BOATERIFIC 'ATLAS' HARBOUR TUG

Here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'Atlas' Harbour Tug 

As with the others in my small collection it comes in a plastic display case, plastic moulded base and carded backdrop showing a painted harbour scene showing the hull of a large cruise ship and a cityscape in the distance. 

The toy is held in place with the usual metal spring clip. 

The 'Atlas' is one of a set of six, which was later increased to eight 'Marine Classics' motorised toy boats brought out by Ideal during 1966/67 using their unique removable electric motor also used in their 'Motorific' Cars and 'Zeroid' Robot range. As I've previously mentioned the motor and the batteries are stowed below decks in the deep hull. This also houses the 'automatic bailer' which is designed to pump out any water resting at the base of the hull, or bilge, so the motor and batteries are protected from shorts.

Like the other Boaterific boat the Atlas has lots of delicate chromed detail and masts etc. which are all unsurprisingly prone to being damaged. There's no obvious signs of anything that's broken off my 'Atlas', everything appears shipshape to me.

 Unlike my other example of the 'Atlas' Tug which came in different bubble pack packaging, and is dated 1970. While I find the packaging attractive in a nostalgic way, I've got to admit it certainly gives the toy a bargain basement look, and to make things worst, the clear acetate cover isn't quite high enough to accommodate the Tug's mast, so it ends up bent and broken! I'm left wondering did Ideal really design the packaging in such a way? 

It comes with the motor already installed in the hull of the boat, and a new Boaterific logo.

More Boaterific ramblings soon, shipmates!