Ed's Tarheel Project Sword Probe Force 2 Prepping For Take-off

Woodsy,

I haven't figured out if my Tarheel PF2 is taking off from the Project SWORD field in Woomera or London .....

... But, here it is just outside the hangar on my new runway display board!

From Vegas Base

Ed

ED'S SWORD DAY TARHEEL PROBE FORCE 2

Here's an entry for the Project SWORD celebration, my American Tarheel Project Sword Probe Force 2. 

Mine originally came without the rear tires and thanx to Paul V. I managed to find good enough replacements. There is the tiniest gap all around - maybe 1mm - but is unnoticeable in the photos and nearly unnoticeable up close and personal.

From Vegas Base

Ed

BLOGGIVERSARY SWORD NEWS: NOMURA PROBE FORCE 2 LOOKALIKE

These days its not often I see a new Project SWORD relative.

However, there is something of some interest to SWORDies like myself in the 1969 Nomura catalogue featured on the brilliant Alphadrome website.

http://alphadrome.net/forums/topic/18792-nomura-catalog-1969/

There are many fine and fascinating toys in this old catalogue. For fans of Tai Hing/T in a Circle toys you will see Japanese examples of the Moon Trek rocket and the Apollo -X drive-and-stand rocket.

It's on page 3 that my interest was really piqued. Mid left is the Astro Series Space Rocket. It appears to be one of four in this Astro Series, all appearing there on the page, some of which we have seen before. The size is a mystery [image is the property of Alphadrome]

Personally I've never seen the 'Space Rocket' before though. It looks like the Apollo Rocket I posted ten years ago  . The Astro Series rocket could well be a smaller version of the Apollo Rocket, which is pictured below on the right.

For SWORDies the Astro Series Rocket also has a passing resemblance to the Project SWORD Probe Force 2, especially the thicker rear end. 

I would love to see the Nomura Astro Series Space Rocket and maybe its box should you have one readers!

COMPLETELY NEW TO THE BLOG! ARTO'S HOVER PROBE FORCE 2

My friend and uber-Project SWORD collector Arto has recently bagged from Canada something entirely new to him, me and blog, the Probe Force 2 released by Hover. 

It may well be the only one known!

Always likely but never before seen, this Probe Force 2 completes Hover's trio of Probe Forces. The boxes can be seen as direct copies of the American Tarheel photo-box versions of the Century 21 Toys originals.

Note there is no mention of Project SWORD on these Hover toys. For views of the other two then just click on the labels.

Thanks Arto for sharing this unique find with us!

Have you got anything like it readers?

CANADIAN S.W.O.R.D

This American Project SWORD Probe Force 2 box I saw on auction is fun. Besides the fabulous Sixties box art that Tarheel commissioned I like the fact that someone - in my mind the original young owner - has placed a Canadian sticker in the top right corner. A bit of it has ended up bottom left too!

I used to place stickers on things when I was a kid. Ugly stickers, Nutty initials and the like. Did you readers?

JIM'S AMERICAN MISSILES

Hi Woodsy, 

Great catalog posting by Terranova47. 

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2020/03/revell-catalogue-196162.html

I then remembered this. Always wanted the Nike set. 

Got to tour a real site in 1964 in the mountains of Alaska as a small child. My Dad worked there (Army) and they opened the site up on Armed Forces Day for family to visit. 

There is a restored Nike site outside of San Francisco, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area that can be toured. A group of retired Missilers and volunteers got together with the Park Service and they have been restoring it. They now have 6-7 Nike missiles that they can actually raise from the underground storage area into an upright firing position.

They have also restored the underground storage area, guard shacks, several launch/radar trailers, and the missile assembly area. 

This is a fascinating tour of the early 60s Cold War defenses, and of course, there are the missiles!

Jim Henderson

Nevada, USA

PROJECT SWORD? NO! PROJECT MARS

S.W.O.R.D wasn't the only project around.

There was Project Mars!

This lovely plastic rocket was launched by Red Box ... or is it Redbox?

T in a Circle [Tai Hing] did something similar called the Apollo-X.

I associate Red Box more with spy attache cases.

There's a whiff of the Project SWORD Probe Force 2 fuselage as well now I'm looking at it.

Have you got a Project Mars toy or similar?

Pics borrowed from Worthpoint.

TENTH BIRTHDAY NEW SWORD SIGHTINGS: BAGGED PROBE FORCE 2

Header card and bagged Project SWORD Probe Force 2 with badge. Japan.

From a defunct Yahoo auction.

Thunderbirds Sun Probe Force 2

I dunno, there's just something about the Thunderbirds Sun Probe [top pic]

It makes me think of a stripped down Project SWORD Probe Force 2 toy [middle pic].

The complete Probe Force 2 is the bottom pic.

What do you think?

front nacelles: is it rocket science?

These old Showa omake caught my eye.

On Yahoo Japan a while back they were probably released by Morinaga or similar.

What struck me where the pairs of forward nacelles on each small model.

These remind of the similar ones on the Project SWORD Probe Force 2.

Does anyone know the history or the science of these front nacelles in rocket design?

ROTATING TOY APOLLO ROCKET IN FORMATION

This Apollo 12 toy orbiting rocket caught my eye online. It's typical of its type - it suspends from a nylon string attached to the ceiling and rotates - and there are several different versions like the T in a Circle one and a carded Moon Trek.

The interesting feature is on the instructions on the back of the box.

It shows the rocket and a jet flying together on the rotating string. It says 'You can fly your toys in formation'. I think that's so cool. Have any of you ever tried this readers?

Looking at it made me think of my own version and in particular the red rocket nose cone and the two fins just below.

I can't help thinking that there's a similarity between this and my other rockets shown below, from left to right, Tarheel Nova, SWORD Probe Force 2 and Apollo Rocket.

and maybe most strongly with the nose of the SWORD Probe Force 1 pictured below.

What do you think readers?

MOONBASE VIDEO: PROJECT SWORD POP ROCKET HEADER ART

Tonight's Moonbase video looks at vintage header card art featuring SWORD's Probe Force 2. The header cards appear on bags of plastic Hong Kong pop rockets. The header card also features blog legend, the Hover Space Rocket Car. Enjoy!

NEW TO THE BLOG: PROBE FORCE 2 LOOKALIKE, THE APOLLO ROCKET

Earlier in the summer I was lucky enough to acquire a vintage plastic rocket. The new toy is simply called Apollo Rocket.

There are no maker's marks, only the standard 'made in Hong Kong'. It does have the look of a T in a Circle toy. It's battery operated.
 

 

It comes in a nice window box.

 

which is neatly illustrated on the sides.

 

When I first saw it online I noticed a resemblance to the Project SWORD Probe Force 2. Once it had arrived at Moonbase I was able to compare them directly.

 

I added the Tarheel pink Nova rocket too to the group shot.

 

The  fronts of the SWORD Probe Force 2 and the new Apollo are almost identical particularly the teardrop cockpit windows.

 

The rear engine housings are clearly related too.

 

As are the engine exhausts.

 

So what do you think readers?