, it does look a little weird in colour. it would probably be a lengthy & costly venture to have a colour/b&w option if the series ever got a Blu-Ray release.

[@donaldwiggins1799]

Awesome episode! David Graham still has it with the voice work, Awesome art work Chris!

[@donaldwiggins1799]

Rest In Peace Shane Rimmer(Scott Tracy, Thunderbirds)

[@Larryloafer488]

Thanks Jamie XL5 great to see again.

[@timepoet77]

I think you’re doing a fantastic job with this series so far. I’ve always liked learning about different things, and this is the best form of education.

[@unicron129]

the other connection I noticed, was in the TV21 and Fleetway reprint of "We, The Mysterons, Shall Destroy Unity City". Fireball XL5 was sent to recover Captain Black and Scarlet from a trip to space.

[@allenjones3130]

Nice video! I wish XL5 had lasers in addition to it's missiles. That Zoonie is indeed a 'tootie'.

[@Bondek1996]

Marineville would interest me -the logistics in making an entire town disappear beneath ground into huge subterranean caverns.

[@stevebushell4810]

I thought Gerry said all the sleds just piled up on the other side of the hill. 😉

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Maybe he did... or maybe was keeping a WSP secret...

[@cjlist9731]

The certainly looks like they go flying into nowhere once XL5 takes off into the air :)

[@ListerDavid]

Going to take a punt and say TB3 is next. This so far have been a great little series of technical information. Had two of my favourites so for (TB2 & SPV) can’t wait for Stingray and Supercar.

[@GerryAndersonTV]

So glad you're enjoying it Robert!

[@ListerDavid]

I’m loving it, it’s right up my street. My favourite part of the comics in the early 90s was the cutaways of the vehicles and bases. Love seeing how things work.

[@stephenfarthing485]

What about ZERO X?

[@whovianhistorybuff]

I'd like to see the brain impulse galvanascope record and transmit (BIG RAT) from Joe 90

[@chizmcquade489]

@@GerryAndersonTV I watched XL-5 as a little kid, Stingray later, then U.F.O. and Space: 1999. I wrote the studios once about U.F.O and received a nice postcard with cast pictures, but it didn't tell me how they create the effect of the UFOs!

[@simongvs]

Great video as always. But at 6:55, where on Earth, literally, would Steve & Matt fly Fireball Junior off to? What episode was that from?

[@ACtheLegend]

Space city special :)

[@simongvs]

Cool, thanks Andrew.

[@dunning234]

That was a classic show wonderful Puppet work and great Idea's. Wonder if they are going to colorize it and take strings out that would be fantastic.

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Jon Dunning you can buy a colourised episode from the Gerry Anderson Store 😊

[@lukegreen5341]

1:47 Jeff Tracy From Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds Thinks He Looks Like Captain Jon Luc Picard From Star Trek The Next Generation. Thanks Mate. X

[@hovermotion]

Great production and editing..

[@Bucky749]

I wonder if they will cover the The terra hawks vechals or super car ?

[@Digscomics]

I always liked the idea that the Supermarionation series shared a universe, but I did wonder how come Fireball spent every week jetting around the galaxy while over in Thunderbirds they were prepping the first mission to Mars.

[@ACtheLegend]

One's a high speed patrol ship, the other's a dedicated research vessel :)

[@MrNellie65]

Lest we forget Conrad Turner(Captain Black)was in charge of Fireball XL3 following his heroism in the 2047 English civil war.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

MrNellie65 English civil war? I blame Brexit

[@davidclarke8398]

Oh happy memories

[@knicknac95]

Not sure what the real life legal requirement' s would be needed to make it happen but i would be curious to see a crossover between classic Thunderbirds Brains and Thunderbirds are go' s own iteration of him.

[@pcarrierorange]

Legal requirements include the collapsing of the space-time continuum

[@andrewshearsby8125]

@@pcarrierorange details lol

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

On our way 'ome!

[@lukegreen5341]

Fireball XL5 Looks Like Atlantis Space Shuttle From Disney's Space Camp The Movie In 1986. Thanks Mate. X

[@TheStraatjutter]

this is great, love the vinti-rays

[@WillaLamour]

Awesome stuff!!!

[@dodo1opps]

I would love to see a still photograph of the puppets sitting around a table about to do a table read of an episode as if they were real actors. Including the weekly evil doers ( those who had lines in the episode)

[@Trek001]

1:01 - has Matic stolen Colonel White's rotating desk?

