RETRO UFO INTERCEPTOR FROM SIXTEEN 12

Here are some photos I’ve taken of the recently released Sixteen 12 Retro UFO Interceptor, painted in nostalgic ‘Dinky’ green!

Although this is very much a model for the display cabinet, I couldn’t resist a couple of shots showing it in UFO hunting action!

Obviously, like the previously released Retro Space:1999 Eagles from 16/12, the green UFO Interceptor is another celebration of the Gerry & Sylvia Anderson TV series’ Dinky die-cast toys from the sixties and seventies.

Why did Dinky decide to paint it green? This question has been asked countless times, and lots of armchair experts have come up with several answers, all insisting their answer is gospel. My take on it, for what it’s worth is the rumour that Dinky believed that all white toys didn’t sell as well as something with a more eye catching colour. The UFO Interceptor was seen as a military vehicle, which was usually an olive drab or Army green, but as the Interceptor was also futuristic, so a flashy metallic green could well be seen as an acceptable alternative to plain white.

I’ve learnt to live with the green UFO Interceptor, and have fond memories of playing with the toy and watching the TV series, UFO, when it first aired on my local TV station way back in 1971.

I collected ‘Countdown’ comic, (remarkably, I still have all my original copies) which featured a full colour UFO comic strip, originally drawn by the late Gerry Haylock.

The 1973 Countdown annual featured a cutaway of the Interceptor, piloted by a fully space suited astronaut. A sensible option, of course but not how it was in the TV series! However, it did mention the machine guns situated across the anti-glare cover, used to finish off winged UFOs, or destroy space junk.

Back to present day and the 16/12 Retro Interceptor; although it’s simply an alternative paint scheme to their newly produced re-tooled UFO Interceptor, it does have some lovely ‘Dinky’ detailing. The missile does detach, although it doesn’t have the spring-loaded mechanism which could take an eye out in a cap-fired flash!

(When on display it’s important to make sure the missile is firmly fixed in place, and not, embarrassingly, drooping!)

Comparing the model to its Dinky doppelgänger, it looks pretty good. I used two Dinkys’ in the background of my Interceptor launch photo, and I think the colours all match very well.

The model, which is limited to 1000 units, comes with a display plinth, and vac-formed clear acetate cover. This bubble tray- look mimics the second version of Dinky’s packaging for the Interceptor.

All in all, another fine, and unique modern UFO collectable from Sixteen 12.