Where Did You Find Out About Fanderson And When Did You Join? [Archive]

Simon Morris

13th September 2009, 07:48 PM

I first joined in the 'Pam Barnes era' - can't remember when exactly - but for some reason which is now obscure I can remember not being hugely impressed at that time and I think I let my membership lapse.

When there was a big re-jig of the club, someone had the rather splendid idea of sending a copy of the then-spanking new club magazine to people who had left the membership. I assume it was an attempt to win people back for what was clearly going to be a new era for the club. This was edition 1 of FAB - Incorporating Fanderson News. The cover had a wraparound photo of Foster and Freeman from 'The Dalotek Affair' episode of UFO!

Anyway I thought it was rather splendid and rejoined there and then. And I've been a member ever since, with six bound volumes of the club magazine on my shelf..... :-)

Achilles Messenger

13th September 2009, 07:59 PM

After years of seeing Fanderson advertised on all the VHS's (and assuming it had been a group for kids), I realised my mistake and took the plunge. Needless to say once I got my first copy of FAB (27) and subsequently started ordering what seemed to be everything in the Fanderson Sales brochure, I never looked back!

Here's to the new forum and the future!

Rich

roose1982

13th September 2009, 10:52 PM

I've known about Fanderson ever since i became a fan of Gerry Anderson's work when i first saw Thunderbirds as a kid in the early 90's. I only joined last year... and I'm glad i did! My only regret is not joining sooner, as i've a lot to catch up on and missed out on so much!

I also fondly recall visiting Thunderbooks in Preston and with my birthday money splashing out and purchasing copies of SIG, Century 21 and Action 21 magazines... hard earned birthday money very well spent. I loved that shop - if i'd had the money, i'd have bought the entire shop! lol.

Lovin the new forum - excellent work!

Ross

Mr Jim

14th September 2009, 09:08 AM

Hazel

14th September 2009, 05:17 PM

Ed Bishop told me about it, back in 1974, but I didn't get around to joining for years. No idea why not. In 1993, I found a cassette of one of the Scarlet audio adventures in WH Smiths. The insert card gave Fanderson's address, so I wrote... and here I still am.

Mike

14th September 2009, 08:21 PM

I grew up with SIG around the house, and Channel 5 videos by the TV...

Chrisof

14th September 2009, 09:02 PM

I joined in 2009 :) , saw the website and wanted to join for years, finally made the "big step" last month, havn't regreted it. :)

TonyB

14th September 2009, 10:57 PM

I originally found out about Fanderson in the late 1980s through a close friend who joined virtually from the formation of the society in the early 1980s, although I did not actually join myself until the mid to late 1990s.

Although not a paid up member until the late 90s, I have attended every UK Fanderson convention since the Wolverhampton event in 1992. I stood as a dealer at the two cons in Coventry in 2000 and 2003 but missed so much of the convention proceeds I decided to only attend in future as a delegate.

I have been active with Fanderson in one way or another for a few years now, and I became part of the Fanderson Sales team along with Stephen and Lynn in April 2007.

air terrainean

15th September 2009, 11:16 AM

First heard about Fanderson back in the early 80s when it was among two or three fan groups that existed at the time - think I joined when it linked up with S.I.G. magazine to become the officially recognised Gerry Anderson fan club. Have been a member on and off since then and have attended most conventions, including the first in Leeds. Just sent off my application to rejoin having been impressed by the new look magazine and the membership items.

Autumn Cottage

15th September 2009, 05:35 PM

There was a Gerry Anderson event early in '81, with leaflets advertising Fanderson 81. Having subscribed to 'Supermarionation Is Go', after buying the first issue at the Leeds Con, I joined Fanderson itself later that year (or maybe early '82), with S.I.G (as it became) being the adopted magazine.

Keryn

18th September 2009, 04:40 AM

I read about it in SIG magazine but I couldn't afford to join - it was too expensive!

I can't remember exactly when I joined - when NCS was due out I think. I think the first FAB mag I received had CGI Scarlet on the cover.

Picasso61

19th September 2009, 01:39 PM

I joined Fanderson earlier this year and have never looked back. Wish I'd joined before now. I'm so pleased that there is an actual Fanderson forum now.:)

Mechanical Fish

19th September 2009, 02:08 PM

I learnt of Fanderson in 1991 when I was due to do the music and sound effects for a game based on an Anderson series. [The game was cancelled]. I've never been a member of Fanderson...

AR1

20th September 2009, 10:02 AM

I joined banck in the early 1990's, after I had seen the BBC2 airing of Thunderbirds.

Great to see a forum here!:)

kit

20th September 2009, 12:31 PM

Found Fanderson a few years ago when I did a search for Gerry Anderson. Joined last year when I saw that membership could be done via computer instead of snail mail, I live in the US. Hope Fanderson Sales goes on line sometime.

big rat

24th September 2009, 03:46 PM

" i joined fanderson back in 1991 when thunderbirds was big again on bbc2. as thunderbirds the comic came out the address was in it and that was that. ive been here ever since nick.

glo thorogood

29th September 2009, 09:06 AM

I joined Fanderson in 1989 after my husband borrowed copies of SIG someone was reading at work. At last a group of people who understood my fascination with the Worlds of Anderson.

