I'm beginning to think that Japan played a bigger role in the development of Project SWORD than I previously thought. Certainly two or three toys spring to mind.
We already know that the Moon Ranger most likely originates from the earlier Nichimo Space Ranger and the Tomy Interplanetary Rocket maybe the predecessor of the Apollo Saturn Rocket. The Otaki Monster Car also seems to predate Probe Force 3.
To probe further [no pun intended!] I've taken a look at the pilots in the Moon Ranger and Probe Force 3, together with those from Japan. Despite not owning the Japanese toy models here goes. First up are the Rangers, which I think you'll agree contain more or less the same astronaut.
Doing the same for the recently discovered Otaki Monster Car and the later Probe Force 3 is less successful as I don't really have a decent close-up of the Japanese pilot's face. See what you think.
Should anyone be lucky enough to own either the Nichimo Space Ranger or the Otaki Monster Car I would be very grateful for close-ups of the pilots.
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