THUNDERBIRDS UNSEEN: Launching Thunderbird 2 (Behind The Scenes Documentary)

[@century21films28]

CORRECTION: The models were made of wood, not fibreglass. The narrator has been shot, and we’ll have someone better in next week.

[@ste_zace]

are they in a wood or fibreglass coffin ?

[@century21films28]

@ Wood. Jelutong. Stupid error to make.

[@gregwoolliscroft6255]

The narrator narrates, not writes...

[@century21films28]

@@gregwoolliscroft6255 The narrator does both in this case.

[@miketayse]

@@century21films28 It's a rough life in puppet land!

[@Gary85Paul]

Watching so many Thunderbird 2s lowering onto the pods made me disturbingly happy. Nostalgia turned up to 11 😄

[@naysmith5272]

it’s definitely a thing - I never realised a model set existed of TB 2’s hanger. That would have been awesome as a kid

[@keithmcwilliams7424]

As an 8 year old i couldn't give a toss what mistakes were made i loved the show from a 67 year old geezer😅😊😂

[@Dustypye]

One great thing about these videos is they show that good as the visuals are, Barry Gray's music lifts these sequences to another level, thanks for your work putting this all together.

[@destinyone843]

A Thunderbird 2 launch never gets old!😃

[@andrewthomasfinney752]

You may have seen this? I did at The National Space Centre in Leicester, 2019. I couldn't believe how fantastic it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHW7ZKqcZ5KWhrM

[@kaybee5150]

Thunderbird 2 was, and still is my favorite. And I'm 70 years old!

[@Michael.Chapman]

Same here-but am only 65 :-)

[@blahqwe]

I agree, at 38. I wanted to be Virgil as a kid.

[@GrumpyOldGit60]

Inside I'm 5 again and watching the series for the first time... in 1965. BRILLIANT!

[@robertmaybeth3434]

You too? I was around 7 then and watched this show every chance I got, when I was a kid in Commack, New York. I thought it was a great show but I must confess, those puppet people cause me no end of confusion! I knew they probably couldn't be real people - and you COULD see the strings sometimes - and of course I'd seen other puppets. But THESE things were actually a bit TOO realistic! And I've sometimes wondered, since those were the first days when weed and psychedelics became prolific in America, what somebody under the influence of ditto would make of a show like "Thunderbirds"...I imagine it would be, let's say, interesting to watch their reaction -

[@nigeldewallens1115]

Oh! It's the same for me! Special days back then and only seeing it all in B&W to then wait for the newspaper TV21 to see it all in colour!

[@robinmathews2446]

The makers of "South Park" did a movie that fits the bill? Called "Team America"..... It was a pretty good tribute to the Thunderbirds style, but not really aimed at children? @@robertmaybeth3434

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

Of course the show was so good that no one ever saw the mistakes or noticed the slight continuity errors because we were all gripped by the stories, the action, the intrigue, the suspence and the superb work of all concerned. I've watched the show so many times and yet never saw any of the tiny things you would see if you weren't freeze framing. Damn good show, then and now.

[@vincentl.9469]

one thing that is overlooked, Thunderbird 2 in reality would never have flown !! but that's ok

[@KevinJonDavies]

You have excelled yourselves, chaps. I had a silly grin on my face throughout this absorbing mini-documentary. How I would have loved to see this and know all about how it was done way back in 1965/66 as a nipper. The research is phenomenal, but the humour really makes it, for me. Thank you.

[@KiltedGreen]

I could not agree more. This could so easily be a dreary succession of geeky facts but it’s brimming with geeked PLUS love, a light touch and humour in a perfect combination. Wonderful.

[@QuiDocetDiscit]

Me too...a silly grin.😊

[@markireland-spicer743]

Nearly spat my tea out over the "concussion inducing" comment!! Thunderbird 2 - always my favourite. And Virgil was my fave pilot too.

[@ClassCiv]

I've been watching this show for about 60 years, first as a kid, then with my own children, and now my grandchildren and I'd NEVER noticed 98% of this video's revelations. Magnificent piece of work!

[@mahj]

Appreciating the little details is like eating icecream with a tiny spoon. You know what you're about, and I like that about you.

[@jackmessent3490]

It was genius how the Tracy brothers entered the Thunderbirds machines, being able to overcome the puppets limitations. Always looked great fun and a highlight of the series without doubt

[@WedgePee]

So much so that it was parodied in A Close Shave 30 years later! As a kid, I enjoyed both, so I instantly got the reference.

