I couldn’t resist taking a few more photos of the new Sixteen 12
Retro Swift, in
more suitable surroundings.
Although the model
uses the same tooling as Sixteen 12’s other more highly detailed
and accurately coloured Swift, this one is designed to
look like a toy, in the same vein as their other ‘Dinky toys’
inspired Retro releases. It simply imagines what a Swift might
have looked like if Dinky had released one back in the day,
taking into account their way- off inaccurate colours!
It’s fair to say
that opinion is very much divided over this latest addition to the
Sixteen 12 Retro line up.
In some ways I can
understand some of it. The original Dinky Eagles, which in spite of
their infamously inaccurate green and blue colours, have a genuine
nostalgic appeal, which is intended to transfer to the Sixteen 12
Retro Eagles. As Dinky never did a Swift ,it obviously can’t have that same
appeal!
Of course, as with most niche products, it's not cheap, and no one’s
being forced to buy it. Naturally, it doesn’t stop some people
from voicing their dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms on social
media, with the striking paint scheme being the main the bone of contention with
many.
However, I should
add a fair number of others
don't mind this alternative look.
To be honest when I
first saw photos of the proposed model last year, I thought the
colours were too garish, but didn’t dismiss it out of hand,
and over time I’ve warmed to it. It’s certainly different , and
while I’ll admit, I prefer the highly detailed ‘proper’
version, I have to say if something like this had been an actual Dinky release back in the mid seventies it's more than likely I'd have bought it!
As I mentioned on a
previous Retro Swift post, the model has a limited run of just 300,
and some are wondering just how well it’s selling. I’m pleased to
hear that it’s apparently selling very well, and remarkably all 300
are almost gone!
Like others in the
Sixteen 12 Retro range, the model maintains it’s Dinky toy look
with a folded cardboard display plinth and clear acetate cover.
Although the Swift actually appeared in the Space: 1999 second season episode, Brian the Brain, which originally aired in on UK TV in 1976, the box retains the
year 1975 on the cover, obviously to keep it in line with the packaging design for
Sixteen 12’s Retro Eagle Transporter, and Freighter, which to my mind is perfectly understandable.
