Not too many shops in New Zealand carry Matchbox toys these days. Even those that do still have Matchbox, only have a fraction of the range.
But I got really lucky recently, and picked up a new Skybusters model - the Space X Falcon Heavy rocket. It is just under 5 inches long, and comes with a black plastic display stand.
Over the last year or two Matchbox Skybusters have also been coming with a double-sided Playmat. This comes folded in half, and is four inches square, or 4 by 8 when opened out.
One side shows the Earth, with the Moon in the background, and the Space X name. The other side is looking down on a launch site.
For once, the model is mainly metal, with only the lower part of the rockets and nose section in white plastic, with the rocket nozzles in black plastic.
Tampo printing is red and black, with SPACE X along the sides in blue. Both the model and the stand are marked TM Space X, Matchbox, © 2022 Mattel, Made in Thailand, and SB158.
Despite the copyright dates, the model is part of the 2024 Skybusters line. There were two other Space X models in the 2023 range: SB159 Space X Starship, and SB160 Space X Dragon capsule, which I have not seen.
This is a really nice model, as are most of the Matchbox real space die-casts. The problem is that they all seem to be short-lived models, and there are never many around - grab them when you see them, or miss out.
Four photographs.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
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and Kevin has sent in this snap of a different modern SpaceX rocket, the Dragon.
BILL BULLOCH