[@marcusdirk]

What could possibly be more sensible or worthwhile than comparing the original shots of Thunderbirds' launch sequences and piecing them together? Only somebody completely out of their mind could judge you for such perfectly reasonable behaviour.

[@Lumibear.]

More entertaining than it had any right to be, thank you.

[@JZsBFF]

Agreed 100%

[@somebloke5565]

Scary thing is, it's not just me that's in dire need of knowing this shit.

[@WOFFY-qc9te]

My Dinky Thunderbird 2 broke its leg, made of very thin yellow plastic unfortunately glue in those days was not up to fixing it so It has been balancing on three for the past 60 years. Oh dear I suddenly feel very old which is probably why I am watching this.

[@stevekitt52]

Ebay is your friend as you can get replacements nowadays.

[@olias2k979]

I was born in 61, I can remember knowing the numbers 1 to 6 off by heart by the time I went to school at 4 years. You could tell who watched Thunderbirds because they always faltered at 7 8 9 and 10 to start with, but you knew who your TV buddies were. Ive got every episode of Thunderbirds aver made including the films and often wander down memory lane in relaxation time. Love your videos and no matter which way things play you cant detract from the magic that the show brought to all of us.

[@howarddavies2000]

Thank you for this. As a not so young 70 year old lifelong Thunderbirds fan, it brings back happy memories. 😃

[@trueriver1950]

Yes, I too was there watching the very first broadcast on UK TV. Black and white, 19" screen, usually sitting as close as my Dad would allow. Mum: "you'll ruin your eyes". Nonsense, and the fact that I'm very short sighted as an adult is pure coincidence 😅

[@gbrading]

Seriously each of these documentaries is a delight. I remember noticing Thunderbird 2 nearly clips the ramp when launching when I was a kid! Here's to 50k subs soon, 100k subs not long after!

[@lindsayheyes925]

Wonderfully plausible, and wonderfully spoofed in Wallace & Gromit. I recently toured an automated concrete blockmaking plant, and as the moulds, concrete and batches of blocks moved along the production line, into curing rooms and were packed, it was SO reminiscent if the Thunderbird 2 launch that I wondered whether the set designers had worked in Materials Handling - or the Production Line Design Engineer had spent his childhood watching Thunderbirds.

[@emgee44]

Thunderbird Two was always my favourite. An impossible machine made to look possible. The closest thing to it in real life, IMHO, was the Jumbo Jet. Happy days 😊

[@itop7976]

I still think Thunderbirds may not have been the success it was if Barry Gray hadn't composed that magnificent theme. Those first few bars still manage to tingle the spine. Looking forward to Thunderbird 3's launch. Who would have thought an everyday sofa would be so important to a rocket taking off!

[@alanwyatt3020]

Fantastic. Been watching Thunderbirds since it first came out and never noticed so many of the things you point out, such as the pods moving apart to allow for the wings. Great work on getting the longest take-off sequence.

[@thamesmud]

Was at Chatham Dockyard looking at a display of army heavy recovery equipment. Looking at the gear we thought the designers probably grew up watching Thunderbirds.

[@Atticus3lack]

Thank you so much for continuing to the Thunderbirds legacy

[@lewismassie]

When I was a child playing with my TB2 toy (much more recently than many of you I imagine, I'm only 25) I would make the engine noise with my mouth and I discovered a new way to whistle by accident because of it.

[@randygoodall6229]

I Like the long pod selection. It gives Virgil a chance to get his uniform on

[@Steeyuv]

I can just imagine the Benny Hill music playing while he nips into it.

[@randalscott7224]

Brilliant! Always wondered even as a kid all those years ago just how Virgil's passengers got to TB-2. Ant thank you for pointing out the supports holding TB-2 in place on its ramp! Something else to add if I ever get round to modelling the scene.

[@glen1555]

You haven't got your own Tracey Island? Remember the Blue Peter plans, it was their most popular project, when you had to sent in a SAE and a postal order, kids today would want to download it onto their ipad

[@arch454]

thunderbird 2 was always my favorite

[@RT65CB-SWL]

Same here too!

[@alweinhofer5453]

Me as well !

[@glennperch]

Another fascinating video. I always wished there was a theme park ride where you could do the Thunderbird 2 launch and lay on the slide like Virgil. The video I'm looking forward to is the Thunderbird 4 one and explaining how poor Gordon didn't get concussion when the pod was dropped from great height into the ocean.

[@mpersad]

Still a wonderful thrill to watch Thunderbirds, and so lovely that ITVX has the series to watch today, as indeed I did this weekend!

