Mystery SPV

 I saw this SPV on a Japanese auction. It's an odd one, anyone any idea what make it is?

A LOOK AT THE RETRO SIXTEEN 12 UFO INTERCEPTOR

 Here’s some photos of the Sixteen 12 ‘Retro UFO Interceptor’ which appeared in 2020, naturally, taking it’s inspiration from the 1971 Green Dinky version.

Certainly a controversial and divisive decision for some, who still hark back to why Dinky finally chose a metallic green over a possible prototype metallic blue, or the more accurate white colour.

When I bought my first Dinky UFO Interceptor back in 1971, the box art showed a white Interceptor, and inside a disappointingly green example.

While there’s no definitive answer to the “why green” question, it doesn’t stop a plethora of differing opinions explaining the reason why.

Some offer the fact that Dinky felt some white toys didn’t sell, to youngsters as well as those in more attractive bright colours.

There’s the perennial story that Dinky had an excess of green metallic paint left over from their Johnston Road Sweeper model, and decided to use it for the Interceptor, and later for the Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter.

One person even suggested that Mattel’s Hot Wheels 1968-69 range with their gaudy candy colouring and metallic paint colour schemes might be to blame, prompting Dinky to follow the suite.

All, in part could well be be true, and frankly your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, I think I’m over it now, and very glad to own both a Dinky and Sixteen 12 green UFO Interceptor.

Mystery Ship: Solved!

 Here's a mystery toy ship.

It looks well designed but I've no idea what it is.

You? 

*

An anonymous reader solved this one. It's the Kidco Super Star Cruiser.

Quelle International also released this toy in Europe, called simply Raumschiff or Spaceship.

There's also a Japanese Yonezawa version, which may well be the original and have it's roots in Anime? I don't know.

Here is a lovely webpage all about the Yonezawa version.

http://noboland.web.fc2.com/x-9.htm

Spanish toy Arsenal

 Like Jefe's harpoon last month here's a similar hilted tinplate toy pistol, the Aviador with a big missile.

This is an odd bit of card art showing a 60's style Soulet boy brandishing an FBI snub-nosed. I guess it's meant to be hippiedom, the Agente Federal. 

Finally this Agente Zero's big scope recalls the huge unit on the Man from Uncle toy rifle. Rather than an Agents toy rifle, the stick depicts a gazelle! 

ROB GRANT R.I.P.

 Sorry to hear that Rob Grant, co-creator of the cult comedy sci-fi series Red Dwarf passed away yesterday, aged just 70.

 Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Tony's Astronauts

 Kindly sent in by reader Tony E. 

His cool hand-painted spacemen.

EAGLE RESTORATION

 I recently picked up a 22" Round 2 Space: 1999 Eagle kit  that had already been started and partly painted 

Photo: eBay

It wasn't looking it's best, and so , as it wasn't too expensive I bought it and set to work making it look more presentable, with the  intension of making into the rarely seen V.I.P. Eagle.

I started by taking  apart what I could, and tidying up what I couldn't. The engine bells needed major surgery to release the internal baffles, and were discarded. Luckily, as my other Eagle kits have after market aluminium  engine bells I had plenty of spares in my bits box  which came in.

Luckily, the original owner hadn't used the decals that came with kit, and spares box would provide the rest.

The main kit colour is Ford Diamond white car spray, with  orange car spray for the pod. Here it it with decals in place, and new engine bells in place.

The cockpit after it's restoration. It needed it's original hand painted look stripped and completely repainted. I do plan to light it at some point.

Here it is coming along nicely, .with the pod in place  The window solar panels have been removed . You can see the discarded engine bells in the top right hand corner of the photo.

Very close to completion. Landing legs attached prior to some dirtying down.

The final look., and the more-or-less end to a very enjoyable project, My only regret is I wish I'd taken more build photos!

Politoy's Scrooge McDuck Car

Hi Woodsy,

The Italian company Politoys once had an extensive range of die-cast Walt Disney cartoon vehicles. Many were driven by such well known characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, but others carried the more rarely seen Disney characters.

This range recently came up on Moonbase, so I thought I would dig out some photos of the only model from this series that I have. A boxed, but slightly battered example of Uncle Scrooge McDuck's chauffeur-driven limousine.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2026/02/polistil-personalities.html#comment-form

The box is marked l'auto di paperon de paperoni – The Car of Uncle Scrooge, Politoys, and Made in Italy. The underside of the model carries No.559.

The end of the box says 1600 Lire. Length of the model is 6 inches, or 15 centimetres.

I picked this example up at a fair in 2023 – it is the only model from this series I have ever seen in New Zealand. I could not resist, as Uncle Scrooge is my favourite Disney Duck, despite it being rather expensive.

The colour scheme for these Politoys models is mostly red and blue, with a little yellow trim. All come with well-painted plastic figures.

All are great, fun models. It would be nice to find some more examples.

Paul Adams from New Zealand