Hi all,
Here are photos of the only two Matchbox Sky-Busters Top Gun: Maverick single models I have been able to pick up so far.
I am really confused about how many models there are supposed to be in this series. The information I had seen said 15, but at least one of the cards says 16, and the two models I have say 13. It could be that there are a different number of models in the series in the US and for international markets, but that is only a guess on my part. So I am not going to give a figure anymore, I shall just quote what is printed on the card.
1/13 Darkstar. This resembles the SR-71 Blackbird. Not sure if it is meant to be a manned aircraft, or a drone. There is no undercarriage, but the model comes with a clear plastic display stand that plugs into the underside of the model.
8/13 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet Rooster. This is the usual light grey, but with red trim. Rooster is a character in the film. No US star and bar insignia, which is odd on what is meant to be a US Navy aircraft.
The card design appears to be common to all the models in the series.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Saw these online but can't find them on any of the supermarkets toy sections here in the UK. The toy stores are still all closed anyway. Interesting that both Airfix and Revell tried a cheap cash-in on the new film last year by rereleasing old kits that were in the original film and seem to have lost out as the film has been delayed at least a year. Shsme that no manufactuer is making a model of the Darkstar or the new enemy fighter. I suppose it's a bit too much science fictiony for them.
ReplyDeleteThere are Darkstar and Enemy Fighter models in the Sky-Busters range. I have not seen these in supermarkets either, but none seem to carry Matchbox models anymore in NZ. That leaves the Warehouse chain, or toy shops.
ReplyDeleteThe Airfix and Revell kits may be a 'cheap' cash in on the new film using existing models, but the kits themselves are not cheap. Saw most of them in a toy shop yesterday for the first time, and they are pretty expensive. Prices in NZ dollars: P-51 Mustang $29.99, F-5E Tiger II and A-4 Skyhawk $42.99 each, F-14 Tomcat $54.99. There is also a F/A-18 Hornet, making five kits in all. Airfix also did Top Gun kits when the original movie came out.
Ouch! NZ prices are sky high!. The Skyhawk is just £14.99 over here in the UK ($29 NZ)
DeleteI think old Tom will inevitably end up piloting the Darkstar, probably on a counter insurgency strike on either Korea, China, Russia or one of the mythical nation states that he has to infiltrate in Mission Impossible. Ive been watching for this and the enemy fighter, but still no joy around here. Darkstar isvery like EDI in ‘Stealth’, an enjoyable aero romp made even more enjoyable by the stunning Jessica Biel rolling about in spandex.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen the film nor am I likely to as I am not a fan of Tom.
ReplyDeleteI do have the Darkstar though as it makes a nice addition to my Recon One wing of my Golden Astronaut fleet.
Looking closely at the cockpit area, there is a canopy line indicating it would open on the 'real' one. It has two windscreens and a very thick center post. I'm not sure if that is a limitation of the scale of the toy or how it is in the movie. If it is a single seater, the pilot is going to have practically no forward visibility and limited view off the nose. Based on the locations of the windows and how flat the toy is, I'd wager this is a two seater in side by side instead of tandem configuration. That would mean it is a large bird but the SR71 is large as well. Plus with a crew of two side by side like in the B1 or B2, the crew would have better forward views.