I do love knockoffs. I particularly love Thunderbirds knockoffs and there's a couple of great ones gracing the pages of fleabay at the moment. First up we have a real mish-mash, a carded set containing a cheapo looking Thunderbird 1 together with a racing car and pair of sunglasses no less! Just what the toy maker had in mind when they concocted this combination I just don't know! It's Japanese and looks old. Cam anyone translate the header card?
Second up is a much classier affair and from what I can tell a scarce item. I've certainly never seen one before. I'll have to check if it's in Dennis Nicholson's Anderson Memorabilia Guide but I don't remember it. Basically its a motorised Thunderbird 4 kit called Star Command Galaxy Airsub. Its dated 1977 and was made for Calfax Inc. by Caprice products. I really do like the overall look of the box art and I'm sure that the red star describes an offer of some sort. But what? Oddly, there is no mention of Thunderbirds, which I assume is a licensing evasion tactic. Anyone ever seen this kit before? Are there more in the range?
Gosh, that top one is weird! How on earth do you find these amazing items, Woodsy?
ReplyDeleteWould be fun to know what was in the minds behind that combination. My first thought was, glasses = Brains. But I don't think it is anything to do with that.
Pity we can't see the card behind the toys ... looks interesting.
The TB4 knockoff is actually made from the Lincoln International tooling. TB1 to 4 were also issued as Space Warship 1 to 4 by another company but were also from the Lincoln moulds
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see those Space Warships steve. Only seen them in Dennis Nicholson's book. Do you know of any colour pics of them?
ReplyDeleteI spend inordinate amounts of time browsing Ebay and cyberspace Toad. I think I need to get a life!
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