does code 3 exist in project sword and spacex toys?

Code 3 is a phrase I am still grappling with. 

Just what is it? 

Is it what I would usually call 'customised'?

Does it exist in Project SWORD and SpaceX toys? Can it even apply to plastic or is it just die-cast? 

Is it perhaps one of those modern words like Cosplay which have come to irritate old gits like me who would simply call that fancy dress!

We've had customised toys on the blog since the very beginning. It seems to be an innate need in us all to change stuff!

Way back Bill customised his SpaceX Nuclear Pulse and featured it here. Bill explained "I painted this blue Pulse years ago. I added a launch pad for the plane and replaced all the wheels with a smooth belly."

Sacrilege but is this Code 3?

Bill also blogged how he vandalised his LT10! ha ha!

Orange to black, yes, but Code 3?

Bill excelled himself on Moonbase by making a wholly new Project SWORD toy, the ANT. As a SWORD vehicle the ANT only ever appeared as a drawing in the 1968 SWORD Annual, so does this new custom toy qualify for the Code? 

Kevin D gave his spare Space Glider a lick of paint too and placed it in a fine airfield diorama. Kevin knows a thing or too about scratchbiulding but is silvering up a toy like this Code 3?

Kevin also made himself and me a fab Hover Tank a couple of years ago, which we all keenly followed on the blog [click on the Birth of the Hover Tank label below].

 Upcycling/ recycling [what's the difference?] a couple of old Marx tanks, Kevin created a Project SWORD toy that didn't even exist except in comics and books! 

Code 3?

Scoop souped up [or scooped up!] an ace Task Force 2 in dark green giving it a military look in his Task Force Scoop. But is that Code 3?

Scoop also gave us his brill Project SWORD HQ ...

and Booster Rocket gantry both made from scratch. 

They originally featured as illustrations in the SWORD stories and strips but has Scoop made Code 3 buildings?

Coming right up to date, Ebay seller 21st Century Frog sold a customised Probe Force 2 this year as explained in the listing: 

"From the sixties Gerry Anderson project Sword range of toys, the Probe Force 2 spaceship has had the broken friction parts removed, the apertures filled and has been painted, detailed and weathered. A new pilot has been added to the control cabin."

I think he did the same thing to a Scramble Bug maybe. But is it Code 3?

 

Maybe readers can help. Just what is Code 3 and do any of the above qualify?

*

PS.

Arto alerted us to this rather splendid example of a classic Gerry Anderson Code 3 die-cast seen on Ebay. Barnabas1961 listed it as:

"The Investigator was a failed pilot devised by Gerry Anderson in 1973. It was the last ever Super Mario nation production. Custom Amphibious Coastguard vehicle fashioned from Dinky body. Nice 1 of a kind box handmade"

HELP NEEDED! OPERATION RAZOR

I wondered if anyone reading can help? I've realised that I have a gantry limb missing on my project SWORD Cape Kennedy Set - pictured. There should be four of them.

Taking inspiration from Scoop's use of disposable razors in his scratch built Booster Rocket stand, does anyone have access to a plastic disposable razor, which is the same yellow as above and ideally has the same chevron pattern, maybe underneath?

SWORD HEADQUARTERS

I've plans to create a new SWORD base diorama with the intention to take some new pictures of my SWORD fleet in a dedicated backdrop and thought one or two of you might like to see a few teaser photos of my SWORD control tower headquarters which is nearly complete.

 

Obviously, its loosely based on the tower that features in the annual and will eventually join my Booster Rocket Launch pad model in the diorama.