A LOOK AT THE 16/12 RETRO EAGLE FREIGHTER

Here are a few photos of the Retro Eagle Freighter from Sixteen 12 Collectables, which compliments their previous Retro Eagle Transporter release.

N.B. This photo uses the removable winch motor which comes with Sixteen 12's Eagle Hanger Set.

For the photos, I decided to make up a small diorama resembling a section of Nuclear Disposal Area 1, with an illuminated ‘artificial gravity tower’ in the background.

In the opening Space:1999 episode, ‘Breakaway’, N.D.A. 1 was the first waste dumping area on the dark side of the Moon. It was closed down in 1994, although, it was still continually monitored.  Since that point it was used as a navigation landmark (Navigation Beacon Delta) for Moon traffic on route to Nuclear Disposal Area 2.

N.D.A. 1 used large mounds of lunar regolith capped with orange coloured monitoring domes. Area 1 was destroyed after a magnetic sub-surface fire storm on September 11^th, 1999.

The Sixteen 12 Retro Eagle Freighter is a way of celebrating the classic television spin off toys from the seventies, and, in particular the fondly remembered Dinky Space: 1999 die-casts. 

Most collectors are probably aware these days that Dinky felt that generally speaking, as there are the odd exceptions, plain all-white models weren’t good sellers for them, so they decided to select colours which they reckoned kids would find more attractive.

The Dinky Eagle Transporter was always a metallic green with a white pod, while the original run of the Dinky Eagle Freighter, a mix between a pallet Eagle and a winch Eagle for added play value, was white with a red winch pod.

Later a blue version of the Freighter was introduced with a white winch pod.

The Sixteen 12 version takes elements from its previously released models and puts them together in a very attractive nostalgic package.

Obviously, it’s a homage to the Dinky, not a carbon copy, but that’s not going stop folk from making inevitable comparisons. The Dinky is smaller, of course.  The engine bells on the Sixteen 12 model are a bright red, and the fuel pods are painted silver to mimic the steel seen on the Dinky. 

The blue livery is a slightly different shade to the Dinky which is only apparent when you put the two together.  The manoeuvring thrusters and V.T.O.L. bells are red.

As with the Dinky, the Alpha insignia is only on the pallet/pod.

Sixteen 12 have, quite rightly chosen to paint the more detailed magnetic grab red, as opposed to the simple black plastic magnet cover on the Dinky.

The landing feet, which aren’t on the Dinky are painted black. In this photo I substituted the canisters for the winch motor which comes with the Sixteen 12 Eagle Hanger set.

Just like the Dinky, the Radioactive Canisters are yellow and have wrap around stickers, although the wording is slightly different – Dinky : Danger Waste Material, whereas Sixteen 12: Danger Radiation Hazard. Dinky have four cylinders, while Sixteen 12 have six.

Like the Sixteen 12 Retro Eagle Transporter, the Freighter comes in lovely nostalgic packaging and a card display plinth with clear acetate cover, just like the original Dinky Freighter. Of course the Dinky purists will all rush to point out that the blue Dinky Freighter came in a window box, but I think I’ve made the point that this is homage, so yah boo sucks to them!  

Seriously though, I think Sixteen 12 have done another great job. It’s a nice nostalgic package and while these forays into classic toy memories might not be for everyone I, for one is looking forward to more of these vintage re-imaginings.

Here's a link to Sixteen 12 Collectables' new site. https://www.sixteen12.com/shop/retro-space-1999-eagle-freighter/