The otherwise dry summer of toy scouting saved the best for last. The Juthbacka mega fair which attracts more than 400 sellers from Finland and Sweden provided this rare Space Exploring set by LP, or Lik Be Plastic and Metal Factory of Hong Kong. A photo of its contents can be found in Hong Kong Toys '72 magazine (photo courtesy of Paul V's Triang Spacex Toys website).
With an item number 234, this beautiful space diorama includes a LP 104 Space Rocket with a chromed double-disc nose antenna and spaceman, white/orange moon base station, red Mercury capsule (missing hatch), two moon rocks and four golden astronauts. A bit odd an addition is the miniature army jeep (or "moon buggy") with a mounted gun. The box measures 23 x 10 x 10 cm.
What’s new about the box are the small promotional pictures of boxes of other LP space toys, namely LP 102 Moon-Explorer Car with a missile launcher (item number unknown for this variant), LP 103 Space Explorer, and LP 104 Space Rocket included in this very set.
Arto
Helsinki Base
Great find! That big blue rocket is to die for! SFZ
ReplyDeleteThanks SFZ, one of my favourites too! That little astronaut hovering outside the rocket gives the toy a feeling of weightlessness. A nice touch.
ReplyDeleteA classic set, this is how I started my collection when I was about 7 back in the day! Brilliant. Bill
ReplyDeleteCheers Bill, glad to bring forth this new blog discovery and your childhood toy.
ReplyDeleteOMG I am drooling here! LOL That is a terrific find Arto - SUPER!!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm standing in my own pool of drool too! I love love love this boxed set, the icing on the cake being the tiered space station. It's simply gorgeous Arto!
ReplyDelete