P3 Helicopter
The P3 Helicopter (Security Patrol Copter in the Golden
Astronaut range) first appeared in the Agent 21 strip, drawn by Rab Hamilton.(TV21
issue 71, dated May 28, 2066)
There’s very little difference between the original drawing
and the toy. Even the lettering and stripes were retained.
Space Patrol 1
Space Patrol 1 (or Space Command Ship as it was named in the
Golden Astronaut range) started out as the spaceship, ‘Guardian’ in the Ron
Turner illustrated Dalek strip (TV21 issue 92, dated October 22, 2066)
Nuclear Frieghter II
The Spacex Nuclear Freighter II. Its original design (with a
passing nod to Thunderbird 2) can be seen in a Mike Noble Fireball XL5 strip
(TV21 issue 72 dated June 4, 2066.) In the strip it’s a hi-jacked Flame King
spaceliner . A Thunderbird 5 - looking space station is also featured.
Tractor T-5
The Tractor T-5 (or Terran Tiger in the Golden Astronaut
range) owes some of its design to the tractor vehicles in Thunderbirds (The
Transmitter truck, The Fire truck, Eddie Houseman’s explosives truck). Eric
Eden must have been influenced by these when he drew this Dateline 2066
illustration in TV21 issue 87 dated September 17, 2066.
That same issue did feature another spacecraft design in an
Eric Eden illustrated Fireball XL5 strip that was a proposed Spacex toy for the
second wave of toys, however that sadly didn’t make it.
In fact there are other TV21 illustrations that inspired Spacex designs that never appeared but made it onto the
backing cards of the second wave of Spacex toys. This is a Crash Tender, that appeared in a panel in a Frank Bellamy Thunderbirds strip. (TV21 issue 108, dated February 11,2067) but, as far as we know was never produced as an actual toy.
Forklift 7
Finally, Forklift 7 (or Lift Loader in the Golden Astronaut
range) appears in a Mike Noble Fireball XL5 strip (TV21 issue 97, dated
November 26, 2066)
Bubblepacks
Bubblepacks
A selection of the Spacex bubblepack cards.
A superb follow-up Scoop and it brings back happy memories of when you were posting the TV21 origins for the first time about 9 years. Exciting times and great to see again especially with your wonderful dioramas. I've clicked Notify Me on this comment box so I should be emailed when there's a response.
ReplyDeleteThanks Woodsy.Yeah, the ol' Spacex toys still evoke plenty of nostalgia in me.
ReplyDeleteNine years, eh, where's the time gone, we're coming up to our tenth anniversary, aren't we?
Yep, September 15th 2008 is when it launched! Hard to believe I agree. I was in my forties back then! Its our big 10th anniversary this September!
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this. Nice to see the link between the comic illustrations and the toys. A good piece of research, Scoop :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony. We used to do a lot of articles and photos on Spacex in the earlier days of the blog.
DeleteYeah, its noce to see some SpaceX on Moonbase again. Thanks Scoop. I just dodn't have enough SpaceX toys to do them justice really. Well done.
DeleteI love your beautiful photographs of these beautiful toys!
ReplyDelete