Friday 15 September 2023

BLOGGIVERSARY OPENER: ARTO'S MARUMAN TOY PROBE FORCE 1

Wholly new to the blog is Arto's new find, the Japanese Probe Force 1 by Maruman.

image: simplyrobots


We've seen something very similar on MC years ago but in kit form.
Bill and Arto have kindly supplied me with photos to allow a comparison.

Top: Arto's new toy version, bottom: Bill's old kit version built-up


Arto says: In the "top" photo you may see clearly the sprue marks on the upper wings. The toy measures 32 x 9 cm.

Bill says: "Arto's has slots to clip in a friction motor, whereas mine does not."


The boxes compared: Arto's toy top [a 32.5 x 10 x 4 cm], Bill's kit bottom [32 x 21 x 3.5 cm]


Both versions came with SB decals, SB short for Space Bird.

Arto concludes: Funny how both boxes use the same elements but in a different setting. Must be the same illustrator I guess.

Arto's new Probe Force 1 is the best Project SWORD discovery in years.

Do you like it?

8 comments:

  1. Reminds me of what I was doing back in the early 1970s. Look at this internet site I found: https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes73/73estcat.html

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    1. I love that site, such a great modelling resource and its been going longer than the blog! Bill

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  2. Any version without wheels?

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  3. An amazing find, Arto. How do you do it? Great that it's winged it's way into your cool collection.

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  4. Truly stunning SWORD cousin Arto! Space Birds rule!

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  5. It still amazes me that things like this still turn up. I wonder if the other two PF vehicles got a similar treatment? Thanks for sharing Arto, its good to be able to see both versions for comparison. Its also worth noting that both these versions are considerably smaller than the official C21 released toy. Bill

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  6. Thanks so much guys. All this wouldn't be half as much fun without being able to bring forth new exciting finds, to learn more about them, of different versions and their interconnections in the Swordiverse.

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  7. That was a super find Arto - what a beautiful ship!

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