GRAY & HOUSEMAN ROAD LAYER from the 1965 TV Series ‘Thunderbirds’ - produced by Gerry Anderson
This memorable machine is from the classic episode ‘End of the Road’, where Eddie Houseman risks his life to ensure the road project that he and his partner Bob Gray are working on stays on schedule. A great story (from Dennis Spooner) , and one of Gerry Anderson’s personal favourites. The scenes of this giant machine are fabulous. The vehicle has a cannon that breaks up any obstructions on the ground ahead and as it drives along it lays the road behind it… even painting the white lines on the surface. Even the colour is that classic ‘Thunderbirds red’ that seems to be so common among these giant machines. Fantastic. The always terrific visual effects by Derek Meddings and the team are taken up a notch.
There are four sets of caterpillar tracks - of course; its Thunderbirds.
The front of the vehicle opens up to allow the Explosives Tractor access. A Helijet is also carried on board in an upper hangar.
The model makes use of several ‘Tiger Joe Tank’ toys and copious kit-bashed details. This model was repainted yellow and adapted slightly for its appearance in the episode ‘Atlantic Inferno’. And was heavily customised and adapted into the rear Processing Plant section of the Crablogger.
Designed by Derek Meddings