JR21 Thunderbird 2

Thunderbird 2 - probably the most popular Thunderbird craft, and certainly my favourite.

 

 

JR21 released two distinctly different versions over time. The first was Empire Made and manufactured in Hong Kong. This version, in my opinion is the better made of the two. It is easily identified as having white mouldings on each of it’s four legs. It’s yellow bands are painted so are more likely to remain intact, and the ends of its red engine exhausts have a chrome foil at the end.

 

The second Made In England version was manufactured in Britain using a slightly different mould. The wings are slightly thinner than the Empire Made versions so are not interchangeable.

The pod in the first versions contained either a green or red land rover.

The pod in the Made in England  version, which again is not interchangeable with the earlier version contains a grey plastic vehicle claiming to be The Mole.

This second version is easily identified in that it has red moulding on the legs. The yellow bands are less durable transfers, and the engine exhuasts have grey plastic trellis at the end

There are some very slight differences on the boxes.

Each identifies on the side of the box where the toy originated - Empire Made, the lower in the picture, and Made in England, above. When both boxes are compared slightly different colours can be seen in the illustration and the JR21 logo.