[@andrewketchum960]

My absolute favorite Thunderbird ship. Loved the pods, 4 was always TB4, but the others were always a fun surprise. Also love the "bouncing" palm trees.

[@ViewpointProd]

thank you SO MUCH FOR COVERING THE SOUND EFFECTS! sound design, ESPECIALLY from shows pre-1990 have interested me for years! As well as collecting them, i love finding out what libraries they where sourced from, be it old commercial LPs or inhouse stuff. There's just something about the at times, distorted nature of these sound effects, they mediums they came frop (Optically stored, Magnetic tape, LP Records) and the EQing ontop that add so much, wonder to them. the low fidelity nature of the Optical soundtrack also adds its own flare, with the noise floor, Pops as dust and whatnot pass by the optical sensor, Mishandling during development and so on. Even with my edits i tend to replicate the original noise floor, just for consistancy and period accuracy. Ive said this before, but your use of those same sound effects is one of my fav aspects of these videos, knowing you went to the lengh of practically reconstructing the sound mix for that extra step of authenticity, that many people probably overlook nor even notice, warms my heart.

[@MrChief101]

As an American, when I say, "brilliant!" I mean this is an outstanding, extremely thoughtful and well done presentation (not the same as applied to things like getting drunk, or good cups of tea or even a good parking space-- it's surprising we can understand each other...). As these all are. My hat's off to you. I may have been the "right" age to see these in the original presentation: on a 9" B&W television, broadcast over the air. Everything looked perfect. I believe I was 13 when I was able to see a rebroadcast and noted that #2 would float into frame, then fire the rockets to descend, wherein they would stop firing and it would gently float down the last 10 feet. That's when I realized, "go boom is better" as a cinematic principle. Still works today! I'd like to modestly point out that the incredible attention to detail-- all over the place, no matter how ludicrous (those "switches," that quilted padding one could slide over, that ski ramp with no visible means of braking, the backgrounds-- Brains still managed to climb up a ladder and stencil 8-foot high letters "THUNDERBIRD 2" on the far wall--!) ALL of that influenced my later career. I worked at Marvel during our encyclopaedic effort, Marvel Universe, and I had all of Century 21's products in mind when faced with... complications!

[@baanibarnes9711]

I never cease to marvel at the inventive lengths the effects guys went to to avoid anyone walking anywhere! I never really thought about it as a kid, just a cool way to get from A to B, now it's a lot of fun looking out for the labour saving short cuts, clever stuff, they don't make it like that anymore, sadly, sigh!

[@tracytron7162]

I'd recommend taking a look at the official Thunderbirds: Agents Technical Manual, it actually clears up some of those continuity errors you mentioned, such as the direction that TB2's pilot chute is going, where the passenger elevator comes from, and how the pods to either side of TB2 move out of the way of the wings

[@century21films28]

@@tracytron7162 After the fact revisionism though - so we wouldn’t include it in a video.

[@tracytron7162]

@century21films28 I suppose, but I think it's still worth noting

[@kevinshave7082]

Happy 60th birthday Thunderbird's it will be mine June next year. Brilliant documentary Thank You.

[@Britishrailwaystories]

Been following you guys since you did the special episodes (came to the premiere in London - it was amazing) and you keep astonishing me with the finds. Thank you for all you do, I was having a really tough day today and this cheered me up perfectly.

[@silver_stained]

What brilliant editing on this one! Many thanks, I could watch TB2 take off all day.

[@lukegreen5341]

1:06 An Another Awesome Thunderbirds The Original Series Behind The Scenes Look Episode. Thanks Century 21 Films Buddy Amigo Dude Mate. XXxxx 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

[@AndrewChapman]

Love it, especially as Thunderbird 2 is my favourite.

[@leahrockstar]

Brilliant loved this documentary, I actually remember the trailer back when it started 1965 can't remember the month so I was either 4 or 5, I do remember I was gob smacked with the trailer and never missed an episode, loved every part of it. T2 was my favourite that's why i loved driving vans but never had a green one but maybe one day. I shall watch this video many times in the future so well done

[@GB-um9rl]

Thank you so much, only waited 50 years for this exact video....

[@RogerMitchell-ef8wb]

No sane person could fail to be fascinated by this video.

[@thomasaevans]

Been waiting for someone to compile this footage for ages. I remember the first time I saw this launch sequence like it was yesterday. Its really hard to describe how excited I was seeing her roll out of the rock face past the collapsed palm trees. It never got dull, no matter how many times I saw it. A word that is overused but entirely appropriate here..... EPIC. You lot are just brilliant. Thank so so, so much for all your continued work.

[@quillerpen]

I hope you had as much fun making this as we did watching it!

