Covered before on MC, Starcruiser was one of several Gerry Anderson television projects from the 1970s that did not make it in to production. However, it did lead to a comic strip in the weekly Look-In magazine (1977-79), and two plastic kits from Airfix.
I recently came across a pair of unusual, and short-lived, American issues of these kits, which I thought deserved an article. Along with a quick look at the various boxes.
The Starcruiser 1 kit appeared in 1978, and was last listed in the 1984 Catalogue. It was followed by the Starcruiser Interceptor around 1980/81.
The Starcruiser 1 was a large ship, which broke down in to four separate units - Command Module (nose section); Main Unit (central fuselage with wings); Command Base (like the Eagle pods, a simple box-shape); and Interceptor Unit(atop the fuselage). It was a Series 7 kit, number 07170-9.
This was a clip-together kit, although Airfix barely mentioned the fact. There were 44 parts, in white and clear plastic, with a colourful decal sheet.
The first box (copyright date 1978) had a comic strip along the bottom.
The second box (copyright date 1979 on the side) deleted this, and made the main image larger.
Airfix kits had been sold in America under the MPC name for a number of years, but in the late 1970s this changed to USAirfix, which was a single word. The USAirfix version of Starcruiser 1 had a new box, with a photograph of the built-up model.
Kit number 7100 was shown in both the 1979 and 1980 USAirfix catalogues, and even made the cover of the 1979 edition. Both can be found under Airfix, on the Box Art Den site.
The kit was still moulded in white and clear plastic, but came with a new decal sheet. This time the model was clearly referred to as a Snap-Fix kit.
USAirfix was short-lived, and Airfix kits were soon back in MPC boxes. Including the Starcruiser 1 and Starcruiser Interceptor.
Shown only in the 1982 MPC catalogue (which can be found on the Internet Archive site), these two kits got a major re-vamp, with new colour schemes, and decals. The box top said 'It's A Snap Model Kit'.
MPC kit number 1-1802 Starcruiser (the number 1 had been dropped), was now moulded in black plastic, matching the new colour scheme, with NASA decals in orange. Given the Interceptor Unit, it seems NASA now has a combat role.
According to the catalogue, the various units making up the model had been re-named. They were now the Control Ship; Power Module; Transporter Pod; and Interceptor.
The catalogue says copyright Gerry Anderson Marketing Ltd., 1982. Given that the kits only appeared in one catalogue, and the fact that there are very few sales listings for them, they do not appear to have been big sellers.
The moulding of these kits in black plastic reminded me of the Revell Alien Invader, which was a normal Space Shuttle kit in black plastic, with clear red parts and red decals. An attempt to get more sales from an existing kit, with a minimum of effort or expense.
Do you own any of these models?
Next up, the Starcruiser Interceptor.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
You know, I had the USAirfix issue of this in my hand, and was toying with buying it, circa 1980, but for reasons unknown, I did not buy it. Maybe the “SnapFit” aspect of it turned me off, or more likely, I was still suffering withdrawal from the dearth of Japanese SF model imports available at the time. Of course, now I regret it! SFZ
ReplyDeleteI had both the Starcruiser and the Starcruiser Interceptor. Simple kits but fun. Unfortunately Airfix really simplified the design of the Starcruiser even giving the Command Base portholes ! Martin Bower's various original designs for the ship were much cooler. One plan was for Dinky to manufacture it (Airfix owned Dinky at the time) but it would have been too complex and expensive as a diecast toy. However Dinky did bring out their Space Battle Cruiser and Zygon Marauder diecasts around the same time which are obviously based on the Starcruiser Interceptor.
ReplyDeleteI think the kits were actually quite successful in the UK. 6 years in the catalogue is a good run and Airfix had their Space 1999 Eagle and Hawk, the Angel Interceptor, plus their own Cosmic Clipper and Flying Saucer designs too. By 1984 the post Star Wars SF boom was over and Airfix stopped making SF kits. It would be 2011 before the Angel appeared again. I understand the moulds still exist so it would be nice to have a limited release of these again. If nothing else they have some great parts for kitbashing!
I got Starcruiser at release and made the usual mess of it. However, it's a good - if basic kit, which is more of a toy than a model. Decades later, a friend gave me another copy of the kit, which I still have, unmade. I'd like to get the large interceptor, which I believe is even simpler, just for the sake of completion, but they can run expensive on the after market. Bill
ReplyDeleteThank you for all these first-hand memories of a kit I never had. I was only interested in aircraft and military vehicles, so these odd-ball kits did not interest me at the time. Now I love digging in to their history. Yes, the Interceptor is a very simple kit, and is basically an enlarged version of the Interceptor in the Starcruiser 1 kit.
ReplyDeleteIt was finding a photograph of the bizarre all-black NASA version that sent me down this path. The US versions of Airfix kits were often very different to the regular British versions (which were the ones we got in New Zealand).
This kit came along at just the wrong time for me as I was growing out of 'toys', but I always liked it and felt that it would fit well into the Space 1999 universe. I would probably buy a re-issue, if they did it at a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteIt cries out for a super 8 movie, with animated Matt Mason type crew members.
Fab research Paul!
ReplyDelete