Retroboy

29th September 2009, 11:13 AM

If I remember right , like Autumn Cottage , I joined at the begining of the eighties after the convention at the Dragonara ? hotel . Loved it then , still loving it now !

Silent Bob

29th September 2009, 11:22 AM

The Dragonara is now the Leeds Hilton, not a patch on how it used to be. Guess i have to many happy memories from back then.

Andrew Kearley

8th October 2009, 09:00 PM

I've been a member of Fanderson on and off a few times over the last decade or so. I'll be honest and say I mostly joined so that I could get my hands on some of the exclusive merchandise, particularly the "Into Infinity" DVD and some of the Barry Gray soundtrack CDs. I'm not currently a member. I've always found the idea of Fanderson a bit strange really...

Steve Gerard

9th October 2009, 02:43 AM

I was a member of FANDERSON from around 2003 until 2008. I thought it was enjoyable and the merchandise is excellent.:rolleyes:

TonyB

9th October 2009, 12:11 PM

Andrew Kearley wrote. I'm not currently a member. I've always found the idea of Fanderson a bit strange really...

I suppose that any society or group means different things to different people and that people become members for varying reasons, but I am genuinely puzzled as to why Fanderson could be considered 'strange'.

I did not actually join Fanderson for a few years myself, I attended events, show's and conventions frequently along with my good friend Retroboy, (who has been a member of Fanderson since virtually day one), from the very early 1990s. But it took me several years to actually join the club. Since that time I take it as a given that I will renew my membership annually and I love being part of Fanderson.

air terrainean

9th October 2009, 12:40 PM

I've always found the idea of Fanderson a bit strange really...

Any particular reason ? (Looks for raised eyebrow expression emoticon... doesn't find one) Have to admit I've never liked the name much, and I suppose the idea of an 80 year old man having a fan club is a bit weird - a fan club based around the programmes might make more sense - but as a way of bringing out soundtracks, magazines, documentaries and organising conventions it has been hugely effective over the years.

air terrainean

9th October 2009, 12:47 PM

Two posts for the price of One ! :)

cricket_99

9th October 2009, 07:18 PM

A highschool boyfriend was a UFO fanatic and had a membership from way back and I used to enjoy his FAB magazines and the occasional goodie he ordered. I lost touch for a few lean grad school years, but then rediscovered Fanderson when internet surfing a few years back. Glad to see such a class act survive and do so well.

Andrew Kearley

9th October 2009, 08:35 PM

I am genuinely puzzled as to why Fanderson could be considered 'strange'.

Well, a few things really. First of all, the whole idea of organized fan clubs strikes me as so old-fashioned these days. I can understand why they existed in the past, but when the shows are all sitting on my DVD shelf, and information about them is freely available on the internet, a lot of the reason for fan clubs existing seems to have ceased to be. I suppose there's the social aspect, the idea of belonging to a community with shared interests, but internet forums like this one provide for that nowadays, with much more instant gratification. As I said, it was the exclusive merchandise that brought me in in the past - without that, I doubt I'd have felt any need to become a member.

Specific to Fanderson, however, I just find it strange that there can be a fan club dedicated to a single tv producer - rather than to the individual shows themselves. Not everyone who likes UFO is a fan of The Secret Service, for instance. (And I can't imagine how it would work for anyone else. Someone might like "The X Files" and "Millennium", but I doubt they'd go around styling themselves a "Chris Carter fan".) So that's why it just seems strange: the very existence of Fanderson seems built on the notion that you can give equal weight to Space: 1999 and Torchy the Battery Boy, which to me is patently absurd.

Just my opinion, though, feel free to disagree...:)

Retroboy

9th October 2009, 09:26 PM

I Would'nt have thought it was any different than being in a Star Trek , Doctor Who , Irwin Allen or Star Wars type fan club . You may only like certain ellements but it does'nt stop you from being in the fan club . Fanderson was formed to embrace the full body of gerry's work which is one hell of a back catalogue . I'm sorry you feel it's just about the merchandise , Fandersons team and its members are worth far more than just that .

air terrainean

9th October 2009, 09:40 PM

I'm sorry you feel it's just about the merchandise , Fandersons team and its members are worth far more than just that .

I don't think that's what Andrew was saying - I think he was trying to explain that apart from the merchandise items, a TV fan club these days isn't really able to offer as much as it could in the days when there was no other way to see the shows or meet like minded fans. I've only recently rejoined because I've been impressed by the new look magazine and membership items, and must credit those that have put the time and effort into producing them.

Picasso61

9th October 2009, 09:43 PM

I actually come into that category of liking The Secret Service but not Space:1999. The same could be said of Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons as against UFO but feeling like that didn't stop me from joining Fanderson.
I like very much the music from the two live action programmes I mentioned so in a way there's one aspect of these shows that does appeal to me.
That IMO is the point of being in Fanderson - you like the work of Gerry Anderson but not necessarily everything he produced.
Everyone has different tastes. It would be a dull world if we all liked the same thing.

