10. Zero-X
Star of the ill-fated big screen adaptation Thunderbirds are GO, the first 20 minutes of the film is devoted to showing this massive spacecraft in all its glory, with half of that time centring on the launch of the bloody thing. Cynics could argue that before the halcyon, toy-juggernaut-selling days of Transformers and Power Rangers, Thunderbirds filled that role extensively. Stephen la Riviere’s marvellous history book ‘Filmed in Supermarionation’ notes in the introduction how a whole other book would be needed to document the merchandising history of Century 21. Zero-X is a prime example of that, but that doesn’t stop it being a fabulous slice of pulpy retro vehicle porn. What stops it being further up on the list is its jagged, boxy/rectangular design, which ultimately hasn’t aged well when compared to the more curved vehicles of Thunderbirds.
9. Fireflash
The atomic-powered passenger jet Fireflash makes numerous appearances throughout Thunderbirds, both onscreen and in the massively popular comic TV21, plus serving as a continuity link between Thunderbirds and Stingray. The craft also gave International Rescue one of its most spectacular rescues.
Bearing a fantastically retro design, it’s curved, dart-like centre and sharp wings gave it an Olympian appearance. Indeed, it dwarfs Thunderbird 2, the largest earth-bound International Rescue craft, and was the catalyst in International Rescue becoming a force to be reckoned with when saving those in peril.
8. Crablogger
The all-in-one forest-destroying machine gave Thunderbirds another daring rescue, while at the same time giving us the audience a reason to cry out in terror as the beautiful vehicle suffers a deadly fate towards the episode’s climax.
But the Crablogger is more than a well-designed hunk of wood-chopping madness. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the world in which Thunderbirds, and many Century 21 worlds, were set. The world of these television shows used man’s expansion of technological dreams in a future world as a platform for adventures filled with danger and excitement.
7. Angel Interceptor
Essentially the Thunderbird 1 of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, the Angels (craft and pilots) are aptly named. Sleek, fast, dangerous and gorgeous, they gave Captain Scarlet plenty of dynamic aerial-based combat scenes. They also act as a giant leap towards the realistic and left behind the caricatures that had been such a trait for Anderson shows.
Gone are the giant green transporters with stubby wings that made you question how the hell they could fly, and cue a darker and more sinister world where, for all the science fantasy that was used in the show, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons used eerily real issues to launch its premise. The whole accidental triggering of a war is the catalyst for the series as a whole, reinforced by the far more realistic vehicle designs used throughout the show.
6. Fireball XL5
This is probably where the magic truly kicked off. Fireball XL5 was the first space-based Anderson series and its here that the traits of most Supermarionation series really took off, literally. Supercar’s launch sequence merely consisted of it floating upwards rather slowly. Fireball XL5 however would blast along the runway of Space City before shooting off upwards into outer space. Also, compared to Supercar, Fireball XL5 looks as if it could actually fly!
Some interesting ideas and a good selection of Anderson’s vehicle, but how do we go about grading them in what should we say categories.
But what about Gabriel… or maybe not.
Supercar ugly? Nonsense. It’s a classic design that made Supercar a success leading to the rest of the Supermarionation series.