The Apollo Moon Exploring toys were always a staple on toy shelves in the sixties and seventies, both in the large boxed set, smaller window boxes and the individual carded series. Probably one of the most recognisable models was the Apollo Command Module, garishly reproduced in bright silver chrome and a orange red nozzle. I always wondered on the choice of colour scheme, with the red nozzle and put it down to economy on the part of the Hong Kong manufacturers.
However, Wired magazine have just run an article by space historian David Portree, relating the 1963 idea to use the basic command module as a freighter to ferry supplies into space. the accompanying photograph shows a pre-production Apollo at JPL, in chrome finish with a bright red protective covering on the nozzle!
I wonder if this was the inspiration for the toy?
I think you've hit the nail on the head! I, too, always thought the weird color scheme was just artistic license on the part of the toymakers, as the chrome/orange Apollo is much prettier than the "real" one, but that 1963 prototype puts that theory to shame!
ReplyDeleteYep, like Zigg, I think you're bang on Bill. Great detective work!
DeleteBack in the day I had a Heller CSM kit which I seem to remember painting with a red engine bell. I took it off the box art, but a quick Google suggests the illustrated colour may actually have been copper...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-cadet-l021-apollo--169272