Keryn

9th October 2009, 10:43 PM

And of course there's that other aspect of the GA world - TV21. I was a member of that too (still got my TV21 Identicode and Spectrum Shades membership card). With a whole 21st century world set out in print as well as on TV no wonder it's easy to lump many of his shows together!:)

Andrew Kearley

9th October 2009, 11:04 PM

I Would'nt have thought it was any different than being in a Star Trek , Doctor Who , Irwin Allen or Star Wars type fan club .

No, but the same applies. I love Doctor Who, and I was in DWAS during the nineties, but I haven't been a member for a decade now. Because there's just no need. I don't need a badge or a membership card to signify my appreciation of my favourite shows - I can find all the background information I need on the web - I can interact with other fans (who might have all manner of different opinions and preferences) on forums like this one. I love the whole connectivity of fandom now, but the web has democratized fandom and rendered organized fan clubs largely redundant for me. Times change, things change.

Andrew Kearley

9th October 2009, 11:55 PM

That IMO is the point of being in Fanderson - you like the work of Gerry Anderson but not necessarily everything he produced.
Everyone has different tastes. It would be a dull world if we all liked the same thing.

Maybe so. I just find the whole focus of Fanderson peculiar. But that's just me...:) It's always intrigued me this idea of the "Gerry Anderson production" being almost a genre unto itself - clearly Mr Anderson was a master at brand management, and the brand he manged to sell most successfully was himself! But I tend to view the shows as separate entities, that just happen to have shared the same producer over the years. Some series I like, some I don't. You know, if I felt the need to join a fan club, I'd be more interested in a dedicated Space: 1999 club, I suppose - there'd still be plenty of different opinions and preferences to argue with other fans about! But the content would be specifically about a show I was interested in.

Oh yeah, and I wasn't trying to put Fanderson down particularly. In the times I've been a member, I always thought the magazine was nicely produced, even when the content didn't particularly interest me.

TonyB

10th October 2009, 10:39 AM

Oh yeah, and I wasn't trying to put Fanderson down particularly. In the times I've been a member, I always thought the magazine was nicely produced, even when the content didn't particularly interest me.

I never thought for one moment that you were, and I did not get that impression from your post either Andrew. As I said in my reply earlier, being a member of Fanderson obviously means different things to different people, but I do see where your coming from.

Hey as long as we keep appreciating the show's, no matter how old we or they get, then its all good to me, its even better when we get a new younger generation interested too.

Steve Gerard

10th October 2009, 03:57 PM

Hey as long as we keep appreciating the show's, no matter how old we or they get, then its all good to me, its even better when we get a new younger generation interested too.

TonyB, I absolutely agree...keep the interest alive.

Timelash

10th October 2009, 04:14 PM

1985 I think. I can't remember where I heard about the club - I suspect it was in SIG. I heard that the ITV network had bought the rights to show UFO again & was desperate to find out more info.
I've belonged to a few Sc-Fi clubs over the years, but Fanderson is the only one I've kept going.
The quality of FAB & the merchandise is the main reason for this.
I even went on a thread on the Eagle Transporter Forum a couple of months ago about the Stingray soundtrack. People were complaining that it wasn't fair it was only availble to club members. This annoyed me, so I stated "I won't have a word said against Fanderson!" This also seemed to cause upset! Ah well!

TonyB

10th October 2009, 05:27 PM

I even went on a thread on the Eagle Transporter Forum a couple of months ago about the Stingray soundtrack. People were complaining that it wasn't fair it was only availble to club members. This annoyed me, so I stated "I won't have a word said against Fanderson!" This also seemed to cause upset! Ah well!

Sigh, don't start me on that one, at one point during that thread I just wanted to repeatedly bang my head on the desk. The usual suspects from that thread are at it again now on the ET forum, but this time its about the Fanderson con in 2010.

Do you know at times I really wonder why anybody bothers, as at times it appears that there are very little thanks coming for all the hard work put in by the committee and staff at Fanderson. :mad:

Timelash

10th October 2009, 07:06 PM

It was all so simple as well. If it wasn't for Fanderson there would be no Stingray soundtrack. That's it!
It seemed so difficult for some to grasp!

I must admit I was disappointed to learn members were ordering multiple copies - this can only be to sell on ebay later at a vast profit. This is not in the spirit of the club as I understand it. Nor is uploading MP3s onto the internet. Why would anyone do this? Perhaps to get some perverse satisfaction that they've been naughty? Who knows what people are thinking. Support your club - no to Fanderson piracy!

They're complaining about the Convention now are they?! Good grief.......

Retroboy

10th October 2009, 09:02 PM

You would'nt believe some of the stuff that Tony B has to shovel through as a moderator for the ET forum . It's an up hill thankless task .

c.scarlet

15th October 2009, 07:39 PM

I found out about Fanderson and joined in 1993 and as far as I remember it was an advice on the backside of a Thunderbirds videotape from ITC, bought at TowerRecords in London. (Or maybe it was a Thunderbirds book???)

Jay Mullins

16th October 2009, 09:46 PM

Looking at most of these posts I guess I'm a Famderson newbie then...

