When it
comes to Captain Scarlet toys one of my favourites has to be the Century 21
Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, something I enjoy seeing in a suitable diorama.
It’s
certainly an accurate looking toy, and a good size something like 1:32 scale,
around 10”.
Bearing in
mind this is a friction drive toy and not a scale model, it does have stickers in
place of some detailing for the front lights and intakes.
It has
several features, some that were seen in the series.
The driver
door opens revealing Captain Scarlet facing the rear.
Inside the
cabin the drivers console is very nicely detailed with what is supposed to be a
forward facing T.V. screen. Any Captain
Scarlet fan will tell that being seated facing the rear of the vehicle when you’re
busy ramming something in front is better when it comes to health & safety.
The roof
intake houses a spring –loaded missie, and the top fin is the trigger release.
There’s an
ejector seat on the passenger side covered by a hinged roof hatch. A Captain
Blue figure sits in there. My Captain Blue actually came in a damaged Century
21 Spectrum Patrol Car courtesy of blog reader, Steve Davis who kindly offered to replace my missing one. Oddly,
the figures in the SPV and SPC are actually slightly different scales which I
hadn’t noticed before, so my Captain Blue is a little larger.
It should
come with aerials; mine didn’t so I had to get a couple of replicas.
The detailed
rear tracks fold down. This feature was never
used in the actual series but explained in the Captain Scarlet annuals and used
in TV21. Whether the principles involved would actually work is open to debate,
but the design still looks cool.
Ron Embleton artwork from TV21.
There’s also
a small put out drawer panel at the base of the sloped front that hides what is
supposed to be a small dummy machine gun.
I do have
the original box (minus the paper slip), but unfortunately the cover has begun
to disintegrate, but as it is original I’ll stick with it rather than get a
replica.
Although it’s
fairly robust, there are a few parts that are obviously susceptible to damage.
The roof hatch is usually the first to go, along with the loose Captain Blue
figure. The roof fin is likely to break (I discovered mine pushed inside its slot)
and the missiles are bound to go missing, along with the aerials. Thankfully, I’ve
noted a few enterprising folk springing up who do replica parts of varying
quality and price, and with the advent of 3D printers these part should become
common place.
Although I’ve
had mine for several years now, naturally, these toys are getting harder and
harder to find nowadays. As it’s a vehicle it generally going to more popular
and sought after than a game or a sticker book with Anderson fans. I tend to
avoid the word rare, as some people overuse it to jack up the price, but it
might be apt in the case of the Century 21 SPV.
Great article and pics. Owning an original box for this toy, regardless of condition, certainly puts you ahead of the game in my opinion, Scoop! I always prefer the authenticity of original boxes over replicas. I absolutely rate this fragile toy vehicle as being genuinely rare, especially in this excellent condition. A truly fab piece to have in your collection and nice to see out on the road :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony. Replicas have their place, but nothing beats original.:)
DeleteWhat a great toy, and great photos which really show it off. I would certainly call it a scale model, as stated on the box top.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Century 21 toy there's absolutely no excuse to get the shape wrong;)
DeleteSeriously, I imagine if any one was extremely lucky enough to find an example in bad need of restoration, it wouldn't take too much make a really fine scale model, Paul.
I have the Vivid Imaginations version, which is a nice toy, but has its bad points. First of all, it doesn't have the double-wheels, and the hinge on the top hatch is too prominent. Also, the front part that says SPV is too flat and doesn't have the contours of the TV version (or your one). Another curious aspect is that the main body loses its bluish tinge after a few years, while the fin and tracks-piece retain their original colour - probably because a different kind of plastic was used. What do you think of the VI version, Scoop?
ReplyDeleteHi Kid, I've got two versions of the Vivid. The die cast and the slightly larger sound tech version. Both look pretty good, but as you point out they don't have the double wheels which are an important part of the look. Vivid obviously took their lead from the Dinky toy which suffers from the same problem, although the Dinky is a slightly larger toy.
DeleteThe small Takara SPV which is slightly smaller than the Vivid is very similar but that does have the double wheels (no other features apart from fold down tracks)
I've never really noticed the slope on the front being too flat before until you pointed it out, but you're right.
As to the colour, the roundalls have faded and parts of the plastic base are turning a shade of green, along with plastic top fin. The metal body is pretty much the same colour.
When it comes to the larger radio controlled version with the over sized wheels, and the one for the action figures I afraid I don't like those at all.
I'm talking about the 10 inch long Vivid SPV, which was clearly modelled after the one in your photos, Scoop. I'll try and post photos of it on my blog later today. Some bits are an improvement on the Century 21 version, some parts aren't.
DeleteRegarding the smaller versions, the first was diecast, as you say, and was slightly smaller than the Dinky one. (Though they used photos of a repainted Dinky one on their promotional material.) The second one was plastic, had 'Soundtech', but was actually pretty much the same size as the Dinky version.
That sounds like the one for the action figures, Kid, am I right?
DeleteI've seen plenty of examples of it at toy fairs in various conditions but I've never been tempted.Let me know when you post and I'll check it out. You never know, I might rethink my position.:)
No that's the big SPV 'playset', which has a slightly deformed look. The one I'm talking about is very similar to the Century 21 version in your photos. I'm just about to take pics of the VI one - I'll try and have them on the blog shortly.
DeleteAh, I think I know the one you mean. It opens up and you can the inside.
DeleteYes, though you can do that with the playset one too. Pics about to go up on my blog. Give me ten mins or so.
DeleteWhen you're done post a link, Kid.
DeleteRight, that's it up, Scoop. The link is http://kidr77.blogspot.com/2020/04/is-it-just-my-vivid-imagination-or-is.html
DeleteThanks Kid, I'll check it out now.
DeleteExcellent post, thanks Scoop. As Tony pointed out, it is a rare piece and has eluded also myself - loose or boxed - for all these years. So many other models still dearly missed of my favourite Capt. Scarlet vehicle. Great to see your wonderful pics in the meanwhile to soothe things out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Arto. I'm planning on doing the Spectrum Patrol Car tomorrow.:)
DeleteExcellent phot coverage of a really neat toy Scoop!
ReplyDeleteCheers Ed :)
Delete