[@ACtheLegend]

The question is, did Colonel White steal Professor Matic's desk? ;)

[@onlyme219]

Very Good 🙂👍

[@MuttleyMutter]

Dr. Venus surely influenced at least a little by Dan Dare's Professor Peabody. It certainly caught my imagination at the time and had me seeking out SF in the local library, starting a lifelong trend. While viewing it in hindsight we can see all sorts of inconsistencies, they were not a problem in what was a series aimed at kids and with an action-adventure aim. Was this the first use of Schermuly rockets in the Andersonverse?

[@MediaArchive2-z9f]

Elon musk reportedly created Starship 1's design on Fireball XL5.

[@class87fan54]

Been enjoying the series. Just out of curiosity, when all the main vehicles have been done, will guest vehicles such as Fireflash or the pod vehicles be featured?

[@ACtheLegend]

Not in this series but perhaps in the future

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

...is this the real David Graham? If not, he's damn good!! :)

[@duncanwilson7971]

Yes indeedy. Its Great to hear him as Brains again isn't it?

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Absolutely the genuine article!

[@RailRocketRicky]

David Graham is certainly Gerry Anderson royalty! His voice talent on Gerry Anderson's shows started off with Four Feather Falls and the film "Crossroads To Crime", and then onto the World of Supermarionation including Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray and of course Thunderbirds. For the 50th anniversary of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, David Graham was the narrator for the Captain Scarlet audiobooks based upon the three Captain Scarlet novels.

[@lotusgroup123]

I think you mean “darn good” - never a damn in Gerry’s universe!

[@dalethelander3781]

@@lotusgroup123 John Koenig said "damn" a few times.

[@pistongreg]

Now when are you going to do the 21th century text talk on Stingray?

[@theSonicguy001]

Great Episode... I don’t know how to ask this, so I’ll ask outright: do you think we’ll have a special episode on Scott Tracy, due to the unfortunate passing of Shane Rimmer? (That is, unless you guys primarily talk about machinery with this program?)

[@ACtheLegend]

Not in this series, Sonicguy001 (as it was recorded in December), but look out for a tribute coming to this channel soon.

[@theSonicguy001]

Andrew C cool! Can’t wait

[@stevebushell4810]

Tune in on Monday for Fab live.

[@ketchup5344]

How come ive spent my life not knowing this stuff ?? It's crucial stuff. Shoulda been taught in school. ✌👍😁

[@timepoet77]

Could you ask Brains if he can talk about Eagle 1 next week?

[@ACtheLegend]

The Eagle would have been pre-21st Century, but we'll suggest anyway :)

[@occamsrayzor]

Consarnit, I was looking forward to the secret of oxygen pills!

[@williamschwartz7428]

That was boss! No two ways about it!

[@Octolicia]

3:39: The ultimate questio was finally answered! :D

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

At 06:15 in this video: I figured out what that visible wire is! Is a guidance wire just like a TOW missile! 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Only1Sabe]

Not sure if your open to request but could you do a video on Fireflash please

[@cnault3244]

Nice. Perhaps a future episode will tell us about the Dove/Doppelganger spacecraft. Very robust in appearance,but from the flights seen of the craft it doesn't land very well...

[@allenjones3130]

The Doppelganger (Dove) shuttle is one of my favorites too. I do hope Jamie and his colleagues will do an episode focusing on that lovely ship.

[@jsl151850b]

7:43 Too bad about the film damage as this sequence seems to use Solar Light.

[@darrensmith6999]

MINT going to look into Fierball XL5

[@stephenfarthing485]

What about the Flying Car from Joe 90?

[@RoboP]

This was a fun little one to watch. I have Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet on DVD as complete series. I've always wondered if there's ever a chance of Fireball XL5 getting a full release?(either in colour or black and white) And hello from Australia!

[@BarnsleyTimelord]

I've actually got the complete series of Fireball XL5 on DVD (over here in the UK) Mine are in black and white but I believe you can now get them in colour. It was originally filmed in b & w. The first Jerry Anderson series to be filmed in colour was the one after this, Stingray, to make it more appealing to the American market. Hence also the many American accents.

[@RoboP]

@@BarnsleyTimelord I've not seen Fire Ball XL5 get a release here, if it did I would get it. The Stingray and Captain Scarlet releases weren't quite as common to find compared to Thunderbirds, but it was nice to grab all of them for DVD. I tend to keep an eye out in case they get released. As good as it is I wasn't so big on Joe 90 though haha.