I found out about the club a few years ago when Gerry did a talk with Chris Bentley after a screening of Doppelganger at the Barbican in London. I remember the evening was held in the 'Pit theatre', right in the guts on this weird concrete monster of a building, and there was a Fanderson stall in the lobby outside, selling merchandise that I never even knew existed before! That I'd never seen Doppelganger before or Gerry in the flesh. or been to the Barbican (crazy place that it is) left a real impression on me and made it a really special evening. I've been a member ever since. :)

Purupuss

17th October 2009, 08:03 AM

I read about it in the back of Simon Archer's book "FAB Facts", kept on thinking about it, and eventually took the plunge.

How long ago? Probably longer than I think. Late 90s?

FAB :)

Nova Quark

20th October 2009, 07:47 PM

I only found out about Fanderson a month ago, from Virgil Tracy. He was saying how great it was, so I thought I would join. Looking forward to exploring the site......

SG1402-03

1st November 2009, 08:23 AM

Joined in the early 1990s, after reading about Fanderson on the video covers and other merchandise. Although I left for a couple of years, I re-joined as soon as finances allowed.

I've never used the ET forum, but I'm not surprised people whinge about the club/exclusivity etc. This should not put the Fanderson committee off! Firstly, some people moan about everything, not because they have a genuine problem with something but because they like the moaning part. Secondly, if the efforts put in by the committee weren't appreciated by the decent people who are willing to pay for the many services the club provides, then we wouldn't all be renewing membership, buying (single copies of) the merchandise, posting here, or turning up to conventions. Thirdly, the conventions, and the excellent merchandise all the non-members apparently want, wouldn't exist without the club. To complain about member exclusivity is like buying apples but objecting to how much space the trees take up.

About the idea of a club for GA rather than the individual shows - I think at some point the body of work by someone or some organisation becomes a trademark, like Pixar today. Even if the premise and characters in different series/movies have nothing in common, they do share similar qualities, and the public knows what to expect. This means many fans of one show will like at least some others. Also, while GA is obviously important, he and the club (and fans) fully acknowledge the team effort that produced the shows - evidenced by the comments about Barry Gray on these pages.

Steve Gerard

1st November 2009, 01:32 PM

air terrainean

1st November 2009, 04:49 PM

About the idea of a club for GA rather than the individual shows - I think at some point the body of work by someone or some organisation becomes a trademark, like Pixar today. Even if the premise and characters in different series/movies have nothing in common, they do share similar qualities, and the public knows what to expect. This means many fans of one show will like at least some others. Also, while GA is obviously important, he and the club (and fans) fully acknowledge the team effort that produced the shows - evidenced by the comments about Barry Gray on these pages.

I'd agree that Gerry's name has become a trademark for a particular type of production, and like being a Spielberg or Hitchcock fan, being a fan of Gerry's work as a whole doesn't mean you have to like all of it. Speaking personally I'm really more of a Gerry and Sylvia Anderson fan. I like pretty much all of the shows they worked on together, and although a lot of similar techniques and concepts featured in Gerry's later work, they don't for me have the same kind of magic (though I've yet to give New Captain Scarlet a proper look). For obvious reasons though, Sylvia's contribution to the productions she worked on with Gerry have been less well documented by Fanderson than they might otherwise have been. It's clearly always been a difficult area for the club to cover, and it's a shame that the situation has affected the club's activities.

BTW SG - I just wondered what your avatar picture is ? It looks like it might be a behind the scenes shot, but it's just a bit too small to see !

SG1402-03

1st November 2009, 07:04 PM

BTW SG - I just wondered what your avatar picture is ? It looks like it might be a behind the scenes shot, but it's just a bit too small to see !

It's not a TV scene, I thought go for a picture I knew no-one else would have. It's a microscopic view of a thin section of volcanic rock, using cross-polars to give the crystals colour. Very nerdy I know, but I'm getting paid to obsess over my rocks for 3.5 yrs and it's hard to shake off!

air terrainean

1st November 2009, 07:12 PM

It's not a TV scene, I thought go for a picture I knew no-one else would have. It's a microscopic view of a thin section of volcanic rock, using cross-polars to give the crystals colour. Very nerdy I know, but I'm getting paid to obsess over my rocks for 3.5 yrs and it's hard to shake off!

Amazing - thought I could make out the head of a cameraman looking at a film set ! Now I know why I couldn't identify the image !

SG1402-03

1st November 2009, 07:16 PM

Amazing - thought I could make out the head of a cameraman looking at a film set ! Now I know why I couldn't identify the image !

They're like clouds - you can see all kinds of odd things in them if you stare long enough!

Darkview

16th December 2009, 08:02 PM

l found out from guys at eagletransporter.com as its due to close on friday:(

Steve Gerard

16th December 2009, 09:17 PM

l found out from guys at eagletransporter.com as its due to close on friday:(

I know it is a great loss.:(

hwels

16th December 2009, 10:37 PM

l found out from guys at eagletransporter.com as its due to close on friday:(

Welcome Darkview, glad you joined this forum too.

