by Autojaune
on Aug 22, 2012
The Solido McLaren M8B comes from the last quarter of the 100 series, a time when every new model released by Solido inspired admiration from children and collectors alike. The reasons were simple - at this point the Oulins company’s accurate modeling and wealth of detail raised their simple toys to the level of collector replicas.
by jclevering
on Aug 21, 2012
Here are three examples of the Chery S11 or SQR 7110, or ... well a car with many names but mostly known for being a copy of the Chevy Matiz. They are sold on a blister with a key chain attached.
I thought the story would end there, but strangely I found some more Chery's.
by ScifiAdi
on Aug 20, 2012
As with the blue and yellow Cosmic Cruiser, this model was made exclusively for Marks & Spencer. It was released in limited numbers in St Michael packaging for Christmas 1979 and the base is marked only 'Made In England', no mention of Dinky Toys. The labels were identical in design, but different in colour, to those on the blue and yellow
Cruiser.
The missile launchers were of the design used on the 367 Space Battle Cruiser, white with two red bands, which was also released in '79. These were basically spring-loaded tubes with a square button to one side. When a missile was inserted, it locked in place with a click and was released when the button was pressed.
Apparently, inside the upper casting, are the words Cosmic Interceptor but this was not visible after assembly.
The model later received a blue and silver colour scheme and was reissued as the Zygon Patroller. The only major difference was the large booster added to the rear of the Patroller, under the fin. This covered up the two plastic-plugged holes so prominent on the Cosmic Interceptor which were a legacy of its origins, the twin jet exhausts of the Dinky M.R.C.A. The slot on the top of the bodywork, along which the button slides to 'swing' the wings on the Panavia M.R.C.A., was filled-in but the ghost is still visible on the Cosmic Cruiser and all production Patrollers. Similarly, underneath are the ghosts of various slots and voids through which the undercarriage lowered and retracted in unison with the movement of the wings on the M.R.C.A.
by ScifiAdi
on Aug 20, 2012
According to the Dinky Toy Compendium, 368 Zygon Marauder was initially issued as the Cosmic Cruiser for Marks and Spencer in the run up to Christmas 1979. It came in special St Michael packaging and was marked only 'Made In England' on the base of the toy. These models were made in limited quantities and are scarce nowadays, especially in
pristine condition. I've never come across a St Michael boxed example. The Cosmic Cruiser was a revamped version of the 367 Space Battle Cruiser.
When reissued in late 1979 as the Zygon Marauder, painted red and white as part of the Dinky Toys range, the name Dinky Toys was added to the base and the labels were changed to reflect the 'Zygon' connection. The name Zygon was presumably chosen for a range that ran to three vehicles because it sounded suitably 'alien' therefore appealing to youngsters. Very likely also that the range was created to diminish stocks at the Binns Road factory that closed in late 1979. This version was issued in a box which featured a cut-out space station, a nice touch. It combined with the inner card on which the model was held with three white plastic pegs.
The twin red missiles (I imagine a spare was also supplied) were pushed through the barrels which compressed the springs inside and, due to the missile design, locked in place, held by a lug located on the base of the rear of the launchers. Applying pressure to this area lowered the lug which released the missiles at some speed. The barrels could be tilted upwards, the launchers swivelled left and right and the canopy removed if so desired.
As with many other Dinky Toys, a prototype all-plastic version of this model was also produced.
An example has been noted in a Space Battle Cruiser (the m
In Robert Newsons last article (Classic Toys Issue 2) the address of Sundaw Products Ltd should be 1649 Bath Row, Birmingham and not as shown. This information came from the trade magazine Games & Toys where the incorporation of the company was reported, but the number 1649 seems odd and may itself be a misprint - Bath Row is not a very long road!
Our subject this time is another 1940’s toy, but the manufacturer is unknown. It is a road sweeper with a left-hand drive half-cab, possibly a model of a Latil. The wire brush is mounted at an angle across the model and the wheels are a unique design, having six “wheel nuts” around the hub as well as cast-in tread pattern. A spare wheel is mounted at the rear using a self-taping screw through the body. Overall length is 97 mm. The example illustrated is painted red with silver trim on the radiator grille and sidelights, while the version also exists in light blue.
by Autojaune
on Aug 16, 2012
In 1920’s Berlin, the First World War was over, but political and economical instability hung heavily over Germany as it did over much of Europe. As the population sought entertainment to escape the doom and gloom, so the popularity of cabarets rose and the model we see here is promoting a typical Berlin cabaret of this era.