[@century21films28]

Editing is rarely fun - too many things to think about. But we hope everyone else enjoys the results :D

[@Ivy2D]

The Mighty Thunderbird 2 will always be my number 1 favorite science fiction craft, The Mean Green Rescue Machine.

[@gavinconnolly699]

Never noticed that the pods magically moved apart so they are not hit by the wings when thunderbird 2 descends 😂 Ah the joys of being a child

[@harrisondavid8607]

How did you know my TB2 is in my attic? We didn't have a colour TV until 1981. After years of playing with a blue dinky TB2, imagine my trauma when we sat down to watch Thunderbirds in colour, and it's GREEN!

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

I had (have!) the first green Dinky TB2 (and the box too!) when I was about five years old in the mid 60s. Therefore I knew TB2 was green, even though I didn't see it in glorious colour on TV until years later.

[@Wildstar40]

Thanks for this in depth look at details I totally missed until you showed us.

[@MicroModelRailwayDispatch]

Watching Thunderbird 2 launch makes me happy. To geek out over this level of analysis is wonderful. Thanks

[@cologne2792]

Just brilliant! I somehow doubt that anyone will be sitting around in 2085 discussing anything as remotely interesting as this in any great detail. All we need now is an in-universe explanation for why the '2' in Thunderbird 2 changes from small on the ground to much larger in the air -in the TV series. I'm hoping it's something really cool!

[@MirlitronOne]

I remember TB2 nearly clipping the ramp, and the smoke going backwards, but it never occurred to me that the pods had no clearance for the wings. Still, we knew how to suspend our disbelief in those days (and 405-line TV lacked the resolution of these films).

[@stephenmcavoy9925]

Brilliant. The best of the launch sequences I think. Well done C21.

[@delwalker6336]

Was I the only child to think what a complicated way to get in to a Thunderbird. But it was all part of the fun and happy memories

[@glenjones6980]

I used to think the same about the entire launch sequence for all of them, when time was critical they spent what seemed like a morning just getting to the craft and then the remainder of the lifting off but it's what we were looking forward to every week.

[@TheHollywood10]

Mind-numbingly thorough!

[@moreheff]

Brilliant and beautiful. Always wondered where the jet engine sounds originated

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

Absolutely Fantastic, well done! Fantastic launching of My Favourite Thunderbird!

[@mb2000]

Always funny that Virgil goes through that spine busting and headache inducing slide each time and even gets dropped into his seat but then has to immediately get up to put his uniform on from chair that doesn’t look to slide back and around the big consoles. Why didn’t Jeff invest in Batpole technology!?

[@jeffcurtis5980]

Bit of trivia. There was a young chap working on sound production called Jonathan Taylor. He went on to become a highly sought after cameraman in Hollywood. Often 2nd unit director on some big films. A very talented and unassuming guy.

[@appropriatedsubdiffusion9260]

"the indeterminate length of Virgil's chute". Quite lovely.

[@Heavy-Metal-Spike]

LMAO 🤣

[@mark4d148]

AHH pure gearporn before it was a thing. Brilliant stuff.

[@johnclay7644]

great detail on a iconic sequence great work by the lighting crew and editors.

[@franciscoop1063]

Great insights into the making of Thunderbirds…really enjoying the tongue in cheek narrations too…😎

[@BlackArroToons]

Interesting to learn about the different camera shots and set ups for this classic Thunderbirds series. Thanks.

[@JS-sh2tq]

Fabulous. Watching the original colour run on LWT I could only have dreamed of such content.

[@catcouk]

I am absolutely loving these unseen and indepth videos. It os clear you have ao much knowledge about every frame of every episode. If you need an idea for a future video series, I am nerdy enough that I would love an indepth look at all the small details, reuses, and mistakes for each episode. I'm many other fans would watch too... Well, I can but hope. Thanks agains for all you do and have done to keep Supermarionation alive!

[@Tardistravels-d5b]

Brilliant video

[@cbate2702]

Thanks guyz, thorough as alwayz... FAB 👌

[@Michael.Chapman]

4:27 Check Virgil’s cool shoes :-) Everything about Thunderbirds is special, especially for we kids of the late 1950s who watched it first-we’ve continued to love and watch lifelong.

[@chrisbarlow7687]

Pure Gold!!!

[@KiltedGreen]

I cannot possibly thank you enough for making these - they satisfy my head and my heart equally and make me laugh into the bargain. I can’t believe that, despite many rewatches over the years, that some of these things, thanks to you, I’m only noticing at the age of 66!

