| SHADO Interceptor | |
|---|---|
 A SHADO Interceptor taking off | |
| First appearance | "Identified" |
| Last appearance | "Reflections in the Water" |
| Information | |
| Affiliation | SHADO Moonbase |
| General characteristics | |
| Class | Space fighter |
| Armaments | Frontal nuclear missile |
| Propulsion | Nuclear fusion rocket and hovering system rockets |
In the UFO TV series, the SHADO Interceptor, also known as "Moonbase Interceptor" [1] is the primary defence spacecraft of the secret SHADO Moonbase. [2]
The Interceptors are red and white space fighters used over the Moon and in Earth's orbit, equipped only with a self-destroying frontal nuclear missile.
The Interceptors, usually, fly in groups of three during a period of red alert. These spacecraft always takeoff within three elevators hidden in as many lunar craters. During the flight, the three missiles are fired almost simultaneously.
These spacecraft cannot fly in Earth's atmosphere, for unknown reasons. Their UFO opponents cannot stay in Earth's atmosphere for prolonged periods, because they would probably explode. Commander Straker, Colonel Freeman and Colonel Foster say this in "Survival", "Conflict", "The Square Triangle", "Sub-Smash" and "The Cat With Ten Lives".
The Interceptor filming models were designed by Mike Trim and effects director Derek Meddings from a one-line description in the script for the first episode. [3] The basic form was devised by Trim, who envisaged the Interceptors as flying counterparts to the SHADO Moonmobile. Meddings subsequently revised Trim's concept, shrinking and re-shaping the craft while enlarging the cockpit windows. According to Trim, Meddings made these changes as he thought that the original design looked "too conventional" or "old-fashioned". Although the models appear white on camera, they were actually painted pale blue. [4]
Meddings questioned the Interceptor's effectiveness in defending Earth, noting that by firing its one missile, the craft rendered itself "practically useless". [5]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification .(May 2021) |
The Dinky Interceptor was a toy model spacecraft made by Dinky Toys and based on the SHADO spacecraft. [6] [7] It was manufactured and sold for six years and, during this time, changed appearance several times.
The earliest version was metallic green rather than white, with orange skis and orange stickers, and featuring gold details. This had a clear canopy with a red seated figure with outreached arms. This was the same figure as used in the Joe 90 car. [8] Early versions can be easily detected, as they have a slight raised rim around the chrome gun panel in front of the canopy. Later models did not have this.
The year 1975 appears to signify the change where at this point the canopy was blue and the figure became Interceptor 351 specific, in that it was green and had lowered arms. For a period both blue and clear canopies were used. Red-legged versions also appeared around this time and are now considered rare.
As production continued it appears that cost constraints and issues regarding toxicity of paints led to the issue of the models with bright casting parts instead of gold painted as featured in the 1978 catalogue. In the 1978, catalogue the skis are turned up on the trailing edge. Final models appeared with no chrome plating, bright metal parts and a black nose.
Spectrum Cloudbase, often shortened to Cloudbase, is the fictional skyborne headquarters of the international security organisation Spectrum from Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68). In the 2005 computer-animated remake, Cloudbase is re-imagined as Skybase.
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television programme that ran for two series from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, set in the year 1999, nuclear waste stored on the Moon's far side explodes, knocking the Moon out of orbit and sending it, as well as the 311 inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, hurtling uncontrollably into space. Space: 1999 was the last production by the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and was the most expensive series produced for British television up to that time. The first series was co-produced by ITC Entertainment and Italian broadcaster RAI, while the second series was produced solely by ITC.
UFO is a 1970 British science fiction television series about the covert efforts of an international defence organisation to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. It was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.
The Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle is a fictional pursuit and attack vehicle from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).
Zero-X is a fictional Earth spacecraft that first appeared in two of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation productions, the 1966 film Thunderbirds Are Go and the 1967 television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Although publicity material for the various Supermarionation series, and the TV Century 21 comic, made references to connections between the Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet canons, Zero-X is the only official link between the two series.
Thunderbirds Are Go is a 1966 British science-fiction puppet film based on Thunderbirds, a Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by the Andersons and directed by David Lane, Thunderbirds Are Go concerns spacecraft Zero-X and its human mission to Mars. When Zero-X suffers a malfunction during re-entry, it is up to life-saving organisation International Rescue, supported by its technologically-advanced Thunderbird machines, to activate the trapped crew's escape pod before the spacecraft hits the ground.
Lego Space is a Lego theme, which includes astronauts, space colonization, spaceships and extraterrestrial life. Introduced in 1978 it stands as one of the oldest and most extensive themes in Lego history, consisting of over 200 individual sets.
Mike Trim is a British artist known for illustrating the cover of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, which depicts a Martian tripod striking down the Thunder Child. A book of his illustrations entitled The Future was FAB: The Art of Mike Trim was released in 2006.
The Spectrum Patrol Car (SPC) or Spectrum Saloon Car (SSC) is a fictional vehicle that appears in Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967) and in revamped form in the remake New Captain Scarlet (2005).
"The Mysterons" is the first episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by the Andersons and directed by Desmond Saunders, it was first officially broadcast on 29 September 1967 on ATV Midlands, although it had received an unscheduled test screening in the London area five months earlier.
"Big Ben Strikes Again" is the third episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 13 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.
The Indestructible Man is a BBC Books original novel written by Simon Messingham and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The novel features the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe.
"Identified" is the pilot and first episode of UFO, a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written by Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson and Tony Barwick; the director was Gerry Anderson. The episode was filmed between 28 April and 12 May 1969, and aired on ATV Midlands on 16 September 1970.
"Kill Straker!" is the seventh episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written Donald James and the director was Alan Perry. The episode was filmed between 5 November and 17 November 1969 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 4 November 1970. Though shown as the seventh episode, it was actually the sixteenth to have been filmed. The episode was originally titled The Inside Man.
"The Cat with Ten Lives" is the third episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. David Tomblin wrote the screenplay and directed the episode. The episode was filmed between 22 May and 3 June 1970 and aired on the ATV Midlands network on 30 September 1970. Though shown as the third episode, it was actually the nineteenth to have been filmed.
"Conflict" is the fourth episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. Ruric Powell wrote the screenplay and it was directed by Ken Turner. The episode, initially titled "Ambush", was filmed between 2 July and 14 July 1969 and aired on the ATV Midlands network on 7 October 1970. Though shown as the fourth episode, it was actually the sixth to have been filmed.
"Destruction" is the ninth episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written by Dennis Spooner and the director was Ken Turner. The episode was filmed between 4 June and 16 June 1970 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 2 December 1970. Though shown as the ninth episode, it was actually the twentieth to have been filmed.
"Close Up" is the eleventh episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written Tony Barwick and the director was Alan Perry. The episode was filmed between 29 September to 9 October 1969 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 16 December 1970. Though shown as the eleventh episode, it was actually the thirteenth to have been filmed.
"Survival" is the thirteenth episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written Tony Barwick and the director was Alan Perry. The episode was filmed between 30 June and 10 July 1970 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 30 December 1970. Though shown as the thirteenth episode, it was actually the fourth to have been filmed.
"Mindbender" is the fourteenth episode aired of the first series of UFO - a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. The screenplay was written by Tony Barwick and the director was Ken Turner. The episode was filmed from 30 June to 10 July 1970 and aired on the ATV Midlands on 13 January 1971. Though shown as the fourteenth episode, it was actually the twenty-fifth to have been filmed.
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| Related topics | |