[@BarnsleyTimelord]

Hi, just taken a look on your Ebay site, it looks like the complete box set is going for about $45 of your Dollars. I feel very privileged to have been brought up during the time of Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, but like you, Joe 90 wasn't for me. (Maybe he could've sorted Brexit out though if he was still around!) Best wishes from the United Kingdom.

[@allenjones3130]

I'd like to see a live-action "Fireball XL5" TV special. Katherine Jenkins would make a perfect Venus.

[@michaelmccrory2220]

If Prof Matic can invent Oxygen Pills, hopefully creating a Coronavirus cure should be quite easy!

[@ColonelMarcellus]

Venus always looks, and sounds, stoned.

[@andyscott6315]

prof matic is still a young child

[@g.h.t.6881]

Who'd of thought it these guys beat Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins to the moon. Shame Supercar never made it, or did it?

[@michaelalexander43]

Beat? 🤣 It depends which aspect of reality one wants to embrace as the series first aired in 1962, but then again the show was set in the year 2062. Individual realization may vary. I think Supercar couldn't go beyond Earth's atmosphere.

[@nickwood4776]

Amazing, just travelled to the 21st century for 10 minutes. Wow. Then sadly came back to the REAL 21st century where the the most amazing thing is an iPhone. What a crock of shite. Take me back Gerry Anderson..!

[@dalethelander3781]

@SlowHandMcQueeg Tell me about it...

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

Hey, at least we have Maj. Elon Musk and SpaceX to work us a little closer to the promised future.

[@RED_HULK54]

Do the Space 1999 Eagle

[@theatragon2163]

Aha! I knew it it would be next

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Someone's been paying attention! :)

[@eiserntorsphantomoftheoper2154]

I had an XL5 lunchbox in 1st grade.

[@ACtheLegend]

Nice!

[@ralphhenderson5276]

Still have mine! In surprisingly good shape.

[@routeman680]

@@ralphhenderson5276 in surprisingly good shape - you or the lunch box? ;-)

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

Anyone else think Dr Venus looks like Honor Blackman?

[@augustinboyd9626]

THUNDERBIRDS ARE A GO.....FAB....

[@fredblonder7850]

“fleet of 30 identical craft” Er, no. XL-30 was the highest-numbered craft referenced, but they never stated the exact number of XL ships. Also consider that XL-1, XL-7 and a few others were destroyed, so there might be fewer than 30. It is well-established that XL-5 is the “fastest ship in the fleet”, therefore they are not identical.

[@ACtheLegend]

He didn't say there are 30 altogether, he said 30 identical ones. There are other variants like XL1-Alpha and Space Rescue-1. He also didn't specifically say they handle the same, could have simply been referring to the exterior design.

[@fredblonder7850]

@@ACtheLegend Given that we have not seen every XL Ship, there’s no way to tell. This is a silly argument, as there is not enough information to settle it.

[@ACtheLegend]

@@fredblonder7850 I wasn't arguing, I just used the only available relevant information from the series and other reference sources when putting the video together.

[@starsiegeplayer]

So .... Matic is 7 years old now?

[@iamgod6464]

SN9 Space X without the big wings.

[@pawpatrolthunderbird4569]

Yes i am and that naughty lazoon zoonie.

[@tonywilliams8426]

Cross pollination of series here...anyone seen a rebuilt Crablogger as a Pathfinder eh?..Glorious childhood memories, but as for the CGI version?....Bah, Humbug...., REAL modelbuilding skills MADE Thunderbirds

[@ACtheLegend]

The new series features plenty of real models :)

[@mikesilva3868]

😊

[@jimenatorresbarriga7114]

Date of birth: may 19th, 2012

[@jakedee4117]

Dr Venus ?! Dr Venus ?! The hot chick space doctor is called Dr Venus ?! Lord have mercy !

[@ACtheLegend]

?

[@98755785]

Shado please

[@snowwhitehair485]

If only oxygen pills were real . . . . . What a benefit to mankind that would be!

[@edrosa3485]

For the life of me I can't remember color footage on this show.

[@dalethelander3781]

It's from the only colorized episode, "A Day In The Life Of A Space General."

[@knowitall1694]

I thought Brains was an Indian.

[@ACtheLegend]

Only in the new series.