To get me, and anyone else who's going to RAF Cosford at the weekend, in the mood for Thunderbirds I thought I'd revisit an old favourite of mine.
The Dinky Thunderbird 2 is a must for any Anderson fan. It was released with the model number 101 in 1967 and continued more or less in this form until 1973.
The July 1967 edition of the Meccano Magazine carried a feature on the newly released Thunderbird 2 die cast with it's little plastic passenger, Thunderbird 4.
The back page had an advert for both Thunderbird 2 and the Fab 1 models.
This is my Dinky Thunderbird 2 which I’ve had since the early seventies. I'm amazed it's lasted this long, more or less intact.
I always liked the way Dinky and Corgi provided a nice display backing for some of it's models.
The little legs are in scale but they struggle to keep the aircraft up. When Dinky gave the Thunderbird model (106) a facelift in 1974 the legs were made a bit thicker.
Thunderbirds are Go!
Isn't the second (blue) version that Dinky made larger than the original green diecast? Don't think I over had a green one. I wonder if the moulds still exist anywhere?
ReplyDeleteI think the 1990s Matchbox diecast version was very similar to the blue Dinky, and it was green too! Then there was Corgi's 2000s diecast version and Vivid Imagination's also did a plastic one in the mid 1990s. Anyone got them all to compare?
I imagine you're right about the blue second version, Yorkie That went on till 1979. I 've never owned one so I'm only guessing. As you can see mine's the metallic green version which I believe was the version after the original gloss green one.
ReplyDeleteBesides the Dinky 100 FAB1, this 101 TB2 is the absolute favourite of mine. And that inner tray is so HTF in immaculate condition!
ReplyDeleteThere are two variants of the TB2 box, both with and without Gerry Anderson's name on it. I have gathered that the one without must be earlier, though not sure. Can anyone shed any light on this (years of release perhaps)?
The Matchbox 1992 version is extremely pleasing to the eye as well. But try and find the little diecast TB4 that goes inside with any decent paint left, whew!
Cheers Arto
Sounds like you could be right about the box variation , Arto. Mine's a later version so maybe Gerry's company wanted his name on the box.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most favourite toys. I've got the gloss green version, mine (unboxed I'm afraid), is possibly one of the very old ones because the two halves are rivetted together, not screwed together as later ones were.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant toy.
I can't contribute anything on model variations as I only ever had the original, but I couldn't let this pass without saying that I don't think I've ever owned a greater treasure in my life.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we're all agreed folks. It certainly is a smashing toy.
ReplyDelete