It
is a simple kit, the dolphin is painted with Testors Gloss
Gray. The base I detailed with blue paint and detailed with
a light brushing of white.
The
original Flipper kit included a model of Sandy. The darwin
kit has a scuba type gear that attaches to the dolphins
back. (which I did not use here).
Below
is a signed picture from my collection. My Grandfather and
Uncle both worked on the original Flipper (and Gentle Ben.)
TV Shows. My daughter watches the DVD even today as one
of her favorites.
Flipper
- The Original Series, Season 1 - A 1964 television spin-off
from the 1963 movie Flipper, Flipper--Season One is an adventure
series that features extensive underwater photography and
intriguing story lines involving a widowed park ranger, his
two sons, and a clever dolphin named Flipper. This first season
of Flipper finds brothers Sandy (Luke Halpin) and Bud (Tommy
Norden), their father Park Ranger Porter Ricks (Brian Kelly),
and their dolphin Flipper posted at the Coral Key Park and
Marine Preserve where they're charged with upholding the law
and responding to a variety of predicaments ranging from divers
injured by shark attacks, to protecting visitors from incoming
hurricanes, rescuing zoo animals from a sinking ship, and
fighting congressional battles for continued funding to ensure
the very existence of their marine preserve. While Bud's and
Sandy's impulsiveness sometimes get them into trouble, the
boys and their father can be counted upon to remain clear-headed
in times of crisis. More often than not, though, it's Flipper
who fulfills the most crucial role in any given rescue attempt.
Guest stars are numerous and include Andy Devine, Margaret
Hayes, Dan Chandler, and Ric Applewhite. The underwater photography
of marine life was cutting-edge in 1964 and holds up well
to this day, providing a fascinating look at trained and instinctive
dolphin behavior and marine ecosystems and, while some of
the story lines may seem a bit dated to today's audiences,
the bigger issues like marine preservation and doing what
is right still ring true. Childhood adventure, peril, and
suspense pervade each of the 30 half-hour episodes in this
first season. Flipper--Season One promises to leave adults
born in the nineteen-fifties and nineteen-sixties reminiscing
fondly about their own childhoods and humming the Flipper
theme song--what's more, their children (and perhaps grandchildren)
will enjoy the program right alongside them and are more than
likely to join in wholeheartedly on the refrain "Flipper,
Flipper, faster than lightning. . . ."
