THUNDERBIRDS UNSEEN: Launching Thunderbird 1 (Behind The Scenes Documentary)

The unforgettable sight of Thunderbird 1 blasting into action from beneath an island swimming pool in the South Pacific has remained in the minds of viewers for six decades. Now, with previously unseen footage, behind the scenes stills material, and archive research - Thunderbirds Unseen reveals the making of this iconic sequence.
In this extra instalment of our behind the scenes investigation of the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic television series Thunderbirds, we take an in-depth look at the Thunderbird 1 launch sequence. With the help of newly unearthed 35mm film and studio documentation, this series challenges some of the "established" facts of the series' early days and uncover footage unseen for sixty years.
Thunderbirds was a massive success upon its debut in 1965 and this documentary programme investigates contributions made by scriptwriters, directors, special effects technicians, composer Barry Gray, and more. To help us along the way, we will be drawing on not just interviews with the cast and crew, but from surviving material ranging from surviving scripts and musical scores, to original rushes material digitised for the first time in 4k!
Explore this classic Supermarionation show like never before...

[@GusMcGuire]

It's weird how I've watched this sequence literally hundreds of times over the years and yet I never tire of seeing it.

[@MicroModelRailwayDispatch]

I will never, ever, tire of watching the Thunderbirds craft launch. A video like this is a dream come true. I can’t wait for the Thunderbird 2 launch film

[@collegeatlas]

It really was something wasn’t it? I just can’t help thinking of the Thunderbirds when I see SpaceX land boosters. It really is amazing watching these rockets take off and land vertically.

[@graham3282]

@@collegeatlas Thunderbirds 1 landing in SpaceX' 🚀🥢 " chopsticks " 🥢🚀 ' : all brilliant thank you 🎞📽👏👏👏🚀.

[@Back2TheBike]

I was brought up on this, it's part of me, formed my imagination. A step in my career, training 25,000 pro's to build the world's most complex defence products. Thank you Thunderbirds.

[@KarlAdamsAudio]

1:06 - fair call. I'm dropping a 'like' for that alone...

[@bill2066]

Childhood memories. I LOVE the people that made this series. As a kid, early 70's , made me a happier kid. My dad flew the C119, boxcar, and thunderbirds 2 made me connect with him on that level. And, I LOVE my Dad. Watching this makes me think of him....Blessings to the Thunderbirds creators and staff...

[@diamond21450]

Spot on buddy. I'm 62 now and it just takes me back to that Sunday with my jelly and ice cream. Wonderful memories.

[@colincook37]

Marvellous. You’re doing a FAB job. 👏

[@Lumibear.]

Always so many little details I’ve never noticed before, thank you!

[@curry1457-d5u]

Wish I could turn back time and meet Gerry & Silvia and all the people who put there hard work in making a FAB show.

[@glenncooney3959]

I’m an anorak and proud of it too. I LOVE the TB1 launch sequence, even with its flagrant lack of H&S at the beginning. Scott doesn’t even hold onto the rails as he crosses! 😂 But nearly sixty years on and it’s still as fresh to watch as the first time I saw it. I knew of the different angle for the launch from Terror in New York City, and the different angle when TB1 goes down its escalator to the silo. I never noticed the bit with Scott’s eyebrow being caught though. Brilliant observation! 😀

[@quillerpen]

Thunderbird anorak and proud to be so! You can never have too much of watching the launch of Thunderbird 1 🙂 Looking forward to TB2 next week.

[@Dave_Cymru]

It is truly fascinating to see the mastery involved of making such a timeless classic, that will be watched as if being first broadcast thousands of years into the future! The music score in this series was sublime!

[@alancrisp1582]

🤔 Thousands of years into the future 🔮 ?. Hardly, most children of today generation would not watch this series today why ?. Because it is far too slow for them !. Sad , but true !...

[@Dave_Cymru]

@@alancrisp1582 Your comment only applies to linear minded children, with equally thick parents. More young people are studying Modern History at University than ever before! MH = 1800-Present Day

[@markfryer9880]

​@@alancrisp1582 The kids and young adults of today can surprise you at times with what they enjoy watching. I know that my son, now 20, absolutely loved the TV Batman movie and I have a feeling that he enjoyed original THUNDERBIRDS over the later Human with CGI movie. Personally, I just refuse to watch that movie as I would rather enjoy the original puppets and music.

[@somebloke5565]

Pointless information we didn't know we needed. Love it.

[@thomasaevans]

LOOOOOONG have I waited for some brilliant people to compose this. Truly wonderful. I sat glued to the tv scene like the day I first saw the launch sequences for the first time 30 odd years ago. Cannot WAIT to see TB2! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@alanclarke4646]

30 years ago? You're just a kid! I saw the original broadcasts! 😂😂😂

[@AdrianTudor51]

I'm loving these docs - thank you!

