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Intercept!
This is what SHADO is all about - stopping UFOs getting to Earth.
Here we see a Bandai Interceptor model streaking through a Bryce starfield to
intercept a Truespace UFO, which is on its way to a NASA photo of Earth.
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Sky 1 Intercepts A UFO
Sky 1 has located a UFO entering Earth's atmosphere and attempts to destroy it before it can do any harm. |
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U.F.O. - Computer Model
A U.F.O. has landed in Switzerland. Doubtless the alien pilot is anxious to
try a bit of ski-ing before returning home.
I made this computer model in Truespace 2.
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A S.H.A.D.O. Mobile
A Mobile is out in the snow looking for the landed U.F.O. Looks like more snow
on the way.
This model is an Imai plastic kit.
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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No... It's unidentified...
When you're taking your holiday snaps you never know what might turn up in your
pictures.
Our Truespace model in flying mode.
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From the Earth to the Moon
Here's a Lunar Module being ferried up into the upper atmosphere prior to its
trip to the Moon.
These are our resin and white metal models.
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Above the Clouds
The Lunar Module and its carrier aircraft.
An elegant way to launch space craft.
This combo sure is better than NASA's space shuttle - but SHADO has a bigger
budget.
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Moonbase
This is Earth's first line of defence against UFOs.
Five spheres connected by corridors to a central hub. Each sphere has a
specific purpose: Control, Reactor, Reception, Recreation and Sleep. In the
centre is 'Central Park' which contains exotic plants from Earth - both a park
and a source of additional oxygen for the base.
I constructed the model in Truespace.
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Moonbase - another angle
Each sphere resembles an igloo. The spheres are protected by individual sprung
panels to resist possible damage from meteors. Personnel arrive and depart in
lunar modules which land on the gantry built on top of the reception sphere.
Well, thirty years ago, NASA was supposed to be going to do all this kind of
thing. Nothing happened though. Gerry Anderson didn't get it wrong - it's
just NASA couldn't put their astronauts where their mouth was. : )
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Moonbase By Earthlight
A close up of one of the Moonbase spheres.
Here's a question for you - would there be such a thing as an 'Earthrise' seen
from the Moon's surface? In the UFO annual one of the stories has Straker
telling Foster to watch an Earthrise. I suspect there could be no such thing
since the Moon keeps the same face turned to the Earth. It might wobble about a
bit but otherwise I think the Earth would be 'fixed' in the sky as it went
through Moon-like phases.
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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Several times in the original series SHADO came close to making non-violent
contact with the Aliens. Perhaps at some later point a meeting took place...
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Moonbase at Night
On the Moon nights are long - but Moonbase never sleeps.
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UFO About To Explode!
When SHADO operatives get too close for comfort, the UFOs self-destruct to avoid capture.
They obviously don't want to risk Earth gaining UFO technology and paying THEM a visit.
Once they start to glow, it's a good idea to be somewhere else - fast.
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Interceptors - Immediate Launch!
Three SHADO Interceptor craft are out to head the UFOs off at the pass.
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Intercept Course
Moonbase relays intercept information to the Interceptor's onboard computers as
they head out into space.
Each Interceptor has only one missile - one chance of a hit.
We presume that the UFOs travel much faster than the Interceptors and so one
shot as they come by is the best that can be achieved. The size of the missile
indicates that the one shot is a mighty big one.
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