Samurai SWORD

It's turning out to be one of those Swordtastic weeks. First Wote found the brand new Tomy Interplanetary Rocket [Apollo Saturn]. Then we saw a very unusual T in a Circle boxed Plane from super US  Ebayer Ykessa [more on this later] and just yesterday evening blog friend Terry Harle spotted these awesome Japanese Imai model kits in Japan. These individial kits containing SWORD vehicles with box art by the Showa master Shigeru Komatsuzaki are about as close as we've come to seeing the parts of the  fabled Imai Project SWORD Moon Base model kit, which remains invisible to this day. In the meantime enjoy! [text in italics taken and translated from the Japanese']

Above:

"Imai science space science series No. ５４ Thunderbird Series ＵＦＯ private dome № 2.model was released in 1972. Dome, nuclear power car, Lunar armored vehicles, and interceptor
picture Komatsuzaki Shigeru."

Above:

"Imai science space science series No. ５５ thunderbadseries ＵＦＯ private dome № ３. Model was released in 1972. Launch vehicles with dome (sky 1, mystery disc). Picture Komatsuzaki Shigeru."

Above:

"ＵＦＯ starbase １ Imai science. Dome, unmanned exploration vehicles, and no. 1 interceptor.
Picture Komatsuzaki Shigeru."

Above:

"Space attack squadron. Three interceptor radar tractor rocket glide car mechanic. Picture Komatsuzaki Shigeru."

Above:

"Imai science model car space special riot police. Three Shado, Moon craft, and vertically rising aircraft mechanic. Picture Komatsuzaki Shigeru."

Above:

Paramount Stingray

Pictures courtesy of Retorotoy, Yahoo Japan and spotted by Terry Harle