Shadowing SHADO

Further to a conversation thats been going on at the attached forum about Italian toys, iv'e unearthed a particularly good example of meditteranean plagiarism.

The toy company Atlantic made lots of tank and armoured vehicles in the eighties and late seventies as well as a host of soldiers and other figures. Among the vehicles was a dead ringer for the UFO mainstay, SHADO 2 Mobile. Called a Laser Command Car or something equally outlandish, the kit is made of soft polythene and moulded in green. Its obviously based on the Shado 2 despite major differences in styling such as the windshield guard, open top radar station and opening tailgate. The series also had a large FROG Rocket launcher, Bridge Layer and Pontoon Vehicle.

Whilst on the Shado 2 trail, I came across the second UFO derivative, a friction driven Rescue Squad truck. Whilst this has six wheel drive as opposed to tracks and has an opening rear gate and ramp, its certainly another Mobile clone. The truck also comes with a small Hovercar that slips neatly in the rear. A well made toy from another unknown maker.

From a Dinky rival, Matchbox comes another cool little vehicle, the Battlekings Missile Launcher. Featuring a great mechanism similar to the opening roof of the Mobile, the roof pops open at the touch of a button to reveal a full load of explosive weaponry and came with six rockets to fire with casual abandon! From the same series, but based on a real US Army vehicle was the slightly tamer, but still cool, 'Hawk' Missile Launcher.

The Battleking has more than passing resemblance to the Joe 90 U59 Explosive Truck. Screen grabs courtesy of the ever resourceful Philosophic Toad!