MATTEL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON RAIDER

 I spotted this unboxed Mattel Battlestar Galactica Cylon Raider the other day at a local flea market. As is common with these toys, it’s missing it’s canopy, Cylon pilot, and a front wheel. But for under a tenner, I wasn’t going to pass it up.

It still has it’s missiles, which do fire of a fashion, although they simply flick out, remaining firmly attached to the launcher.

Missile firing toys were always popular with us kids during the sixties, and it was assumed we were aware of the dangers. I like to think that, even as children most of us had a modicum of common sense. But, it’s obvious accidents are bound to happen, and in the case of Mattel’s Cylon Raider, it’s fairly well known to BSG toy collectors that the toy resulted in tragedy a few days after Christmas, 1978.

4 year-old Robert Jeffery Warren died from chocking on a missile from the Cylon Raider after firing it down his throat. The missile was eventually removed, but sadly however, Jeffery’s brain had been starved of oxygen and the poor child died six days later.

Mattel initiated a recall of the missiles shortly after the tragedy, offering a free Hot Wheels car to anyone who returned them!

A caution sticker on the boxes followed, before all the missile firing toys were modified meaning the missiles remained attached to the launchers.

This incident, and others like it would obviously cause a vast number of safety changes in many of the toy ranges that followed.

Terranova47's Auto Gyro

Hello Woodsy

Having finished the Flying Jeep I realized that I now had three auto gyros, a somewhat eccentric form of aircraft.

Here they are:

On the left; The Flying Jeep/Hafner Rotarbuggy which didn't get beyond experimental stage. 1940's built in 1/32 scale.

In the foreground; The Cierva C.30 Rota. 1930's. A licensed built version appeared in Doc Savage stories. Over 100 built. Model 1/72 scale

On the right: The McDonald XV-1 Convertiplane 1950's. Two built, this updated the auto gyro idea by also powering the rotor to lift the craft eliminating a long run before the pusher propeller created enough speed for the rotor to provide lift. 

Here shown in Spacefleet colours as per a Frank Hampson reference sketch for Dan Dare. Model approximately 1/48 scale.

Terranova47

USA

Mystery Model Spitfire

Hi Woodsy

The recent post from Lewis about his visit to the Hurstville Collectables Fair included a photograph of a mystery Spitfire toy. 

It is a pretty terrible model of a Spitfire – probably the Mark Vb, which had two long barrelled 20mm cannon in the wings, along with four .303 inch machine-guns which did not project from the wing.

The deep chin is probably meant to represent the Vokes tropical filter, intended to keep dust out of the engine. The Middle Stone and Dark Earth colour scheme was used mainly in North Africa.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/08/looey-at-hurstville-fair.html#comment-form

Lewis has mentioned Google Lens a few times, but I thought this was something you had to sign up for. It turns out I already had it on my computer, but have only just discovered it.

Using Google Lens I was able to find several matches for the model. It is marked under the starboard wing UNIVERSAL PRODUCT © 1977, and under the port wing SPITFIRE, with MADE IN HONG KONG under the starboard tailplane.

Although a basic toy, the undercarriage does retract. The colour scheme is original, and has not been re-painted.

Thanks to Lewis for explaining what Google Lens is, in previous posts. I think it is going to be very useful, now that I know I have it.

Four photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Schuco Amphibious Cars

 Schuco of Germany made some fabulous amphibious toy vehicles. Here's a few I've seen online.

Piccolo Schwimmwagen, open top

Piccolo, closed top

Blue Electric Amphibio, copied by uber-cloners T in a Circle (Tai Hing). The dinghy is a mystery.

And the Electric Amphibio in red and boxed.

Whilst googling I saw this too, a lovely sleek red toy car by King, who are new to me. I don't think it's amphibious but it looks grand! 

Anyone got any of these?

Terranova47's Completed Seaview and HMS Sophie Diorama

Hello Woodsy,

Now that it's completely finished, here is my Irwin Allen's Seaview again, passing through The Time Tunnel and threatening Patrick O'Brian's HMS Sophie captained by Jack Aubrey.

An interesting combination of nautical fiction!

Above also is a photo showing the scale of the diorama.

Hope you like it.

Terranova47

USA

U.N.C.L.E. PIRANHA

 I used to be a big fan of The Man from UNCLE, and always looked forward to Thursday nights after Top of the Pops when the BBC first aired TV's equivalent to James Bond.

Over time, while I still have a nostalgic fondness for the series my interest has waned.

I've still got a few UNCLE items in the collection though, including the AMT Piranha, styled by Gene Winfield, the man behind the Star Trek , Shuttlecraft.

I have to say, it contrast to its sleek looks, its a hideous kit to make, and needs a lot of filing and fitting to get things to even remotely line up. 

I made two versions; one in a metallic blue as it appeared briefly in both the Man from, and Girl from series, and one in a two tone, as it is now.

In it's defence, it's a sixties kit and things have moved on quality wise, and I did alter the door hinges to look more like the real thing.

The big issue for me is joining the top and bottom sections together which don't fit well leaving gaps, in-spite of clamping them together, and the windscreen which acts to hold the  windscreen struts to the body.

Anyway here's some old photos of the result.