[@jaffacakecraigy]

I am all for this level of exploration of one of my favourite aspects of the series, love this!!

[@F21012013R]

The makers were geniuses. So ahead of time. Look at the Musk rockets which are returning almost like TB 1😀. I am 65 now but still love to watch Thunderbirds.

[@paullawrence7926]

Great informative video. Wonderful work on these newly discovered films.

[@thesoundofbailey]

Looks like Scott was returning with some shopping in the unused return door shot. I like the idea of popping out for some milk in Thunderbird 1. Great work again, I'm guilty and of clicking the link and very glad i did

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

Now, as home groceries delivery would have been out of the question due their secret location, in which section of Tesco's car park would Scott have parked TB1? 🤔

[@AdrianBarnes-o6w]

Its nerdy but positive, all about future possibilities, and a sense of responsibility. BTW did the Tracy family ever nail the fact that the Hood was Kyranos half brother? And therefore related to Tin -Tin....

[@petesmith4498]

All the launches are iconic. And I never noticed the quarter turn or the lemon squeezer as a child.

[@th723]

I remember the first episodes as a kid, it still gives me the same thrill when I hear the music.

[@TimBurn-y6u]

Its just FAB!

[@highpath4776]

glad you did this, saves me going through the vhs;s if I can find them

[@dragondaveltd1992]

Thunderbirds are Go!

[@stevewynnearts]

Gone

[@somebloke5565]

"Who clicked on the link?!" OK, you got me.

[@ChrisJames282]

Great work - well done to all involved and thank you!

[@mikesilva3868]

Great 😊

[@commanderstraker6732]

I always wondered as a kid watching Thunderbird 1 descend into the launch bay , why and how it did the quarter turn !!

[@alanclarke4646]

Fantastic, thank you! Can't wait for TB2.

[@QuackVideo]

Even 60 years on, there is still so much left to learn

[@crazyjedi5994]

Nice! Can’t wait for the next one.

[@davidoldham9193]

This is so nerdy....and I love it! ❤

[@johndonaldson3619]

10:47 I luv this tracking shot (I can't even remember seeing it)

[@diamond21450]

Just perfect for a Saturday afternoon. So many memories coming back, thanks guys.

[@Spaceman042]

Enjoyable video, thanks. One point about Thunderbird 1 being in slightly different angles for a few frames maybe because of the single support wire needing to untwist. Ian Wingrove spoke about the difficulties of having to get the support wire precisely over the model and then lifting it to allow it to rotate and straighten the wire.

[@century21films28]

Yes, but it’s also sat on the platform in different iterations too.

[@100SteveB]

I will now never not see the wall of the studio when Scot is entering Thunderbird One! I was so surprised that I had missed something so obvious that I just popped over to itvX and watched a launch sequence - yep - that shot of a typical 1960's era UK industrial unit really is there! Of all the things that stood out on Thunderbirds, that was not one of them!

[@fa0676]

All of this - is why I am an engineer today. Inspiration is hard to create, but Derek Meddings was the touchstone.

[@m1t2a1]

Space X needs to rethink Mechazilla. Put it underground with a pool over it.

[@jameslikesbooks]

I've always been fascinated by the engine noises of the Thunderbird machines and other craft. Perhaps you could do a video identifying them? Isn't it true a recording of the Red Arrows was used for sound effects?

[@beachcomberbob3496]

Yes yes, I was that sad anorak who clicked the link.

[@explorer806]

👍MORE of this sort of thing please, you sad anoraks 😉

[@AndrewChapman]

I honestly thought some of these different takes were the exact same footage. Always thought some episodes showed the footage at normal speed, while others sped it up slightly. Like Virgil at 0:33 and Scott on the other side of the revolving wall. Though in the latter, I did notice something going on with Scott's eyebrow in most episodes, while in one episode, they somehow managed to fix this. Pity they didn't just stick with this take with Scott's eyebrow untouched. Guess they didn't notice this at the time as video assist probably wasn't as good back then as it is today.

[@gregorydodwell3895]

*I* clicked on the link - without hesitation. Call me a “happy anorak”.

[@KevinJonDavies]

Lovely. That's what thought we wanted as kids - the longest possible launch sequence in every episode. (As adults, we finally realise it would have got a bit tedious!)

[@century21films28]

@@KevinJonDavies Yes - while it’s interesting to see the longest versions, it makes you realise the skill of the editors in making those trundling models exciting!

[@ViewpointProd]

I absolutely adore your use of original Mono soudn effects! i'm curious how you've done it, sampled from the episodes themselves? or from the M&E tracks (of which i know the dubbing material for international edits is somewhat avalible) As somone who's passion is period sfx mixing, i love your attention to detail! Creating pseudo-full sequences is also something i've messed aroudn with, so it's nice to see others enjoy the same!