Hans

TVR17

17th December 2009, 09:50 PM

Hi all
I found the forum by specifically looking to see if one existed. I have been a fan of a lot of Gerry's work, since first seeing it in the 70's, of which Captain Scarlet, ( and then UFO re-runs/Terrahawks later on ) made a lasting impression on me. A guy I went to college with c.25 yrs ago used to be a member of some monthly/quarterly ( not sure ? ) Fanderson based magazine, so I guessed that nowadays the internet would house some sort of forum, so here I am, a couple of days after finding this forum via a Google search :)
Cheers
Paul

Steve Gerard

17th December 2009, 10:27 PM

welcome TVR17(Paul).:cool:

Picasso61

18th December 2009, 02:07 PM

Welcome to both Darkview and TVR17.:)

hdknight

19th December 2009, 04:54 PM

Hi,

Anyway, I remember both UFO and Space 1999 on their first syndicated runs here in the States. Spave 1999 used to be shown at 6 PM on a UHF channel out of Harrisburg PA. Either 27 or 21, can't remember which. Dragon's Domain as a single episode was the my most memorable, at 11 or 12 years of age or so, it may have been the first thing on TV that ever gave me nightmares.

As for now, I've never bothered to grow up much and am an avid Sci-Fi and Space model builder and collector. I fortunately have a wife who lets me get away with it all, and a house which refuses to get bigger to hold the collection, and a workbench in an unheated garage.

Anyway, I tried paying online for the Fanderson online international checkout and continue to get an error message that
I must "enter a proper state". I've tried every variation of filling out that form with no luck so far. Any suggestions? Otherwise i'll do it by snail mail.

I'm one of the refugees from the Space 1999 Eagle Transporter forum, I don't even know or understand what happened or what the argument over their was, but some members suggested I try here.

I'm also a big Irwin Allen fan, and yes I admit it, I'm a Star Trek fan also. The original Star Wars episodes were great, but I'm not a fan of the first/final three.

I enjoy building dioramas for the models and have started taking Macro Images to make my own special effects shots. Not so much luck in that department though as I believe I'll need a large light box before I can get the images the way I want them.

http://gallery.me.com/kenshephard

Ken

Steve Gerard

19th December 2009, 06:37 PM

Hi,

Anyway, I remember both UFO and Space 1999 on their first syndicated runs here in the States. Dragon's Domain as a single episode was the my most memorable, at 11 or 12 years of age or so, it may have been the first thing on TV that ever gave me nightmares.

As for now, I've never bothered to grow up much and am an avid Sci-Fi and Space model builder and collector. I fortunately have a wife who lets me get away with it all, and a house which refuses to get bigger to hold the collection, and a workbench in an unheated garage.

I'm one of the refugees from the Space 1999 Eagle Transporter forum, I don't even know or understand what happened or what the argument over their was, but some members suggested I try here.

I'm also a big Irwin Allen fan, and yes I admit it, I'm a Star Trek fan also. The original Star Wars episodes were great, but I'm not a fan of the first/final three.
I
http://gallery.me.com/kenshephard

Ken

Welcome hdknight, you are among friends. I am a refugee of the EAGLE TRANSPORTER FORUM too. I enjoyed UFO in 1972-1973 at eight years old. I too was eleven years old turning twelve in September 1975 when I too experienced SPACE:1999.
I agree "Dragon's Domain" was genius horror which to me was remade as ALIEN 1979 movie and ALIENS 1986 movie...just substituted Tony Cellini with Ripley in the Alien movies.

I too enjoy Irwin Allen's TV Series, Star Trek and the original STAR WARS Trilogy.

Your wife sounds like a wonderful lady to allow your interests. Nice pics.:cool:

Steve

hwels

20th December 2009, 12:51 PM

Psst! For all those suffering with withdrawel symptoms from the ETF, I found out that the commlock there is still working!

Derek Eaton

20th December 2009, 02:37 PM

Anyway, I tried paying online for the Fanderson online international checkout and continue to get an error message that
I must "enter a proper state". I've tried every variation of filling out that form with no luck so far. Any suggestions? Otherwise i'll do it by snail mail.

A private message has been sent about this as I have not seen this before. Fanderson online memberships is regularly used by members from overseas included USA and Japan.

Captaincubbio2009

20th December 2009, 04:01 PM

Hello there,

I will renew my Fanderson 2nd year's membership in Jan 2010.

I first found out about this website via a friend of mine Doug from the Netherlands since then I haven't looked back, I'm into every single Gerry Anderson TV Show I am not too keen on Supercar otherwise it's all F.A.B for me including the wonderful TV Soundtracks from music composers Barry Gray, Derek Wadsworth, Richard Harvey & of course Crispin Merrell.

