In the final look at my Dinky die-cast toys based on those that featured in Gerry Anderson's TV series I come to the ever popular Thunderbird 2.
Dinky's Thunderbird 2 first appeared in 1967 as model number 101, and remarkably for Dinky the earliest issue was a nice shade of green just like in the series.
Unfortunately, the metal base was riveted to the top section which meant that if the thin, spindly legs snapped , they couldn't easily be replaced. However, later editions did have screws for easier accessibility.
Although that was a good idea, Dinky soon replaced the original colour with a metallic green, presumably to improve sales.
The model comes with a 'dinky' little Thunderbird 4 submarine which looks more or less to scale.
These versions of Dinky's 101 model would continue to be produced until 1973. The final edition omitted the Century 21 wording from the base of the pod.
Dinky produced a whole new retooled Thunderbird 2 which began to appear around 1974, and with it a new number -106. (the number which formally belonged to Dinky's Prisoner Mini Moke)
This was bigger and blue!
The legs were much more solid and a definite improvement. The first versions had die- cast bases which were painted blue.
Thunderbird 4 looks even more in scale.
However, further cost cutting measures at Dinky meant that later versions had die-cast tops and black or white plastic bases.
Production ended in 1979.
Comparing the two versions.
The early display boxes. Note the addition of Gerry Anderson's name on the later one.
The second version of the outer box along side the window box which appeared during the production's final year.
