A few of my favourite things...by WOTAN

Right, just to ease us gently into a parking orbit around Planet Ygdrassil, and to let me familiarise myself with the controls, i'm going to flag up a couple of toys that could be considered part of the Sword 'expanded universe'.

First up is a hot contender for the Sword All Terrain Vehicle seen in the Annual, making its way across the dried riverbeds of New York state. This battery powered six wheeler, here ably demonstrated by Commander Bill Janson, is a mid 1980's toy by Buddy L. Generally seen as a close competitor to Tonka and making a lot of heavy duty, pressed steel models, this is an all plastic vehicle with a stick shift gear system in the back. Attempting to capitalise on the sudden influx of 3.5 inch action figures in the wake of Star Wars, Buddy L made the vehicle to fit these figures and therby grab a slice of the figure market as well.

A solid and heavy vehicle, with powerful climbing action and full reverse gears, the ATV originally arrived in garish orange and white livery. Seeing an opportunity for a retro makeover,I piled in with airbrush and masking tape to try and give the vehicle a more NASA-like feel as I felt it was a little too 'modern' for the classic Sword fleet.