Terrahawks

Gerry Anderson Marketing

In 1981 I started getting work from Gerry Anderson Marketing. I was asked to help set up the Alton Towers exhibition and spent several weeks reparing many of the Space 1999 models which had been on display at an exhibition in Blackpool. However, this was only the start of nearly 2 years doing various pieces of work, either through Keith Shackleton, who ran "Marketing"or for Gerry himself. This principally involved being asked to contribute ideas, designs, drawings, paintings and 2 models for a new idea Gerry had called Terrahawks. I designed and built the Tomahawk, which I subsequently photographed for the front cover photo for a brochure to sell Terrahawks. He also used a photo of a 1/3rd scale model lady I'd built on another catalogue and it was this photo in fact that really sold the show.

2001: A Space Odyssey
20000 Leagues Under the Sea
Alien
Blakes 7
Captain Scarlet
Dr Who
Fireball XL5
Flash Gordon
Forbidden Planet
Hitch Hikers Guide
Into Infinity
Outland
Space 1999
Star Trek
Stingray
Terrahawks
Thunderbirds
War of the World’s

Tripods
UFO

Tomahawk

Tomahawk

Tomahawk

I built this model, which was approx 20 inches long, in wood, perspex and fibreglass. The model featured a rotating weapons pod underneath and detaching pilot pods which could fly individually.

Sadly, the craft never featured in the final show.

The Tomahawk was the main craft in the original concept for Terrahawks.

Terrahawk Brochure Photo

Treehawk

My original design for the Treehawk, also made in wood, perspex and fibreglass. It was 18 inches long. I also did photos of the model launching out of the tree! Whose idea was that?!

 I produced for the front cover of the brochure (see notes above).

Starcruiser

 Whilst producing various works, (including contributing ideas to "Rescue 4", "Things to Come" and "5 Star 5") for "Gerry Anderson Marketing" I was asked to come up with an idea for a multi-functional spacecraft. I produced many drawings and several model versions of a craft called "Starcruiser". Each time I delivered the model to the studios it would disappear for a few weeks. I would then get a phone call and go and have a meeting with Keith Shackleton at which he would tell me all the changes suggested by Airfix. I would then go away and alter the model. This happened several times and the result can be seen in the photos below.

 The 2 man exploration vehicle vehicle based on the "Buggy" seen in Space 1999. It was made of Perspex with tyres from a "Scalextric" model! Here it is shown exiting the "pod".

 The final Starcruiser design evolved after many different attempts (and boardroom discussions with Airfix, at which I was not present).

The model was made almost entirely of Perspex (Plexiglass) Brass, ABS plastic and Lime wood. It could separate into different modules, as this photo shows.

An early idea was for there to be a flying armoured chair that could wiz off on its own! (?)

 The 8 wheeled buggy as described at photo 2 above.

The first Starcruiser design.

See description for 3 and 4.

The final Starcruiser design. Airfix magazine advert January 1979. All copyrights acknowledged.

Email Martin at: martin@martinbowersmodelworld.co.uk