Thunderbird 2 Studio Scale working Model with Tracy Island hangar, runway & rising launch ramp!

I filmed this whilst attending the "Fab World of Anderson" event which took place at Leicester’s National Space Centre June 2019.
At just over 1 meter long this 40" model of Thunderbird 2 is slightly larger than the studio scale model (which was circa 36" long). Built by Ben ten Westenend from the Netherlands who featured this and other models at the event with his assistant Robert Zijderveld.
(I show a photo of the two gentlemen talking to one of the regular event supporters/organisers who you may also notice in other videos of mine dressed as a rather good 10th Doctor Who!)

This model depicts the original shape and style of TB2 as per the 1965 TV Series Thunderbirds and is the most impressive working model I have ever seen. It drives along under its own internal motor computer remote controlled (held within the removable Pod). The Tracy Island Hangar insides is true to the show, the mountain face drops, the hanger door swings downwards and TB2 rolls down the runway with Palm Trees lowering until TB2 is angled upwards ready for launch. The final act is the opening of a small hatch to capture and help the blast off as TB2s mighty engines fire-up! This is not just exemplary model making and in this video I try to show the electronics and controls used to time the sequence of events perfectly!

Thunderbird 2 is the most iconic of all the International Rescue's craft. TB2 is the bigger, slower heavy lifter and transports various other rescue craft, machines and equipment in its hanger sized Pod. Famously it carried Thunderbird 4 in a pod that can be dropped on water and floats so that TB4 can exit and perform its own rescue missions.
TB2 like TB1 and TB4 operate within the Earth's atmosphere.
The craft's main pilot is Virgil Tracy, who is sometimes accompanied by some back-up crew members including Gordon Tracy, Alan Tracy and sometimes Brains.Thunderbird 2 appears in almost every episode and was and still is my favourite IR craft.