[@darkstardavros]

I think that the Thunderbird Two launch sequence is one of the best there ever was. Most launch sequences I've seen over the years of other space ships and other craft have usually been, poof and it's gone. Thunderbird Two's sequence is more drawn out and way more interesting than most.

[@michaelcolllett9082]

Enjoyed watching vintage tv series. Amazing puppets and model details growing up 60s now I am 66yrs. Managed get box set for vintage tv collection

[@trueriver1950]

When I started watching it was "highly original" rather than "vintage"

[@cpuuk]

I never once noticed how long the TB2 sequence was until now. I'm unsure if I should thank you or not ;-)

[@ParranoviaSynthMark]

This is absolutely brilliant! The work that must have gone into this is amazing. Well done! And I thought I was a Gerry Anderson/Thunderbirds nerd!

[@morgandude2]

The more you look, the more differences you see. In the launch bay, when TB2 is raised, the foot pads of the legs are rotated 90 degrees, then rotate back to the standard position as TB2 is lowered. One thing I noticed many, many years ago, is the positional change of the hydraulic rams that push the ramp up. In the films, the ram(s) have been moved quite far back by comparison to the TV show versions.

[@colinhurry9798]

Thankyou Thunderbirds for your fantastic series. Looking forward to seeing many more!

[@JohnSwindells-zm4sq]

FAB so thanks a lot 😊

[@marvinmartinsYT]

Very nicely presented. Great sequence of side by side

[@Fredthefat]

Thank you, love the commentary. TB2 was always my favourite. Partly coloured by my father spending a large part of his life driving trucks, partly by characteristic of getting on making things happen, it seemed to me to be the most important part of the operation, require the most skill to pilot, and was just loaded with gadgetry.

[@jandavis5504]

Watched Thunder Birds every week years ago was brilliant

[@colinbradford2671]

Severe attack of nostalgia here. The attention to detail is outerworldly…

[@frankrtwiw]

That's a good point, where did that passenger lift come from?!

[@miketayse]

These vids are great, keep up the good work!

[@DMBriffa]

Terrific stuff. Thank you so much.

[@mrsmith4662]

Wonderful stuff. It must have been one huge bed in pod 2.

[@AttillatheHun-ph5eu]

I wonder how many Airfix railway girder bridge sets they got through making those sets........

[@harrisondavid8607]

After 38 years I've just come to the conclusion that James Cameron totally ripped the concept of TB2 for Aliens, and the loading sequence. Even down to the military sounding drums.

[@harrisondavid8607]

After a quick Google, I came across the name Steve Begg. He was heavily influenced growing up by the early Anderson shows, and eventually worked for him on Terrahawks. As a special effects technician, he worked on Aliens, and it has been confirmed the crew were influenced by Thunderbirds, Space 1999 etc.

[@davidpowell7614]

Fantastic fun - thank you.

[@baanibarnes9711]

If you like nit-picking Gerry Anderson productions (which you obviously do) you should check out UFO - my wife and I take great delight in spotting the lovely blue eye-liner sported by Ed Straker and Paul Foster in the very sharp close-ups! You don't generally spot them in the regular shots but the super high quality of the DVD spares no blushes. Love your take on my precious childhood, I will never see Thunderbirds in the same innocent light again . . .

[@SgtScorpious]

ICONIC

[@every1665]

Born in 1960, I don't really remember watching Thunderbirds much at all but I DO remember being about 6 and endlessly fantasising about having a little blue jet plane that I would fly around in saving the world. Likely to have been inspired by Thunderbirds I'd say.

[@Heavy-Metal-Spike]

OK - I was going through all the posts "liking" every one - but there's too damn many! 😇🙂

[@hopebgood]

Well that certainly gets a Like from me.

[@jonathanmyers2867]

Thunderbird 2 is GO! 🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫

[@maxcleveland3446]

Thanks for the tid bits. Be seeing you👌🏻.

[@horseygirl6232]

I would have liked a breakdown on how many times each pod was used, and which episode each was used. To even what pod craft would be inside. It would be an interesting extra to this episode.

[@cyjones8488]

I've seen someone break this down. Just can't remember where.

[@andyg1957]

I love watching all these videos. 'Talking Pictures' started showing the series from Episode 1, then stopped. Restarted a few weeks ago and then stopped again. Pity, my grandson (13) loves them, wires and all. John Taylor produced the albums I made back in the 1980s at their studios in Handsworth. Jean Taylor did the sleeve designs. They would sometimes reminisce about working with the Andersons, explaining how some of the sound effects were done.

[@Fi-vo8zc]

Thank you, so delightful!