I saw this picture on an auction recently. I immediately recognised it as a plastic racing car I'd posted before on MC.
Its such an interesting toy and what it got used for, the World Navy Sub 27, so I'm re-posting the 2019 post here. Anyone got one of these cars? Does it appear in any other episodes? Anyone know the toy's name and maker?
There is hardly anything about the World Navy Sub 27 online. Old contact Marc Frattasio described the sub's origins way back in 1995 and re-described it on the old TVCentury21 site years later, something I just hadn't read until now!
| This is Captain Jordan's submarine, the WN27, as seen in 'The Man from the Navy'. The actual model was about 12 inches long and had a hull made from a toy or kit midget racing car. The car body is turned back-to-front and the front of the conning tower fits into what would be the back of the driver's cockpit. This model was dressed up with Airfix SRN1 hovercraft kit turbine parts and repainted bright orange for use in the Thunderbirds episode 'The Man from MI5'. |
I wonder where the original Century 21 prop ended up?
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2019 Post:
Yorkie's ace observations in the comments about this mystery toy racing car and its possible use as a Century 21 prop were so good that I had to post them.
Yorkie said that in the Stingray episode 'Man from the Navy', the World Navy Sub 27 is a converted racing car toy or model. A conning tower has been added and the rear of the car becomes the front of the sub. It could be the toy pictured.
Yorkie said it also appears in Thunderbirds painted red in the episode The Man from MI5.
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Woodsy added in 2019:
Since posting the 'mystery' racing car post I've realised where I first saved the picture from. It belonged to modeller Mike Delamar and I asked to use it nearly 10 years ago on an online thread. You can see the thread on the Eagletransporter Forum [you may have to register after a while]. Mike's a master scratch builder and the old thread detailed his search for original parts to create the World Navy Sub 27 from the toy racing car. Sadly the thread peters out and the finished model is not shown.
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Woodsy adds in 2023
I've realised that I may have very nearly bought one of these toy racers way back in the Noughties. We visited an old toy shop at the top of Shipley Glen Railway and after spending £15 on vintage items like this stack of Bravestarr mugs I'd run out of cash. The racing car was in cellophane on a shelf above the counter. I didn't have any more cash! Darn it!
Anyone ever seen one for sale on Ebay? The racing car.
Cartwright Hall and Shipley Glen (which is next to my old grammar school, Salt's Grammar) mentioned in the blog on the same day.
ReplyDeleteYour stalking my past Woodsy !
Ha ha! That's tickled me Mish!
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