Hangar 1 · the puppet series and its revivals
Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds
Toys, die-cast, model kits, figures, books and home video from the 1965–66 Supermarionation series, the two 1960s films and Thunderbirds Are Go (2015–2020).
4 specimens
Dinky Toys (1966–1979)
Meccano’s die-cast FAB 1 and Thunderbird 2 — the original 1960s Thunderbirds toys, made at Binns Road, Liverpool, into the late 1970s. Open this shelf
- Dinky Toys No. 100 Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 Lady Penelope’s FAB 1, complete with figures of Parker and her ladyship — one of Dinky’s best-selling toys of the era. Vintage
- Dinky Toys No. 101 Thunderbird 2 (green) The original Dinky Thunderbird 2, with spring-loaded landing legs and a detachable pod carrying a little Thunderbird 4. Vintage
- Dinky Toys No. 101 Thunderbird 2 (1973 green-blue reissue) The 1973 reissue of the 101 in a darker green-blue — the first of Dinky’s “blue” Thunderbird 2s. Vintage
- Dinky Toys No. 106 Thunderbird 2 (1974, larger) An entirely new, larger Thunderbird 2 in powder blue with different packaging, sold until the late 1970s. Vintage
5 specimens
Matchbox 1992 range & Tracy Island
The range made for the BBC2 revival — Tracy Island, electronic craft, die-cast and figures — that sold out at Christmas 1992. Open this shelf
- Matchbox Tracy Island Electronic Playset The playset that sold out at Christmas 1992 and inspired Blue Peter’s famous make-your-own version. Vintage
- Matchbox die-cast Thunderbird 1 (TB-001) The die-cast Thunderbird 1 from the 1992 range, sold in a bubble pack on a card. Vintage
- Matchbox die-cast Thunderbirds 2, 3, 4 and FAB 1 The rest of Matchbox’s small die-cast range for the 1992 revival — also sold as a Radio Times exclusive set. Vintage
- Matchbox Electronic Thunderbird 2 An electronic Thunderbird 2 with sound effects and a miniature Thunderbird 4, from the 1992 range. Vintage
- Matchbox Thunderbirds action figures Action figures of the Tracy family, Brains, Lady Penelope, Parker and the Hood from the 1992 range. Vintage
4 specimens
Later toys & playsets (2000–2019)
Vivid Imaginations’ ranges for the 2000 revival, the 40th anniversary and Thunderbirds Are Go, plus Bandai’s toys for the 2004 film. Open this shelf
- Vivid Imaginations Tracy Island (2000) The electronic Tracy Island that repeated the 1992 frenzy when the BBC showed the series again in 2000. Vintage
- Vivid Imaginations 40th-anniversary talking craft (2005) Thunderbird sets for the 40th anniversary with buttons that play recorded phrases from the original programmes. Vintage
- Bandai toys for the Thunderbirds film (2004) Tie-in toys for Jonathan Frakes’ live-action Thunderbirds film of 2004. Vintage
- Thunderbirds Are Go toy range (2015 onwards) Vehicles, playsets and figures for the 2015–2020 series, first from Vivid and later distributed in the UK by Bandai. Recent
7 specimens
Corgi die-cast (2015 onwards)
Corgi’s Thunderbirds models from the 2015 50th-anniversary range to the 60th-anniversary F.A.B. Collection — the main die-cast on sale new today. Open this shelf
- Corgi CC00804 Thunderbird 2 and 4 (F.A.B. Collection) The 60th-anniversary Thunderbird 2 — according to Corgi, the first in the correct shade of apple green, with a matte finish. Current
- Corgi CC00902 Thunderbird 1 and 3 (F.A.B. Collection) A twin pack of Thunderbirds 1 and 3 — Corgi says the first time its Thunderbird 3 is in the correct red-orange. Current
- Corgi CC00605 FAB 1 (F.A.B. Collection) Lady Penelope’s pink FAB 1 in Corgi’s 60th-anniversary packaging. Current
- Corgi CC01401 Thunderbird 4 A newly tooled, solo Thunderbird 4 — the first time Corgi has sold the submarine on its own. Current
- Corgi CC01501 Thunderbird 5 Corgi’s first ever Thunderbird 5 — the space station, newly tooled, with a display stand. Current
- Corgi CC00803 Thunderbird 2 and 4 (TV Classics) The previous Corgi Thunderbird 2 and 4, announced in Corgi’s TV Classics range in 2023. Recent
- Corgi 50th-anniversary range (2015) Thunderbird 2 and FAB 1 reissued from classic Corgi toolings, plus newly tooled Thunderbirds 1 and 3. Recent
8 specimens
Model kits
Plastic kits of the Thunderbirds craft, from Imai’s 1960s Japanese kits to Aoshima’s reissues and new tooling and Bachmann’s AiP kits. Open this shelf
- Imai Thunderbirds kits (1966 onwards) The original Japanese Thunderbirds kits, many with box art by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. Vintage
- Aoshima BIG Thunderbird 2 (Thunderbirds No. 20) An extra-large (about 250 mm) Thunderbird 2 kit with Thunderbird 4, the Mole and a magnetic towing vehicle — reissued in January 2026. Current
- Aoshima 1/32 FAB 1 kit Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 as a 1/32 plastic kit. Current
- Aoshima 1/48 Thunderbird 4 kit Thunderbird 4 as a motorised 1/48 kit with a working searchlight. Current
- Aoshima Thunderbirds mini kits Small kits of the Mole, Thunderbird 4, Thunderbirds 3 and 5, and Thunderbird 1. Current
- AiP10001 Thunderbird 1 (1:144 kit) A 1:144 Thunderbird 1 kit with movable wings and a choice of launch or in-flight build — a UK release of an Aoshima kit. Current
- AIP10012 Thunderbird 2 with Firefly (1:144 kit) A newly tooled 1:144 Thunderbird 2 with Pod 6 and the Firefly, plus turned metal legs. Current
- Bellfine “Trapped in the Sky” model kit A three-craft kit based on the first episode: Thunderbird 1, the Fireflash airliner and a high-speed elevator car. Current
6 specimens
Replicas & figures
