The much delayed sequel to Top Gun will be in cinemas shortly and the rather minimal range of toys are filtering into the shops. Chief amongst them are the small line of (Matchbox) Mattel Skybuster planes, a series which has been running since the seventies, now updated after Mattel took over Lesney.
Aside from the usual US Air Force fighters, there is the rather nice 'Darkstar' Stealth Jet, which presumably Tom Cruise as the eponymous 'Maverick' of the title, gets to save the world in.
It clearly takes its cue from the many previous stealth concepts, but opts for more streamlined edges than the current stealth profiles. There's no visible cockpit, so we can expect tight 'in the helmet' close ups of Cruise as he piles on the machs in an enclosed space.
The model itself is very minimal, with no moving parts or opening hatches, but does come with a low stand, which is a nice bonus as theres no landing gear!
Most of the aircraft in the Top Gun movies are US Navy, rather than US Air Force, as Maverick is a Navy pilot. He flew the F-14 Tomcat in the first movie (now retired) and the F/A-18 Hornet in the latest version. Matchbox did an extensive range of Top Gun: Maverick models in 2020, when the film was originally due out. This included Sky-Busters on special cards, two 5-packs of standard Matchbox models; an Aircraft Carrier playset; and several multi-model sets. With the film being delayed several times, the current Top Gun line is much reduced, but does include a couple of new aircraft types (or were they just delayed, like the film ?).
ReplyDeleteLovely model plane Wote, very futuristic. I like the stand as well. It would make a good SWORD Scout in plastic. The whole Top Gun mythos passed me by as I've never seen the original film. Is it about planes or Tom Cruise and Kim Basinger getting it on?
ReplyDeleteTop Gun is the US Navy Fighter Weapons School. With losses mounting in the Vietnam War, the US Navy decided its pilots needed more training in air combat, and the school was established to improve their air to air performance. It did. The original movie included lots of F-14 Tomcat, F-5 Tiger II, and A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. Alas, much time was taken up with the 'love story' between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. But it was worth sitting through these boring bits to see all the aircraft in action.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul. Kelly McGillis eh. I thought it was Kim Basinger.
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