The CRABLOGGER from ‘Thunderbirds’ (1965) created by Gerry Anderson
Thunderbirds delivered nea and incredible futiristic machines ever week and the Crablogger is nothing short of magnificent. This machine is massive and atomic powered - as all futuristic machines should be. It cuts a path through forest areas and uses powerful mechanical claws to grab the trees and cuts them down and feeds them into the giant maw. The trees and branches are crushed and fed into the complex processing plant where it is converted into wood pulp. A computer program controsl the operation and the pulp is sealed into barrels which are released automatically into waiting transporters and all while the giant vehicle is in motion.
The Crablogger VFX model was around 8 feet long. The rear section looks to have converted from the ‘Gray & Houseman Road Layer’ model. The shots of the Crablogger driving the forest and crashing through a small South American village are simply stupendous.
The machine is 326 feet long, and in 1/144 would be 27 inches longs, with the claws extending an additional 3 inches. 30”
Designed by Derek Meddings
The Gray and Houseman construction company are building a road throigh the mountain range. ‘End of the Road’ is a terrific epsiode, one of Gerry Anderson’s favourites. It features great characters, and an engaging with an imaginative rescue and fantastic machines! The ‘Road Layer’ is a classic Thunderbirds machine, when people think of the show they often think of massive futuristic machines perfomaing everyday tasks with incredible automation and on a giant scale and this checks all the boxes. The shots of the machine driving along and laying a hot tarmac road surface, complete with white lines never fails to put a smail on my face! Pure genius! This thing is massive in ‘real life’ and a model kit in 1/144 scale would probably be around 16” in length. It would come with a Helijet and the Explosives Tractor. The front would open and there would ne a detailed parking area inside.
This was a challenging piece of artwork as I wanted to show the vehicle form a pleasing enagle and show the road laying functionality. Showing it from the rear seemed wrong. I wanted to show the Exposives Tractor, but there was nowehere to put it. having the front open would have ghidden soem of the road layer istelf. The VFX model was over about 4 feet long - the caterpillar tracks are from the massive Tiger Joe Tank toy, which was popular with the Meddings’ model-makers.
Designed by Derek Meddings
Check out the video ‘ What If .. Fantasy Model Kit Box Art #16’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVEoUS5xnaY&t=974s