I have always been mesmerised by the flashing lights of battery operated space toys. When I was a nipper I think it had something to do with it being Christmas when I got my new stuff. The Christmas tree lights and the space toy lights just seemed to blend together adding to the Yuletide magic. The two toys I remember clearly for having fantastic flashing lights were the Lunar Explorer and the Space Frontier Rocket, two Japanese tin toys I adored. I took them to school when you take your Chrissie presents in. They didn't half cause a commotion bumping rounds the chairs and desks in thr classroom! Thrown out or given away by my Mum I was lucky enough to get hold of them both in the 1990's.
Similarly appealing were the plastic 'windows' covering toy rockets' engines like the Probe Force 3.
The Century 21 standard came with a gorgeous translucent blue cover.
As did the rare yellow and purple variation below.
JR21 XL9 orange engine window.
Hover cover's blue too.
Hoover went for orange.
NASA blue.
Space Bird from Japan went for green on two versions and red too.
Those tubular engine windows appear in Sci Fi too. Here's an old russian drawing.
and finally a beautiful image from the TV21 convention by Chrisof of an Anderson Red Arrow looking a lot like a Probe Force 3!
Lights do add something to a toy. I was fascinated by the battery powered lights in the doll house I shared with my sister. And oh, the wonder when I discovered Lego Lighting Bricks!!!!! There was a clear 8-stud brick, which was open at the base. And the even more marvellous red 4-stud lighting brick, which was sealed.
ReplyDeleteLights still capture my attention nowadays. On the rare occasions when I complete a model, it's not unusual for it to include an LED.