Wednesday, 18 January 2012

New SWORD Sightings 2012: Gemini Rocket

Well it's just two weeks into January and already we have two new sightings of SWORD-related material new to the blog.

First up is something I bought from Fleabay [admittedly in December] and it's way cool! It's a vintage Gemini Space Rocket made in Hong Kong by an unknown maker. The rocket toy, not that remarkable, is elastic fired with a small descending parachutist. But it's the backing card that's on interest for on the front and back is artwork of the SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket no less! Have a look yourself below. I've taken the blister off so that the front is completely visible.
Looking at the artwork of the rocket particularly on the rear of the card you can see that the four base wings are red and the upper body and wings are blue. Comparing this with the three known variations of the Apollo Saturn Rocket - from left to right Sears, Tomy and Century 21 - I feel the art is a deadringer for the Tomy version. Do you agree?
The second sighting of a new SWORD-related item to follow!

10 comments:

  1. loving that artwork! The rocket itself is a close copy of a Quercetti Tor Rocket, main difference being the figure molded into the plastic.

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  2. Er..what are the figures on the packaging art sititng on???

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  3. (cough cough) yeah, right ... milk stools. Pfffft.

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  4. Forgot to mention, but that artwork is nice!

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  5. In Space No One Can Hear You Cream!

    Or they could be standard issue anti-grav WC's. That's a lot of thrust to endure with that thick elastoc band!

    And why only one parachutist? Where's the other poor astronaut?

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  6. The other astronaut is still in the, err, milk stool room.

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  7. Heres the original TOR rocket:

    http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2010/03/reaching-for-stars.html

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  8. wow, I had several of those rockets purchased from a local dime store, most seldom survived a day of aggressive repeat launches !

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  9. Is that because they broke or because they got lost?

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