With the question 'What's in the crates Woodsy' still ringing in my ears, today I ventured into my wintry attic. With the wind howling round the eves I put on a small fan heater and got my camera out.
So here are the initial fruits of my snapping, the smaller carded plastic Thunderbirds toys from the 1960's by Bandai of Japan, all courtesy of the SWORDgrasshopper who very kindly loaned them to me.
They really are things of beauty and the Japanese love of Gerry Anderson shines right through both the toys and the packaging. Enjoy.
The swing wing rocket of the fleet. Note the silver Century 21 label mid-right.
This TB2 with its transparent yellow pod was also released with a battery operated propeller for sailing on water [pictured below]. It went on to inspire the unlicenced and boxed Ray-O-Matic Ray Guided X 2 Spaceship.
This is the smallest friction-drive OX toy that was available, about a quarter of the size of the battery operated Century 21 Project SWORD version. Zero X is perhaps the ultimate Derek Meddings' design.
The X-Car or Excavator, one of the many TB2 pod vehicles, was never released by Century 21 Toys in the UK, so this is as close as you could get to one. It is licensed by them. Two versions shown here. [In Mexico Lily Ledy issued the X-Car as part of a toy boxed set called Apolo, which featured some Fireball XL5 set parts. Probably unlicensed]. There was also an unlicensed plastic Excavator toy in a Billy Blastoff knockoff set called Lunar Scout.
Imai smaller Zero-X Model Kit: built and painted
Above: ejectable nose shield and missile
Below: comparison of the Imai small kit and the Bandai friction drive carded toy.
More goodies to follow shortly. Well, it is Christmas...almost!
