A LOOK AT THE CENTURY 21 TOYS ANGEL AIRCRAFT

The Spectrum Angel Aircraft A.K.A. Angel Interceptor, the third of the Captain Scarlet vehicles produced by Century 21 Toys.

Despite the fact that it’s a toy, it still has a fairly screen accurate shape, and just like the C21 Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle and Patrol Car, it’s a good size, around 111/2”. I‘d estimate its scale, based on the size of the pilot to be around 1:36.

One thing that always annoyed me as a kid was the conspicuous friction drive motor that makers insisted on incorporating into the design of most toy air and space craft.

The Angel Aircraft toy has one too, but this one is completely removable, so as not to spoil its sleek lines.

It still has small free-running metal wheels under each of its wing tip landing skids, and a removable front one. Once removed however, this does leave a small supporting stub, presumably there to avoid breakage to the removable nose cone.

Just like in the series the Angel pilot slots into the aircraft from below, and rather than Century 21 toys just using a generic pilot, this little blob of plastic is actually recognisable as female.

There’s a small amount of detail on the tiny instrument panel too.

The toy fires spring loaded missiles from the top of the nose cone. Mine came with two, although it may well have originally come with more.

The original box, a little the worst for wear, but not bad considering it’s been around since 1967.

The Angel Aircraft is a fragile toy, and most of the removable features will obviously be prone to get lost over the years. It does come with a spare front wheel skid. 

While they’re by no means common, there appears to be more around than the C21 Patrol Car or Pursuit Vehicle.

So that’s the three Century 21 Captain Scarlet toy vehicles covered . I’m going to take a break now and enjoy an Orbit ice lolly outside, and read my 1967 Captain Scarlet annual.

Links to my previous Captain Scarlet Vehicles by Century 21 toys:
https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-look-at-century-21-spectrum-patrol-car.html

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-look-at-century-21-spectrum-pursuit.html

LOST IN SPACE CHARIOT PROP RESTORATION

Check out this amazing footage of the old Chariot prop from Lost in Space! Its glorious! What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoImogGmT-c

VINTAGE IMAI THUNDERBIRDS MODEL TV ADS IN JAPAN

This is majorly cool. Vintage TV ads for Imai's Thunderbirds models including Mole, Excavator and  Zero-X!

Courtesy of You Tube.

What do you think?

 

Paul's Britains 2 Man Submarine

Hi Woodsy,

I dug out my childhood collection of toy soldiers, which is fairly small, but it does contain a couple of diver-related models.

Here is the Britains human torpedo, which seems to be based on the Royal Navy Chariot Mk.I used in the latter part of WW2, which was based on a type used successfully by the Italian Navy.

Length is 185 mm. The main body is bluish-green plastic, with a red nose, and tail. Oddly, there is no propeller at the rear. The two divers are black plastic, with orange painted stripes on their wet suits, and orange face masks. 

The twin air tanks are yellow plastic, the mouth piece plugs in to a hole in the face. This is totally different to the diving suits worn in WW2, and has a more modern look, in keeping with a toy from the 1970s. 

There is a paper sticker at the rear, on both sides, with a British flag, and RN S2 in white. To ensure the model stands upright, and is less likely to tip over, the base is unpainted metal. This feature was also seen on other Britains figures in the 1970s. 

The underside of the foot boards have a fair amount of information moulded in: BRITAINS LTD - ENGLAND - COPYRIGHT 1976 at the top; 2 MAN - SUBMARINE at the bottom; and REG.DSGNNO.977778 at the front.

Another British firm, Timpo Toys, had a similar model in silver-grey plastic, again with two frogmen, but I never had one of these. The Italian kit maker Italeri do a 1:35 scale kit of the original WW2 Italian version.

Take care everyone.

Paul Adams

New Zealand

RC 3D PRINTED FUTURISTIC SUB

I liked this R/C sub on 3DPrint. Com. Its 3D printed and reminds me of those cool Imai toy subs from the Sixties.  It would have sat well on the Thunderbirds set too! https://3dprint.com/72631/3d-printed-rc-submarine/ 

What do you think?

image; 3Dprint.com

SPACEX MOBILE LAUNCH PAD ILLUSTRATIONS

Which do you like the most?

WHAT A WHOPPER 1961

Hi Woodsy,

I hope you are well. Again, I have been enjoying recent MC posts. You cover everything I love, and many things I have never heard of. Thank you.

Last night I watched an old British monster movie on You Tube. I do not know if you have covered this before, as it is really a comedy film, rather than a scary monster movie, but is still good fun. 

What A Whopper (1961) stars pop singer Adam Faith; at least three members of the Carry On team: Sid James, Charles Hawtrey, and Terry Scott; Clive Dunn from Dad's Army; Wilfred Brambell from Steptoe and Son; and Spike Milligan.

Adam Faith has written a book on the Loch Ness Monster, but no one has seen the monster in ages, and publishers are not interested. The answer, clearly, is to fake a monster sighting, increase interest, and sell his book.

A trip to Loch Ness ensues in a Rolls-Royce hearse, to set up the fake sighting. Little goes according to plan, as Faith and his friends deal with salmon poachers, the Police, and other complications. 

The real Loch Ness Monster only appears two minutes from the end of the movie, and is a bit disappointing. But this is still a film that will make you smile, if you think of it as a sort of Carry On Nessie.

Take care.

Paul Adams
New Zealand

Have you seen this film readers?

KEV'S UK SPACEX SUPERSET 1

Hi,

Here are some pictures of my SpaceX Superset 1. It was very battered and crumpled when I got it and the plastic was cracked but I did what I could to rescue it.

Take care,

Kevin

UK

*

Woodsy's extra:

Courtesy of British Pathe, a still showing the Spacex Superset 1 in a London shop window!

What else can you see?