The other day I got a Spacex set, with what looked like a few common Spacex toys on top of its regular contents. Except that closer inspection has me delighted and mystified on two of them. With Mr Woods' kind cooperation, I would like to ask everyone if they have any that show the same details?
First thing I noticed was that the Needle Probe is marked "made in Hong Kong" underneath its fuselage. Whereas every other one I've ever seen has that marking underneath its wings, with or without a Triang Spacex logo. Second thing I noticed was the rather vivid shade of blue on the landing gear, also the first time I'd seen that as opposed to the greyish blue or black found on other Spacex toys. It's also whitened from having the wheels pinned in, which I'd never seen happen before. And finally I compared it to another example and saw the most obvious difference being the rather mauvish shade of pink, also never seen before. (Other tiny differences are the width of the front landing gear being slightly more narrow, the wheel pins having slightly thicker heads, and the cockpit being a tad higher than usual, but all of those could be still be due to production tolerances I think. And it doesn't have name stickers on the wings, but perhaps those got lost).
And then I noticed the same "made in Hong Kong" under the tail end of my new Space Patrol 1 as well. All narrow caps, with almost no spaces between the words, as opposed to a larger, better spaced marking in the middle of the fuselage, again with or without Triang Spacex logo. And it has the same blue landing gear with the same whitening in it. So I compared that to another example as well, and only then noticed the most obvious again, in that it isn't screwed together like all the others. When preparing the picture above I finally spotted the difference on the engine housing fins, but seem to recall having seen others with rounded instead of square-cut ends which I'll now need to doublecheck. (The darker blue engine nacelles are a common variation, normally found on later-production Patrol craft).
I have no reason to believe these aren't bona-fide Spacex toys (and wouldn't know what the heck else they might be if they're not), but all the different details on them do make me wonder a bit. And also where they might fit in time-wise with the other variations. Which is why I hope somebody else has these toys showing the same details, or yet another Spacex toy with the same colour landing gear. And if you've got it in (or removed it from) a Spacex pack then I'd be very happy to hear that too. Any luck?
Many thanks in advance
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Paul Vreede
17 comments:
I've checked my loose craft, Paul. I have only the usual kind, not your intriguing variants.
One thought comes to mind, but I don't attach much credence to it: could these be among the attempts to copy SpaceX, as mentioned in Games and Toys, March 1970?
Let me quote the bit which came to mind:
A criterion of their popularity is the fact that many attempts were made to copy the range and
legal actions were successfully taken. Quite rightly, Rovex-Tri-ang Ltd, are so proud of their
Spacex range that they are determined to protect any possible infringements of the project.
I havent had a moment to check my loose ships either, but im intruiged.
I suspect the copyright infringements were probably the 'Linda' toys as seen on the Thunderfreighter thread. Or the more well known Roxy versions.
I remember getting my Linda toys from the back of a mobile shop selling sweets and cigaretttes, never saw them in any kind of standard retail outlet.
I suspect you are right about the copyright infringement, Wote.
I'm trying to think ... but I don't know that I've ever seen a mobile shop. Remind me where that was, please, Wote.
Another thought which comes to mind ... (gosh, two thoughts in one day!) ...
Could it be that the molds (dies, whatever) were retooled after Rovex Tri-ang stopped doing business? Or would that not make sense?
I'm probably being stupid saying that. But I am a firm believer in generating ideas, even silly ones, as a way to solve problems.
ha, ha - mobile shop ? Basically a transit van with shelves fitted! Bloke used to put a set of metal steps by the back door which had been adapted into a barn door style arrangement and us kids used to hang over the lower part of the door pointing at stuff and saying "i want one of those!" and then thrusting a handful of shrapnel at him. When I was moved out of Toxteth in Liverpool 8 to Speke, my mate was hipped out to Cantril Farm - one of the new estates being built in the seventies after the 'slum clearances' of all the old housing. I went to visit him and viola! here was this old guy in a van peddling sweets and small groceries round the estate in lieu of a local shop. Hes probably a tax exile in Monaco now.