Premium collector pieces: Product Enterprise / Sixteen 12 studio-scale replicas, Big Chief Studios’ 1:6 character figures and Anderson Entertainment’s limited-edition Thunderbird 2. Open this shelf
- Big Chief Studios 1:6 Scott Tracy A 13-inch character figure with an illuminating International Rescue display base, limited to 2,000. Vintage
- Big Chief Studios Tracy brothers 1:6 figures Alan, Gordon and John Tracy as a three-pack of 1:6 figures (also sold individually). Vintage
- Anderson Entertainment limited-edition Thunderbird 2 A premium Thunderbird 2 from new tooling based on prop measurements and 3D scans, limited to 2,000. Recent
- Product Enterprise studio-scale FAB 1 (2003) A 28-inch replica of FAB 1 with Lady Penelope and Parker figures, limited to 1,500 worldwide. Vintage
- Product Enterprise studio-scale Thunderbird 2 (2007) A 28-inch replica of Thunderbird 2 in resin, plastic and metal, limited to 800 worldwide. Vintage
- Sixteen 12 studio-scale Thunderbirds 1, 3 and 4 (2019) Large studio-scale replicas of Thunderbirds 1, 3 and 4 in editions of 100, each with a signed plaque. Vintage
4 specimens
Books & reference
Reference books for collectors — including the guides that document the merchandise itself. Open this shelf
- Thunderbirds: The Vault — Marcus Hearn A 240-page history of the series for its 50th anniversary, including photography of original 1960s merchandise. Current
- Thunderbirds Agents’ Technical Manual (Haynes) A Haynes-style manual to International Rescue’s craft by Sam Denham, illustrated by Graham Bleathman. Recent
- The Gerry Anderson Memorabilia Guide — Dennis W. Nicholson A 397-page guide to merchandise from Gerry Anderson’s series — kits, models, toys, puzzles and more. Vintage
- The Complete Book of Thunderbirds — Chris Bentley A widely cited reference to the series, including the history of its merchandise. Vintage
3 specimens
DVD & Blu-ray
The series on disc — from the first remastered DVDs (2000) and Blu-rays (2008) to the 60th-anniversary collector’s edition. Open this shelf
- Thunderbirds 60th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Blu-ray All 32 episodes restored in their original 4:3 picture shape on 11 discs, with the Anniversary Episodes and new extras. Current
- Thunderbirds Super Space Theatre Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray The three ITC “Super Space Theatre” compilation films made from re-edited episodes, restored in 4:3 on three discs. Current
- Thunderbirds Blu-ray (ITV DVD, 2008) The first UK Blu-ray release: six discs, with the picture converted to 16:9 widescreen. Vintage
Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds
Background
The series in brief
Thunderbirds was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their company AP Films (APF) for ITC, using the electronic marionette puppetry they called “Supermarionation” combined with scale-model effects. It was filmed at APF’s studios in Slough between 1964 and 1966. Two series were made — 26 episodes, then 6 — totalling 32 fifty-minute episodes.
The first episode, “Trapped in the Sky”, premiered on 30 September 1965 on the ATV Midlands, Westward and Channel regions of ITV; other regions followed. AP Films was renamed Century 21 Productions in 1966, and two feature films followed: Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) and Thunderbird 6 (1968).
Why there is so much to collect
To meet the demand for tie-ins, APF set up dedicated merchandising, music and toy companies. Licensed toys appeared from the 1960s onwards, and interest returned each time the series did: the BBC2 repeats from September 1991 (and the Matchbox range that came with them), the live-action film in 2004, Thunderbirds Are Go from 2015, and the 60th anniversary in 2025.
What we include
We list items made under licence — vintage toys, later die-cast, kits, figures, books and home video — with the maker, year, scale and catalogue number where a source confirms them. We don’t use the show’s logo, stills or official artwork; our specimen plates are abstract graphics.
Sources
Key dates
- 1965
Thunderbirds premieres on ITV
The first episode, “Trapped in the Sky”, is shown in the ATV Midlands, Westward and Channel regions; other ITV regions follow the next month.
- 1966
Production ends after 32 episodes
Filming ends in August 1966 with the sixth episode of Series Two. AP Films is renamed Century 21 Productions the same year.
- 1966
Thunderbirds Are Go reaches cinemas
The first feature film, directed by David Lane and distributed by United Artists.
- 1968
Thunderbird 6 is released
The second film. Its poor box-office performance rules out further sequels.
- 1991
BBC2 brings Thunderbirds back
The BBC shows the series nationwide on BBC2; the first run averages more than six million viewers per episode.
- 2004
The live-action Thunderbirds film
Directed by Jonathan Frakes and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film uses live action and CGI rather than puppets.
- 2015
Thunderbirds Are Go premieres
ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures, with Weta Workshop, launch a new series combining computer animation with physical models — in the original’s 50th anniversary year. It runs to 78 episodes over three series, ending on 22 February 2020.
- 2015
The Anniversary Episodes are crowdfunded
Three new Supermarionation episodes built around 1960s Thunderbirds audio records are funded on Kickstarter and filmed on the former AP Films site in Slough.
- 2025
The 60th anniversary
Anderson Entertainment announces a restored 4:3 Blu-ray collector’s edition of the complete series under its licensing agreement with ITV Studios, alongside new books, audio and models.