Again featured before on MC, the second Starcruiser kit from Airfix was the Starcruiser Interceptor.
By the time this model appeared, Airfix were facing hard times, and cost-cutting was the order of the day.
As a result, the Interceptor kit was simply an enlarged version of the Interceptor Unit from the Starcruiser 1. The parts count increased from eight for the small version, to eleven for the larger model.
The pilot was now in two halves, rather than one piece; and the engine bells were separate parts. The kit was moulded in white plastic, with a clear canopy, and colourful decal sheet.
The Interceptor was released around 1980/81 - two or three years after the Starcruiser 1. It was in the catalogue from 1981 to 1984, as model number 05174-5, in Series 5.
This was a Snap-Fix kit, a fact which was promoted on the box top. The copyright date on the side is 1980.
This time there was only one style of box for the British release, and there was no cartoon strip along the bottom. There was a copyright notice on the box top 'The World of Gerry Anderson, © 1980 Century 21 Merchandising Ltd., Licensors of the Starcruiser Trade Mark'.
In America, the kit appeared in the USAirfix catalogue of 1980, as model number 7080, alongside the Starcruiser 1. However, I have not seen any examples of an actual USAirfix kit of this model.
As mentioned previously, the USAirfix name was short-lived, and Airfix kits were soon back in MPC boxes. Both the Starcruiser 1 and Starcruiser Interceptor were listed in the 1982 MPC catalogue, under the heading Space Snaps, referring to their It's A Snap construction.
The Starcruiser Interceptor was now moulded in black plastic, with a clear canopy, and carried orange NASA markings. Matching the Starcruiser kit.
The Interceptor was numbered 1-1801. There was a copyright date of 1982 on the page, referring to both models, or at least their new colour schemes.
Given how few listings there are for either of these all-black NASA versions it does not look as though they were big sellers. Neither of the models made it in to the 1983 catalogue.
There were also versions of the Starcruiser Interceptor from Lodela of Mexico (better known for their Revell re-issues), and Kiko of Brazil. After that, both Starcruiser kits disappeared, and have not been re-issued by anyone.
Catacombs Space 1999 provides a good deal of background on the craft, including a 1979 article from Starlog magazine.
Six photographs from Worthpoint.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
In my humble opinion, the post-Star Wars wave of sci-fi toys and models was nothing compared to the wave of the mid- to late-60s, inspired by the U.S. space program certainly, but also by SF TV such as the Irwin Allen programs and of course the marvelous world of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson. Now THAT was a wave! SFZ
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, the latter days of Airfix space kits were appalling. Look at the UFO kit - 8 pieces?
ReplyDelete1982 was the year I first returned to England after emigrating to Australia. I visited my Grandmother still living in Dover and saw this kit in the window of a local shop.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't enthused enough to buy it, but I kept the memory...
In the words of Kojak, who love's ya, baby ? In this case, no one at all. No wonder Airfix have never re-issued these two Starcruiser kits. Their original sales must have been terrible.
ReplyDeleteGreat research Paul. I would like the Dinky version to do up.
ReplyDelete