I've got all of the old Channel 5 Video's & the current DVD releases, I love Star Trek & Doctor Who too. I am good friends with Tony Alleyne (Star Trek Flat Creator) here in Hinckley, Leicestershire. He's still got his flat didn't sell it in the end he is now keeping it, Here's his official website link:

http://www.24thcid.com/

P.S I am hoping to come along to next year's Fanderson Con in Bristol

Take Care Everybody & Have A Very Merry Christmas

Kindest Regards

Captaincubbio2009

oshvision

22nd December 2009, 09:36 PM

I originally joined the TV 21st century modelling group around 2002, until that site seemed to ground to a halt, so i joined Eagle Transporters Forum in 2008, and worked with that team since. I have found Fandersons forum on the net, and joined as ETF seems to stopped functioning and this will also be a great place to talk about the 3D modelling work I do.

Brilliant forum posts so far I have read (only joined a day ago)!

Crimson Rage

3rd January 2010, 11:40 AM

I've been into Anderson shows for literally as long as I can remember, even recalling the trailer for SPACE: 1999 when it was new, but didn't join Fanderson until I saw an advert in the short-lived SPACE PRECINCT comic (1995-ish?).
Been a member ever since!

Rod

21st January 2010, 05:04 PM

I joined Fanderson after reading its original advert in SIG back in the early eighties. Can' remember though if it was issue two or three.

Rod

Pat Gardner

19th February 2010, 09:02 AM

I joined Fanderson right at the beginning. Went to the Fanderson 81 convention, after which the idea of a club came into being. Exciting time, VHS in its early days and long before DVD so just seeing an episode of an Anderson show made the convention worthwhile. Emphasis on fancy dress, I recall.

lightcudder

19th February 2010, 06:29 PM

I joined Fanderson In December 2009 after rediscovering UFO through the SHado Library and Marc Martin's fantastic website. I really wanted some UFO merchandise but I love the Fanderson Forum - no snide comments, no ..'we don't do that here' sort of thing! I love the way everyone is accepted and welcomed whatever their favourite programme! I took the (for me) brave decision to go to the Con in Bristol by myself .. not easy when you're family don't approve! I am looking forward to meeting like miinded fans! And I have loved Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and UFO since I saw them on their first showing on TV back when I was young!!!

Derek Eaton

19th February 2010, 08:56 PM

I joined Fanderson In December 2009 ....I love the Fanderson Forum .... I took the (for me) brave decision to go to the Con in Bristol by myself ..

Welcome - glad your enjoying it. I predict that you will have a great time in Bristol and make many friends.

jamXL5

25th March 2010, 10:59 AM

I was at the first ever Fanderson convention in Leeds. I can't remember what year that was.

I guess I joined there? I am member number 31 ... is there anyone out there with a lower member number?

I still have some photos of the event. I bought Ed Bishop a pint just before he took part in a panel session. I then proceeded to bore my friends and colleagues for years by saying that I'd bought Ed Bishop a pint. An episode of UFO or a screening of "2001" or "Diamonds are Forever" can still cause me to point out that I bought that man there a pint.

Dunc1

25th March 2010, 03:30 PM

The first convention was in 1981. I did not know that Gerry had a major following at the time. I joined in 1982 after buying the issue of Look In, featuring the Heroes With Strings and came to the Convention in 1982, one of the most exciting experiences of my life, so far.... I bought Shane Rimmer and his lovely wife a drink at the last Convention. Can't wait for this year's one. I am 202, the Fanderson membership number that is, not my age.

JayME

12th September 2010, 08:22 PM

I have been a fan of Marionettes as a kid. I don't know how I knew about some of these shows. I was born in 1961 and grew up in Warren, Michigan. I am not sure what channel showed a Gerry Anderson Supermarionation show (Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray or Thunderbirds)?.

For some reason Supercar really struck my emory. So I kept watchinh clips on Youtube till I found a box set in a cataloge for marked down books and DVDS. I took a chance and bought Supercar. I thought I would start with what looked the most familiar to me.

Of course I loved it! I did a search for Supercar and Gerry Anderson. I came across a Supercar/ Fireball Soundtrack on CD available to only Fanderson Memebers. I tried to find one without joining. I wrote on 5/24/10 to this Forum and Stephen Brown wrote me back the same day to say they were all sold out . That they only made 2000 copies produced and sometimes they might end up on eBay. I wrote back to say "Thanks...and I will keep searching"!.

Stephen wrote back again the same day to say "another comitee member would contact me in fpossibly finding me a copy".

The following day I found one on eBay for $50 and bought it ASAP. Wrote Stephen back to thank him and to tell him I found a copy. That same day he wrote to say how happy he was that I found a copy and "Check out our website, maybe you'll want to join one day."

On June 2, 2010 I joined Fanderson. I am one of those people that don't take time to read everything. I just get so excited and jump at things. I had a question about using my credit card and had to ask more questions without reading the FAQ.

Stuart Drummond (the Fanderson Club Secretary) wrote me the same day and assured me it was safe. So whenever I had a question about Fanderson I would write Stuart ( sorry Stuart I wrote so much!!).

Now I am a member and have purchased other Fanderson only CD Soundtracks. I just love Barry Gray as much as I love Gerry Andersons Supermarionation shows. I have bought all the shows that are marionettes, books and CDs for them as well.

Once I finish them ( I am currently just starting on Captain Scarlet ...I am watching them in order of production) I may try for Gerry Andersons other series.