There's still vans like that round here - now they peddle drugs!
are they not BMWs ? :-D
I've seen something similar Toad regarding Golden Astronaut's legal claim on it's range - this appeared on Ebay this year
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjeno-VnGlw/Ti17RnKhPII/AAAAAAAANJ4/v3lUgh41QHs/s1600/GA+legal+notice+ebay+2011.jpg
The other range that had a Space Patrol was 2005 and Beyond. I haven't got any so I can't compare I'm afraid Paul. There's a pic of a Roxy three-pack on the blog but there's no Space patrol or Needle in it [did they issue them?] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RsCCizsWvNw/SiLrp_o8cvI/AAAAAAAADiY/_K_0g0ASyko/s1600-h/project+s+bill+roxy+golden+astronaut+3+pack+carded.jpg
Golden Astronaut Legal Notice link - in full this time!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjeno-VnGlw/Ti17RnKhPII/AAAAAAAANJ4/v3lUgh41QHs/s1600/GA+legal+notice+ebay+2011.jpg
Maybe 2005 and Beyond didn't have a Space Patrol. I'm getting confused with Reconnaissance 2!
2005 & Beyond were Multiple Toymakers retooled ships. Different from standard SPacex in that they left out the more complicated bits of the molding such as the launchers or the cones on the nacelles of SPace Patrol (yes there was one!) Had the SPacex logo removed too, but left behind the little rectangle on which it sat.
Fascinating thread, even though it doesn't cover what I was hoping :)
Lemmesee... My money is on Roxy as defendants in the infringement case. They not only blithely copied the toys, but also had them packed in similar graphics with a logo and name that was a straight ripoff. Probably before they repackaged them as Moon Traffic, and this may also explain the change in their Prospector's wheels.
I have the page Paul is referring to, which sat opposite the well-known B/W Golden Astronauts advert in Toys & Novelties magazine. It mentions legal action in HK, which I think would've been the best place to get somebody like Roxy in front of a judge.
As to my two oddballs - as I said, if they're not Spacex then I don't know what the heck they might be. Not Roxy - those are clearly marked. Not Linda either, their Patrol craft copy differs in a few respects. I'm inclined to believe they're Spacex, but where in blazes do they fit in...
cheers
--
Paul
Re. the oddballs Paul, I had a look at my own tonight [I should rephrase that!] and they are standard issue I'm afraid. The blue white landing gear plastic is fascinating - it sort of reminds me of the marbled plastic on my AHI Moonship, which I've understood to be recycled plastic lacking its chroming. The bright pink reminds me of my Tarheel Nova 1. I've included it on a blog archive I've put together of a few Spacex and Golden Astronaut vehicle pics I've accumulated over the years from the lieks of Mark Mc, Ebay and my own stuff. I think everything's standard issue as well in there but here you go:
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2008/09/spacex-archive.html
Here's another reader's SP1 too, Nyraths, on his flickr design pages
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyrath/5850137164/in/photostream/
Got the darker blue engine points but can't see anything else Paul.
Hey many thanks Paul! A pleasure to see, even if what I'm after is all underneath.
The whitening in the blue landing gear is actually caused by stress in the plastic. If you have some sprue left from a plastic kit, then you'l see that goes white as well if you twist or bend.
And thanks for pointing out Nyrath's pics - that's a right impressive rendering of a Patrol ship he's made.
Best
--
Paul
Sorry your'e mystery hasn't been solved though Paul. I'll put a link to the post in the side-bar so it's visible to new readers for the next few months. PS. I'm sure you've noticed that the mauve Probe has only one set of rear wheels? You will have done but I thought I'd mention it!
Just zoomed in on the rear wheels - the second pairing has split off and is missing in action I see now! I'll put my specs on next time!
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