Tri-ang Moonmobile Redux

Ive touched on this baby before in the more general article http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/02/crawler-cavalcade-by-wotan.html, but its one of my special favourites and actually the very first item I ever bought on ebay!

Made by Tri-ang for the 'space year 1969' as the small article in the Tri-ang '69 Xmas catalogue puts it, this is a wonderful toy by any stretch of the imagination. Bearing very close similarity to its larger Marx cousin and also having a lot in common with Mattels Space Crawler, this is a much more 'sci-fi' vehicle than the other more realistic crawlers.

The streamlined hull and chromed parts are accentuated by the big twin missile launcher mounted over the cockpit. On this model, the previous owner made up a pair of reproduction missiles but also fitting in slots inside the cabin are four original missiles. Keen eyed Anderson and Dinky collectors will immediately recognise these as belonging to the Dinky SPV and SHADO 2 Mobile. Tri-ang were obviously making good use of their affiliation with the company and borrowed a few parts! Commander Craig also has a definite look of Captain Scarlet on the box artwork, even down to the light up epaulettes on his bright yellow tabard jacket.

Powered by two batteries neatly slung under the cockpit, the Moonmobile races along and has great climbing ability. Attention has also been lavished on the box art and a great deal of painted artwork graces the sides. Even the inner tray for the toy is quite complex and the main box endflaps have special instructions for opening correctly.

Also featured in the Xmas catalogue was another space item from Tri-ang, the Spacenik. This was a version of Tomys 'Grippidee Gravidee' toy and the actual toy itself is still branded Tomy, whereas the box is marketed by Triang Rovex. Conspicuous by their abscence in the 'space year' are Spacex toys! Shame!

Its also interesting to notice the price sticker on the end of the box - 49/11 - thats about £2.50 or so in todays money, but would have been a premium item at the time!