I am so happy I found Fanderson while searching for my favorite Show Supercar and meeting such nice helpful people as Stephen, Stuart and now Sam Denham).

Thank You guys for being so nice and helpful to a new member!

Jay

mrthunder

13th September 2010, 06:36 PM

I am member number 31 ... is there anyone out there with a lower member number?

I am Number Six...although also a Free Man ! I think...

phelings

26th September 2010, 10:23 PM

I heard of Fanderson when I was buying SIG mag in the 80's but I wasn't into joining fanclubs back then so I just collected the magazine.

Years later a friend was a fan and I bought his earlier issues of FAB off him after he finished reading them and when he decided not to renew I joined myself so I still have a complete run of FAB, and SIG and Century 21 too.
I can't even remember how long ago it was.

mr fox

2nd October 2010, 08:50 PM

sig magazine did it for me.

Captain_Magenta

26th January 2011, 09:55 PM

I was on FaceBook chatting about my old friend's Singer Gazelle and it reminded me of an episode of Thunderbirds, I watched as a kid, with a gazelle in it ; I thought it was a form of transport or a company "Gazelle Industries"--it turned out to be a painting by Braquasso-- and I found the answer hidden within a google search ... this site.

A big fan of 21 Century since childhood (in the 'very' early 60's) from Twizzle and beyond. Whenever I make trips back to England I bring back to Canada with me some of my Annuals(Cpt. Scarlet, Joe 90 etc.).

They were a very important part ofmy chidhood.

Andrew T. Finney

16th February 2011, 08:33 PM

Heard and read about Fanderson in may places. Did an internet search for 'Behind the Scenes' due to recently buying a book about Gerry Anderson and stumbled across this site. Looking forward to reading the threads and especially seeing the many interesting photos, a few of which I have pawed over during lunch time at work.

Off now to read a bit more of the book.

Virgil Tracy

16th February 2011, 08:39 PM

TB2

29th June 2011, 06:10 AM

I've only found about Fanderson in January 2011 and I'm sorry to say this but I haven't joined yet. :(

Derek Eaton

29th June 2011, 03:13 PM

I've only found about Fanderson in January 2011 and I'm sorry to say this but I haven't joined yet. :(

Join now and come to the party on the 20th August where you could chat to some of your heroes and meet a few other fans on this forum.

Don't do what most people do and look back on all the events they could have attended and who they missed seeing - Barry Gray is a big disappointment in my case :-(((

Bumped into a bloke today, who I only know from a business point of view - told me how he had met Shane Rimmer on Sunday at Barton Marina and how he remembered him from the Bond films. Never seen this guy so excited turned into a long conversation about all his Supercar toys he had found in the toy museum after.

Elliotpav

29th June 2011, 07:25 PM

I remember my dad used to print me off lots of Thunderbirds pictures off the internet from his work (this is before we got the internet) just as I was getting into the series when I was 6. One day, he bought a series of pages from the Fanderson website for me to look at, but I was unsure about the other series at the time. In 2002 when I was an avid fan of all the Supermarionation series, I finally joined.

I have always been impressed with the quality of the club and only wish that I had joined earlier as I only just missed out on the Stand By For Action convention, Ed Bishop's last Fanderson appearance and I therefore did not get to ever meet him. :(

I only hope the club continues to grow and continue for many more years to come! :)

TB2

30th June 2011, 02:31 AM

Join now and come to the party on the 20th August where you could chat to some of your heroes and meet a few other fans on this forum.

Don't do what most people do and look back on all the events they could have attended and who they missed seeing - Barry Gray is a big disappointment in my case :-(((

Bumped into a bloke today, who I only know from a business point of view - told me how he had met Shane Rimmer on Sunday at Barton Marina and how he remembered him from the Bond films. Never seen this guy so excited turned into a long conversation about all his Supercar toys he had found in the toy museum after.

I'll try to.

Hiram K Hackenbacker

30th June 2011, 05:40 PM

I second Derek's advice, TB2. I myself made the mistake of putting off joining for ages and as a result a missed some fantastic events and have really regretted it as some of the guests who attended are sadly no longer with us.

UFO

11th July 2011, 04:39 PM

I first joined back in 1983 when I was 12. I went to Fanderson'84 & was the only kid there! I was a member for a few years, then dropped out around 1987. I then rejoined the club in 1998 when I became more interested again.

lets just say that ive always known about fanderson, my real purpose lies in the UFO series, loved it when i was 11, love it now im 47, im a synth player and programmer, and i just have to find out what was used to make that UFO sound, its the best sound ever next to gary numans polymoog vox humana

sfgameruk

7th August 2011, 11:26 AM

I found the forum after discovering a post asking for information about a Comlock replica he was building - I was trawling the web for dimensions so i could build a digital prop for some CG pictures i wanted to make. I joined just to post some information for him!

My Fanderson history goes way, way back. I vaguely remember Twizzle and Torchy, but was never really a fan. I was more of an enthusiast of Four Feather Falls (especially the talking horse and dog). (And was a bit surprised at how close Woody from Toy Story was to Tex Tucker). And it was revolutionary for such an early TV show for having sympathetic Native American characters.

