In the ''

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...

'' TV series, the SHADO Interceptor, also known as "Moonbase Interceptor" is the primary defence spacecraft of the secret SHADO Moonbase.

Description

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 Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: * Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics *Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

missile In military terminology, a missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles are thus also called guided missiles or guided rockets (when a previously unguided rocket i ...

. 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".

Legacy

The Interceptor is one of the symbols of the ''UFO'' series and the inspiration for the '' Space: 1999'' ''Mark IX Hawk''.

Dinky model

The Dinky Interceptor was a toy model spacecraft made by

Dinky Toys Dinky Toys was the brand name for a range of die-cast toy, die-cast zamak zinc alloy scale model model car, vehicles produced by British toy company Meccano Ltd. They were made in England from 1934 to 1979, at a factory in Binns Road in Liverpo ...

and based on the SHADO spacecraft. It was manufactured and sold for six years and, during this time, changed appearance several times.

Earliest version

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 ''Joe 90'' is a 1968–1969 British science-fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company, Century 21, for ITC Entertainment. It follows the exploits of nine-year-old schoolboy Joe McC ...

'' car. 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.

1975 version

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.

Later versions

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 Chrome plating (less commonly chromium plating) is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome-plated item is called ''chrome''. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease ...

, bright metal parts and a black nose.

References

{{UFO (TV series)

Interceptor Interceptor may refer to: Vehicles * Interceptor aircraft (or simply "interceptor"), a type of point defense fighter aircraft designed specifically to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft * Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a police car * ...

Fictional spacecraft Fictional military vehicles