TV21 & SPACEX TOYS

Continuing my look at Spacex and the TV21 connection, here’s a few more photos of Spacex toys that took their designs from the pages of TV21.

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

A selection of the Spacex  bubblepack cards.