Supercar was good - I thought the car was wonderful. I joined the Supercar club and carried the membership card with me everywhere - just in case I ever found Supercar abandoned at the side of the road. The starting sequence was printed on the card - I imagined I could just fire it up and fly it home!

But I really enjoyed Fireball XL-5! The opening sequence was amazing, My little brother and I would make engine whooshing noises in time with Fireball's launch sled motors, trying to keep up with them until they burned out before we went blue from running out of breath. I don't think we ever made it!!

My favourite character was Robert. Rival show "Space Patrol" had a really nice automatic pilot robot, but it wasn't a patch on the Robster.

Stingray. Drama on a stick!! Again, a superb opening sequence, with the drumbeat of the theme tune, Marineville going to battle stations and so on. Also, first noticed what babes Atlanta and Marina where...

Thunderbirds!! My favourite was TB2, I wept when the World Navy accidentally shot it down. Loved the palm trees moving out of the way when it launched!

Captain Scarlet. Possibly my favourite puppet series, but bitterly disappointed at the half-hour format that didn't allow for character development or detailed plots. Curse you kids and your short attention spans!!! The Angels were total babes, though!

UFO: Oooh, this is different. Live action, cars and props from "Doppleganger", Gabrielle Drake in a silver bodysuit...

Didn't really go for Joe 90 or The Secret Service, but...

Space: 1999. Woo and Hoo. Moonbase, Eagle Transporters, Rudi Gernreich costumes!

This would be mid to late seventies. I built a 1/24th scale model of an Eagle Transporter and took it to a convention at the then-Leeds Dragonara hotel. I helped a friend run a Nick Tate fan club (I made ink drawings for the newsletter). We got an invite to the studio - Pinewood for the main mission and standing sets and Bray to see the model effects unit and Bryan Johnston. A fantastic day.

Then Terrahawks, Star Cops, Dick Spanner...And the New Captain Scarlet CGI series (IT'S STILL ONLY 23 MINUTES LONG!!!)

Long story short, Anderson fan from early days, discovered Fanderson at a SciFi Convention, joined the forum to help a fellow gadget-builder, will join Fanderson proper when time permits!

Phew!

RobinH

sir-hamster

7th August 2011, 12:35 PM

First heard of fanderson at the age of 6 when reading the inside cover of the cassette tape stories, and have loved the shows from even before that, from a family of many brothers thunderbirds was always on thanks to BBC repeats in the early 90's. Then I grow up a bit (no i didnt I just ruined the VHS because I watched them to much) then when the DVD's came out for thunderbirds in about 2001 I got the Thunderbirds Vol. 1, since then I have got all the puppet shows and UFO and a few Space Precincts. I finally join Fanderson a few months before Bristol Convention last year, my first convention, something I wont be forgetting in a hurry, had an amazing time and cant wait for the next one and for the party in a couple of weeks :D

john61

8th August 2011, 05:12 PM

I'm not sure when or how I first heard about Fanderson. It might possibly have been years ago in a shop in Kingston Surrey called Books Bits and Bobs that I spent many years frequenting. But I couldn't be certain of that. But it was some time ago. I knew about it long before I joined the forum. Strangely enough though, I've never become a member. I've never actually become a member of any kind of organisation before, never joined a fan club ever. No real reason for that, it's just the way it's been. As a kid I had friends who joined this and friends who joined that, but I never did.
And this great and wonderous place is the only online forum I've ever contributed to. I have no interest in social networking of any kind. No Facebook. No My Space, No Twiter. Just not interested. But somehow, and boy am I glad of it. This wonderful forum has somehow managed to attract me to it.
Says something for the power of Gerry Anderson doesn't it.

cptCrane

1st October 2011, 03:57 AM

I`ve not yet received my membership package and emails of inquiries were not returned????:confused:
slip up no doubt but ....well uh......I dunno what to do....

MysteronClayton

3rd December 2011, 06:33 PM

...I joined Fanderson a good long while ago, stayed for a while, then let my membership slip away. I've been away for another while, but when douglogger put me wise to the Forum's existence, I decided to drop by, make a few comments, and see what the club is like now. Consider me as doing recce for a possible future reconnect.

MysteronClayton

3rd December 2011, 06:34 PM

...and darn it, that 333 number does tend to follow me, doesn't it?

Derek Eaton

3rd December 2011, 07:39 PM

Welcome MysteronClayton you are amongst friends. You have probably missed a few issues of FAB - time to catch up.

douglogger

7th December 2011, 06:17 PM

you know you've been a member for soooooooo long that how you heard about it and how you enlisted has faded away into a haze of guesswork..but 2012 in my 30th anniversary. I do have all the FABs,there was a summer of 81 or 82 SPACE 1999 Alliance Convention with Phil Rae, and Pam Barnes who might've been instrumental in singing me up. Like the abovementioned alliance I missed its' and Fanderson's first conventions but rallied to make up for it the second one out.
Prior to that I recall getting some form of a pre-FAB newsletterish photocopy from the club and typewritten membership
lists....how prehistoric,all that primordial beginnings..Doug