I saw this on an auction archive. It was described as a mystery white die-cast Thunderbird 2.
It looks plastic to me. Does it to you?
Did Dinky make some plastic prototypes of their Thunderbird 2?
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UPDATE
Blog reader Bill Everatt has had a good look at this picture and is pretty sure he can see green paint on the rear exhaust collars where the missing nacelles would attach. This green paint would suggest this model is an original green die-cast Thunderbird 2 painted white in plasticoat.
However, there have been plastic Dinky Thunderbird 2 prototypes. The amazing Dinky Toys TV Space Specials site features yellow and black plastic Dinky models. Look here about three quarters of the way down:
Christies auctioned a yellow prototype in 2002
Here's a die-cast model with a white plastic base
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UPDATE 2
American reader Lance has nailed this one too. Thanks Lance! Yes, case closed! ha ha
It is indeed the white Zee Toys Thunderbird 2 shown complete in this boxed Thundering Firebirds and Space set.
There's even the 70 sticker on the side!
Thundering!
Anyone got any of these toys?
I consulted my old 'bible' on Anderson Toys to see what it said about Zee Toys. You can see the page below, which describes the similar Yot Thunder Birds.
There is mention of a white bodied Thunderbird 2, together with a yellowed bodied version in the description below.
I came across a plastic TB2 years ago (yellow body, black pod). There was speculation they were a cheap export? I don't know the truth though.
ReplyDeleteIt appears to resemble the Dinky TB2 slightly, but without the panel detail, so it could be a prototype, but it looks more like a foreign knock-off. Pure speculation on my part though.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing wrong with Bill's theory is that it doesn't have the panel detail of the Dinky TB2, but has wing detail that the Dinky one doesn't. Also, there's a 'slot' in the back of the craft where the pod goes that wasn't on any Dinky model.
ReplyDeleteLooking at this quite closely, I'd nix the idea this was a prototype. The ADinky prototypes have the raised panel lines detail on them while this has minimal detailing located on the wings.
ReplyDeleteThe raised engine pod at the rear is unlike any Dinky model. Dinky has a smooth front relying on stickers for the detailing while this white one has more 'accurate' 4 pods of engines instead of a bar. However the white one has an odd transition from the support to the engines and the side 'lugs' are too thick to be Dinky.
If you look at the hole in the back of the space the pod would occupy, you'll notice several things. For starters the opening is way too big for the small bit of metal Dinky used to friction hold the pod in. This one runs through almost all of the upper and lower body halves. Also look at the thickness of the walls. They also appear to be not fully square nor the same thickness which is more indicative of this being a toy or model kit.
The mold lines do not appear to be the same as seen on the Dinky model. There also appears to be no indentation for the cockpit side stickers that is on the Dinky mold.
While stickers can be a false indicator as kids love stickers and putting them on everything, I think these are what will lead us to discover what it actually is. We have a 79 that is large on the sides. We have an American flag on the rear. We have the remains of a black sticker over part of the cockpit.
So, in my opinion, this is actually the Zee Toys Firebird toy of Thunderbird 2.
Here's the link to the auction with more pics: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Matchbox-Thunderbirds-Thunderbird-II-Mini-Diecast-Space-Vehicle-White-KO-/183010330575 This ives s a better idea of scale.
This is a pic of the Zee Toys boxed set showin us the full set of TB knock offs and the scale: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdEWvSLYlaI/W_stBpn6aSI/AAAAAAAAFSw/Qad5_yuwnDwe4jqrZE2g5sxSALWFzzGNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/zee%2Btoys%2Bfirebirds.JPG featured here on Sunday, 9 December 2018.
So we have a beat up, incomplete Zee Toys Firebird 2. Case closed.
I don't recall if I was ever aware of this toy before, but having looked at the links you supplied, I'd say you're 100% correct. So it WAS a 'foreign' knock-off.
DeleteExtra info: Zyll Enterprises, Ltd, manufactured diecast cars under the brand name of Zylmex. In the USA, they were distributed under the names of Zee Toys. I can find no info regarding any ties between them and Yot Toys (also featured here) which also made/sold the Firebird toys (same molds and colors even) under the THUNDER BIRD SERIES label. Here is a solo card TB2 knockoff from Yot Toys in green but has a white pod... https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/THUNDERBIRDS-THUNDER-BIRD-NO-2-MODEL-MADE-BY-YOT-TOYS-AKA-THUNDERBIRD-2-MN-/191407797864
ReplyDeletei'd agree with Lance, either that or an Eidai Grip TB2.
ReplyDeletecheck out the legs and the rear slot on this Eidai Grip version, recently sold by Adam Strang on Ebay: https://picclick.fr/Eidai-Grip-Popy-Dinky-Thunderbird-2-Thunderbirds-Chogokin-312139647615.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for solving this Lance and thanks everyone else for your contributions. There is mention of Zee Zylmex and Yot in this encyclopeadia. 'Look inside' the book and use the search facility https://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia-Small-Scale-Manufacturers-Sahakangas-2006-11-01/dp/B01FKX04GQ
ReplyDeleteThe Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, by Kimmo Sahakangas, Dave Weber, and Mark Foster, Iconografix, 2006, is a large soft-back book which covers diecast makers from around the world. Given the size of the subject, most entries are short, but there is basic and very useful information on many small and little known companies. Only some entries are illustrated, but all the photos are in colour. I got my copy last year, and find it very useful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul. I read a bit of it online.
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