Here's the listing and the box - "This Captain Scarlet slot car racing set is one of the rarest of the Gerry Anderson toys and an absolute gem, in amazing condition for being made almost 50 years ago. Made in England by Triang Rovex, it consists of a gray plastic track that clips together and two Spectrum Patrol Cars, one red and one yellow, which race against each other. Car bodies clip to chassis and are battery operated with "touch" to start and "touch" to stop. Includes the tiny "T" shaped pullers which attach to the chassis and keep the cars in the slots of the track. Instructions are on the box. Cars and track are in excellent working condition, box shows a little wear and tear but it sound. Plastic covering over "windows" has been carefully replaced (a long time ago) and there are a few tape repairs to the edge of the box, but it is overall in solid condition. Brilliant box art by Ron Turner!"
Having looked closely at Scarlet's face on the box, and having found a very similar image from a TV 21 comic or annual strip online, I'd say it's a copy in Ron's style, but not actually drawn by him.
ReplyDeleteIt looks traced to me, with inferior shading.
Could be wrong though, not 100% about this.
Great insights Mish, thanks.
DeleteId say the SPC on the right side is a dynamic Turneresque angle, but overall its distinctly inferior to his work. As Mish says, probably a copy by a jobbing Tri-ang artist. They freely borrowed a Captain Scarlet figure for the Moonmobile a few years later, which isn't branded Anderson, so they aren't above a little artistic licence.
ReplyDeletehttps://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/08/tri-ang-moonmobile-redux.html
Thanks for that Wote. I see what you mean.
DeleteWorthpoint just regurgitates old ebay auctions and as we all well know Ebay is a little 'imaginative' in its descriptions of items in order to make a sale!
ReplyDeleteI like Worthpoint.
DeleteI have no idea who the artist was, but the listing certainly contains at least one error, so there may be others. It is said the cars 'race against each other', but the track in this set has only one slot, so the cars can only chase each other, not race. The track is shown in previous posts on this set, and the single slot is clearly visible.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted Paul. I can't find any other reference online for Ron Turner being the box artist for any toy.
ReplyDelete