Heres a line of mostly overlooked toys that are much overdue for some positive attention. In the mid eighties, British Home Stores, a high street department store decided to cash in on the space toy craze brought about by Star Wars and similar films and tv series. Taking a quite common base toy they developed a whole series of items around it. Similar in theme to Thunderbirds or our favourite, Sword, they produced a fleet of dedicated exploration vehicles for various environments such as Ocean, Polar, Terrain, Space and a standard Rescue vehicle.The history and background to these toys has been documented and explored much better than I can do here by fellow collector Joe Lang at his own website. Go take a look at the complete line there. Meanwhile, ill give you a brief taster here showing the modular Base Station and vehicles.
During the eighties, I was a complet Star Wars obsessive and nothing else would do, so although I did see the toys on the shelves, I overlooked them for the much more gawdy creations of Kenner. I have managed to piece together an almost complete set of the vehicles and part of a base and just today, thanks the the generous and considerate Mr Lang, I have added the rarest of the rare. Tandy picked up the basic design of the toy and expanded the concept still further with this Mars Mission Explorer - this has tracks in place of the toothed wheels and comes in a wonderful shade of deep space purple!
Finally, Ive added in a picture of some distant cousins - the fixer-upper on the top left is a Power Climber toy and sits next to an orange Tomy Adventure Buggy. Front line is a mystery Moon Bus courtesy of Mr Woods car boot foraging and lastly a 6x6 Amphibian Truck, as at home on water as on land. Ive added in an Explorer 12 Polar crewman for scale.
Not sure I like the "dome"seen on some of the vehicles - it looks like a cookie jar. But apart from that, gosh, these are marvellous! Why don't I have any?
ReplyDeleteGreat great toys. I've not been to a BHS toy section for years. I'll have to visit one - BHS is one of those unsung stalwarts of the UK High Street. Hope they last. the Explorers toy line reminds me a bit of the older Space Safari by Miniflex. And the figures look like Manta Force. A brilliant collection Wote! I'm leaving this comment on a crappy internet laptop connection through my mobile phone on holiday!
ReplyDeleteYep the dome is a bit misplaced as it has 'portholes' cast in the surface. The fuel pod balls also are a bit odd as they are the same ones that come with cheap 'pop' guns!
ReplyDeleteDo you have close-up pictures of the small, yellow craft on the striped landing pad in the first and second images?
ReplyDeletethe little yellow craft is a Majorette mini sub from the back of a diecast lorry. ill get some close pics for you
ReplyDeleteThank you, WOTAN. I'd appreciate that.
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