PROBE FORCE 1 RE-ENTRY

Our man with his eye on all things oriental spotted a second copy of the infamous Probe Force 1 kit at auction in Japan last night. Unfortunately, the inscrutable model collectors in the land of the rising price waited until the dying seconds befor rocketing the price and snatching the prize at over sixty pounds. Still, it does give us clear glimpse at the toy itself and the box contents!
Nice one Terry!

BLUE BOX, RED BOX AND APOLLO MOON EXPLORING

All the SPACE CARS and rockets in one gallery: Red Box, Blue Box, 21 Century, AHI and the bottom two sets, which link them to PROJECT SWORD/ SPACEX, the boxed LP (?) and carded Multiple series APOLLO MOON EXPLORING showing the MOON PROSPECTOR, the one that binds them all ( almost Tolkeinesque!)

Any more BLUE/ RED BOX, AHI, 21 CENTURY variations?

Pictures coutesy of WOODSY, EBAY, MARK BERGIN and WOTAN

ERIC EDEN'S SNOW TRAIN

TV21 Summer Extra showing Eric Eden's original vision for SNOW TRAIN and SAND FLEA

(posted previously)

TAKARA AIRPORT FIRE TENDER - SNOW TRAIN LOOKALIKE

There's so many amazing Thunderbirds toys available nowadays. I came across some very Spacexy Thunderbirds pod vehicles by HOT WHEELS recently (anyone got any?) and the TAKARA series. Above is the TAKARA Pod 2. I love the idea that some of these are remote-controlled but the vehicle I like the most is the red airport fire tender - it reminds me of the SWORD SNOW TRAIN. Are they by the same TV21 artist do you think - Eric Eden? Anyone got one of these?

TARHEEL AND NASA PROBE FORCE FLEET FROM DARTH

Darth has kindly sent in these pics of his fabulous TARHEEL and NASA PROBE FORCE fleet. I really do love that crazy 60's photoshop box art! Just how did they do it back then? And is that a real photo of space in the background? Wonder who on earth did these for Tarheel - a photographer/ graphics guy in their home town TARBORO in North Carolina?

Notice how the NASA clone of the Tarheel PF3 has left off all references to SWORD on the box and toy. Was it just too risky to lift them too?

Great stuff Darth. Thanks for sharing. Woodsy

LBZ CHOO CHOO TOP BOX

Thanks to WOTAN here are pics from Ebay of LBZ's 'Choo choo top' box numbered 36. Its gives us an idea of what my recently-blogged THUNDERBIRD 2 SWORD top's box might look like. Wonder what it was called? 'Beep beep top'? Anyone who finds a picture of the box will recieve a blog freebie!

TOYLESS IN SEATTLE

Seeing the earlier post of the Space Needle reminded me of this advert from Stalco of the toy and the rather cool Century 21 Space Gun! Fab toys all round I wonder if either of these babies will appear on ebay ?

And many thanks to Paul and friends for all the messages wishing me well. Im back home and enjoying some time off work! Yeehhaa!!!

2001 SPACE ODYSSEY SINGLE FROM THE JIM LEWIS COLLECTION

Hi Paul

As I was going through my stuff  I came upon some of my 2001 bits and pieces. Seeing as how they tried to tie the movie in with the PROJECT SWORD toys I thought this may be of interest (above) - A July 25th 1969 pressing of the classic piece of music now so closely associated with 'Space' in one form or another. I have other bits too like the press brochure for the movie and the gorgeous silver brochure available in foyers. The one I have is actually the one bought for me as a 4 year old kid!! I have some Aurora model kit ads too forthe Clipper and the Moonbus.

Jim

 

Excellent Jim! Thanks for sharing. The 2001/SWORD connection is fascinating. I read that Stanley Kubrick approached Gerry A to do the effects for 2001 but he didn't want to deviate from his own TV shows (GA Biography, Simon Archer). We have touched on this relationship before on the blog - like the SWORD Annual, Hatchet's Night Club and press coverage but any further info, particularly pictures of the SWORD CINEMA FOYER DISPLAYS, would be just wonderful. Woodsy.