CENTURY 21 S.P.V.

The Century 21 Toys Spectrum Patrol Vehicle, certainly a thing of beauty and one of Derek Meddings finest designs. 

It’s a reasonably large toy, probably in the region of 1/32 scale, and unlike the SPC and the Angel, its fairly robust, although some of the gadgets have mechanisms that use rubber bands which unless replaced will perish.

The rear tracks fold down, but in a slightly different way to the Dinky version. The tracks are something that some people like to ask about. Their benefits never featured in the TV series, but an explanation for them appeared in the first 1967 Captain Scarlet annual, and artist Ron Embelton utilised this in his TV21 strip.  I tend to speculate that they are obviously there to give additional traction.

As is usual with all the Captain Scarlet C21 toy vehicles there's a spring loaded missile. On the SPV it's fired from the top air intake by pressing down the fragile top fin. There's also a small pull out piece at the front, which I have no idea what it is. The box say's there's a 'Radar Moniter', so maybe that's it. 

 The side door slides open revealing Captain Scarlet. Inside the cabin the rear view screen can be seen, and also a few control dials. One the other side is an opening hatch which reveals an ejector seat. A figure of Captain Blue should sit there, however my Captain Blue has long since disappeared behind the couch somewhere. I suppose there’s  repros out there but I’ve never looked. Same with the aerials , which are fake. I cobbled them up using a couple of Lego aerials.  

There's also spring suspension which does add a quality feel to the toy.