On a trip out with pals I had a major memory surge when I saw this toy in an antiques shop.
It's the Britains Deetail Karate Kung Fu figures on a metal base. God I adored this thing in the early Seventies, when I was Kung Fu mad. One of those little icons of the Bruce Lee era that captivated my young mind.
I also recall Britain's Mini-Sets, which I loved too, like the Police Rider or the Army Dispatch Rider or the green Mortar set.
I'm not sure if the Karate pair were a Mini-Set, but boy seeing it again gave me a real kick! At £19 though I left them sparring.
Did you have Britains Deetails or Mini-Sets?
I was never a fan of Britains figures.
ReplyDeleteThey were generally made from one colour of plastic, with painted details, which wore off with play.
I prefered Timpo or Tempo (I think) figures with each element cast in the appropriate colour plastic.
More durable play value.
I had some of the Britains figure assembly kits.
ReplyDeleteNamely the helmet diver with the octopus and the Frogmen with shark.
I recall there was also a Soccer scene.
What over themes were there in the series, Moonbasers!
Britains Deetail range were the ones with plastic figures and metal bases. Including some heavy weapons, such as mortars and machine-guns.
ReplyDeleteThe Mini-Sets were smaller all-plastic sets, comprising two or three figures and a base. I never saw any of these in the shops in New Zealand.
There was also a range of 1/32nd scale motorbikes, but these were totally out of my price range.
I had no idea Britains did any Karate figures. These look like Deetail figures, with a metal base ?
The Karate figures were a very limited release in the Deetail line, probably only available for one year. Before Britains went under completely, it was diversifying into other areas apart from military and farm models. There were a series of hospital setting figures, patients in bed and doctors and nurses. The Deetail line was primarily military, with an American team with a recoiless rifle, a german mortar and other similar figures. Unfortunately, the expansion of the lines didnt take off and the karate and hospital figures went the same way as the Mini Sets had done, some two years earlier, as Britains trimmed back their output before being sold off to another company in 1984. https://britainsfarmtoys.co.uk/britains-history/
ReplyDeleteBill
Interesting. I have loads of the Deetail military figures, but have never seen the Karate ones. They must be very rare.
ReplyDeleteBritains mini sets.....
ReplyDeleteCowboys and indians
2 sets made
Knights
2 sets made
Ww2 us infantry
2 sets made
Ww2 german and field
Gun
Tractor and driver
Boy and horses
Farmer and lamb
Zoo keeper and crocodiles
Footballers
Acw union infantry
Divers and shark
Frogmen and octopus
Think that was it but
Maybe i missed a couple.
Fab info everyone. Thanks. Maybe £19 for a loose Karate set wasn't too bad after all.
ReplyDelete