Further to Woodstocks poser as to where Phase 2 fitted into the SWORD scheme of things, heres the badge from the Nuclear Ferry box, possibly the flagship of a second round of models, which probably included the infamous Moonbase, that never saw production. But there again, we never thought the Ferry existed...
or maybe it was much more simple than that ....
and as always, my eternal thanks to Nuclear Terry for finding the beast in the first place!
Excellent Wote. Ta. Wonder why C21 chose the Ferry as a Phase 2 toy? The Phase 2 advert in TV21 shows a Saturn Apollo. Was that Ph.2 as well? Nothing on the box I don't think.
ReplyDeleteBTW what's the font they've used for NUCLEAR FERRY anyone?
I had a look in the SWORD manual this morning and it's split into 'sections' rather than 'phases', so that's no help. I'll have to dig out my copy of TV21 where the SWORD text stoeies start and see if it says Phase 2.
ReplyDeleteIt's becoming quite intriguing this.
ReplyDeleteFrom what Wote has illustrated the only known box with Phase 2 is the Ferry. The same typeface is on the Cape Kennedy set but that doesn't seem to have Phase 2 mentioned, and the Saturn Apollo box has the 'original' box design with no P2 indication even though the toy clearly features in the TV21 advert. Further to this, the apparent last toys produced, the Scouts have a another different box design and leaflet , again no mention of Phase 2.
I'm beginning to conclude that maybe Wote has a point. The Ferry is the vanguard of a lost range of Sword toys that were never produced but would have carried the name Phase 2.
several things spring to mind now - the scouts were th last three toys made and all had a sheet instead of a manual. Ferry also only included a spec sheet - which i dont have, but is mentioned on the box - which having seen the scout ones, are only 'photostats'. This could have been a cost saving measure, as the line was in flux. The ferry is a technically complex toy, lot of metalwork inside and a special 'flashing' engine. This would have been expensive and costly to produce, whereas the scouts are cheap throwaways. Perhaps prduction on the ferry was delayed and it was held back as the flagship of Phase 2, waiting the mythical Moonbase and presumably other toys. As Thunderbirds are Go wasnt exactly a smash, perhaps C21 got its fingers burned with the mega expensive Zero X and Apollo models and lacking a tv show backing, when Sword sales dropped off, Phase 2 was dropped, along with Moonbase. Shame.
ReplyDeleteThat the Ferry wasn't made in large numbers is sort of backed up by the fact that the successor to C21, Regent Toys, who sold leftover SWORD stock like the Zero X, Cape Kennedy Set etc under the moniker Project MOON, never included the Ferry. Presumabley there weren't any left to sell when C21 Toys folded. A counter argument however is that Project MOON missed out lots of different SWORD toys, e.g. the Scouts, the Task Forces, Moon Ranger etc. Presumabley these were 'Phase 1'. Were they all gone when C21 Toys ended?
ReplyDeleteGreat insights here in the old thread - I am still wondering whether the Specification Sheet means the SWORD Manual. Since the Scouts spec sheet included only them three, the Nuke Ferry seems to have fallen through somehow. Ferryman's example from pekoday had the Manual, whereas mine had none. Would love to know.
ReplyDelete