Kev's SpaceX Fleet

 Kevin's collection so far. Not much missing really.

My own Two Fleet

 Ages ago my friend Paul Vreede treated us to his website he'd created to celebrate Triang SpaceX toys. I thinks it's fair to use words like definitive and beautiful to describe it.

In it was and is an image that captured my imagination so much that I always wanted to recreate it.

The image is Paul's group photograph of his genuine SpaceX II toys, a terrific feat of collecting and feast of Seventies space plastic arranged fabulously on a black background. It's stunning and shown below, borrowed from Paul's website.

Here's my own attempt at the SpaceX II fleet done in 2019. I've posted it before on MC but this version I've tidied up with a blacker background. 

All the vehicles I made from scratch. 

They include the presumably never produced red crash tender and yellow rocket carrier. 

I plan to restage it with more models at some point. It's always fun to celebrate Paul's picture, which inspired me so much.

But for now .....

DECALS ON MY MIND

This little Kinder toy rang a bell. At least its round decal did [could be a helipad looking at it again].

The similar circular SpaceX Pippin roundel sprang to mind like this one on Bill's new Moon Buggy!

Anyone seen this SpaceX decal anywhere else?

SEARCH THE SKY FOR TRANSPORTERS

 

I love this spaceship. There's lots to like here. Dorsal fuel cells. Long sleek lines. And then there's that central ribbed ring, which recalls the same on the SpaceX Lunar Transporter LT-10. What do you think?

IMAI CRASH TENDER

 Based on Frank Bellamy's fab Thunderbirds F1 and F2 tenders the fabled and as yet unseen Spacex II Crash Tender, bottom left, is justifiably a blog legend.

All we have is this illustration of the toy.

So when I saw this little Aoshima/ Imai Thunderbirds 2 Container 4 fire tender on Britmodeller I thought, Wow! That's about as close as we're going to get to the Crash Tender until the real toy turns up.

What do you think? Similar? Not?

Do you own this little tender?

Here it is with its wheels next to some other pod pals.

TENDER BEGINNINGS

When I saw this Neca 52 Fire Rail Car by Lionel on Ebay I immediately thought of the deign of something else.

It reminded completely of an old Frank Bellamy's futuristic TV21 F1 tender, the inspiration behind the as yet unseen SpaceX II F7 Crash Tender.

What do you think?

KEV'S SPACEX II: NUCLEAR FERRY

Hi,

Here is the last of my recent haul of Spacex II toys, the Nuclear Ferry. 

This one needed a replacement to its docking mechanism, built by me and a shuttle, kindly donated by Wotan Bill. 

I got two lots on Ebay and both halves of this Ferry were in separate ones. I was very apprehensive in the 4 hour gap between securing both lots!

Take care,

Kevin

UK

KEV'S SPACEX II: LAMA

Hi,

Another item from my recent haul. This LAMA needed a new cannon and aerial, so I had to scratchbuild them. Luckily, when my moonbase set arrived, the LAMA missile was in with the accessories. 

Getting there! 

Kevin

UK

KEV'S SPACEX II: LIFTING BODY

Hi,

Managed to track down some more Spacex II toys but they need restoration.

 Done the first one, the Lifting body. Pleased to have this.

Kevin 

UK

A NEW SPACEX TOY RANGE?

I often imagine new SpaceX vehicles, whether real or made-up.

I'd like to create a new second-hand SpaxeX fleet using small plastic toys I find at car boots.

Lockdown means no car boots so here's a few starters for ten.

SpaceX Farming Division:

I love the Kinder tractor with the Booster Rocket-type fuel cell!

I've blogged this before, Moonbase Junior's futuristic harvester. So SpaceX its untrue!

SpaceX Sub Sea Division

I think the TV series Octonauts would help here. The free gifts from the comics and the toys offer some fabulous SpaceXy designs.

SpaceX Deep Space Division

McDonalds 2019 Snoopy range has some great little space vehicles in it that would SpaceX up easilly.

Which toys would you include in a 'second hand' SpaceX range?

PIPPIN TOYS HYDRO JET

I saw this on Worthpoint recently.

The Hydro Jet AX-02.

A cool looking speed boat toy that looks like a rocket!

Its by Raphael Lipkin and Pippin toys.

They also made the later Triang SpaceX II toy range.

Have you got anything like this?

MY SCRATCHBUILT TRI-ANG SPACEX CRASH TENDER: FINISHED!

My latest scratch model is done!

Here's my interpretation of the SpaceX II Crash Tender.

Its been emotional!

MY SCRATCHBUILT SPACEX II CRASH TENDER: IT'S STARTED SO I MAYBE I'LL FINISH!

As usual wanting to scratchbuild a SpaceX toy is not the same as actually doing it.

Working against limited skills, a lack of patience and over-excitement, here's my progress so far on making a model of the gorgeous and bright red Spacex II Crash Tender.

Here's the original backing card illustration 

[that's all there is. No toy has ever been found!]

So, first up I raided the lego box [cheat!]

Then began the odd body shape with takeaway tray plastic.

getting carried away I forgot to take a snap until I'd nearly finished the main body!

The front grey TB2-like cockpit is half a deo stick lid; the black tank is a Stardrops top cut to size; the ladder and front struts are pegs [thanks Wotan!] and the wheel guards are card [I lost patience here and messed up a bit!]. The hardest part was the thingy just in front of the tank, a sort of upturned T device. Mines a mess but paint will hopefully smooth it out!

Intermission: I'm seeing LAMA's everywhere!

See what I mean!

Its a permanent LAMA!

and so back to tender work:

The first coat of fire engine red!

Its drying now.

Phew!