Hi Woodsy
On Saturday, 24th May I was able to get to a model shop for the first time in several months. Got a few bits and pieces, including this model. It is by the French firm of Norev, and depicts an unusual variant of the Space Shuttle. The model is based on a real vehicle, used by the tyre company Michelin to promote its products.
The Tour de France bicycle race is accompanied by a fleet of vehicles which advertise various companies, and Norev have produced models of several of them over the years. This vehicle was used in the 1998 Tour, but the model is from somewhat later. It is mainly metal, with plastic details, and is a good model.
Space Shuttle tyres were originally made by BF Goodrich, which was bought by Michelin in 1989, which is why Michelin are using a Space Shuttle to promote their products. I do not know what sort of vehicle was used as the basis for this mobile billboard, but it could have been a tractor ? The Shuttle is being held up by two Michelin Men.
The Orbiter is very flat, and the wings are an odd shape. It carries the name Enterprise. The colour scheme is blue and white, the Michelin colours, rather than the black and white used on real Shuttles. Markings on the base are NAVETTE SPATIALE MICHELIN (Michelin Space Shuttle in French), 1/43, and the NOROV name.
It comes in a boring, plain white window box, with the Norev name in silver on the sides. On the back it states Designed in France, Made in China. Alas, no date.
I love this model!
Paul Adams
New Zealand
I like the safety bars over the front tyres, presumably to prevent cyclists from being dragged under by by the wheel rotation of this Juggernaut!
ReplyDeleteits a nice little combination of elements, buggy, shuttle, satellite and two Bibendum holding it aloft! The shuttle is especially pleasing as its not the standar shuttle shape and seems to owe more to the original prototypes. I was so disappointed with the final shuttle design, after being fed on the early designs - piggyback planes, mustard triamese, russian Spiral. The final shuttle looks like a jumbo jet!
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