[@RoboP]

I feel like as someone who who can pick out certain episodes for sounds per say. To keep this simple in some episodes there are some instances where the engine roars, whines, rockets firing ect are done either well or they sound a little lackluster. For example in Security Hazard when TB1 returns and rotates in to the vertical landing position for the pool. It sounds like it came in HOT from flying for a bit then the engines shift completely as Scott shifts it's orientation then we hear the main engines roar a bit as it descends in to it's blast silo underneath the pool haha. Similarly, Trapped in the Sky being the debut episode has a very simple version of the transition from vertical to horizontal flight. Basically as Scott pushes on the levers to change mode. I feel later episodes did the sound effects MUCH better as they learnt to mix the sounds better and all that fun stuff.

[@stevewynnearts]

The music

[@NigelBassman]

It sounds to me that you used a new version of the music and not spliced together portions of the original broadcast music. Correct? The low brass in particular sound different as TB1 comes off the incline ramp. Other parts of the score sound very similar most of the time, but subtly different to my ears at others…

[@andyscott6315]

I assume You are doing thunderbird 2 and 3 launch as well?

[@ACtheLegend]

I've often thought the second pan up TB1 launch shot in 30 Minutes After Noon was used in error - as you quite rightly say, it's *really* wobbly. The TBAG TB1 appears to rotate 180 degrees on its trolley as (ignoring the main THUNDERBIRD text which is sometimes on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of the craft in the show) the side decals are facing the opposite direction. Looking forward to TB2!

[@Dancrazyman1]

❤❤❤ awsome!! 1 question was thunderbird 1 set underground section.... is it 1 interconnecting set or was it 3 different sections... That shot looking down tunnel you can see the Launchpad... And I love videos and the voice over!! Keep it up!! FAB

[@Cashpots]

Most interesting film ever - well done! Please can anyone tell me the name of the long pole used to transfer puppets, was it something prodder ?

[@Dougurasufilm]

Yeessssss thank you. Pointless information I thrive on!

[@jonathanmyers2867]

Thunderbirds will have a 60th anniversary next year with some director's cut or an editorial cut from the Thunderbirds episodes!

[@MrMLD1972]

❤

[@ritahamblin1043]

Excellent. My only jibe with the tb1 launch I would have liked to see tb1 rotation at its launch pad rather than in the escalator

[@gabagooberooni]

(of course with no ill intent meant) is there any possibility of the fully extended cuts or workprints being made public? (even if in the form of an exclusive DVD)

[@markfryer9880]

Interesting video, but for me Thunderbird Two is the vehicle for me, just with it's ability to carry so much stuff. Can't help it, but then again I have spent about 30 years driving two Toyota Hi-Ace Vans and the amount of stuff I have carried in them would rival Thunderbird Two! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@TheDriller-Killer]

Let me guess, you secretly call your van Thunderbird 2 😂😂😂

[@markfryer9880]

@@TheDriller-Killer Sometimes! 😇

[@markfryer9880]

@@TheDriller-Killer Sadly I no longer have the van, but I over 20 years and over 300,000 kms out of it.

[@TheDriller-Killer]

@@markfryer9880 I bet even sometimes you imagined you were Virgil Tracy too 😂😂😂 You got your money's worth doing 300k in that van, although in Aus I image that's practically nothing due to how big the country is.

[@andyscott6315]

And 5? :O

[@JohnSwindells-zm4sq]

FAB TASTIC

[@ryanbrownnew]

Pretty safe to say the trees roots would be totally fucked after essentially being felled like that.

[@andrewthomasfinney752]

7:34 Don't know if anyone else noticed the missing TB1 logo on the bottom engine pod quarter?

[@andyscott6315]

And thunderbird 4?

[@portland-182]

The drop in quality from using dupes would also be exacerbated by the use of Techniscope, as the enlargement process used for prints tends to cause larger film grain than standard 35mm

[@century21films28]

Agreed. But we have to choose where to focus on detail for a relative lay audience. We want to be detailed, but also make these reasonably accessible.

[@portland-182]

@@century21films28 Maybe a short video about the pros and cons of Techniscope? The Clint Eastwood 'spaghetti westerns' were Techniscope too.

[@MrNas42]

Last Sunday, 13th October 2024, Elon Musk's SpaceX proved that it is possible to accurately return and land a vertical take off rocket (eg TB1 & TB3) back on their launch pad. So not so far fetched after all!

[@TheDriller-Killer]

The Traceys were way ahead of Elon Musk, he could learn a thing or two from them 😂😂😂

[@diamonddave2622]

Sad anoraks? - so say we all

[@jackmessent3490]

Thunderbirds Are Go!