First of all, excuse the dust. I was in such a hurry to photograph this great toy from 2001 that I didn't notice it was in need of a wipe until after I'd snapped the pics. Over on MOONBASE CENTRAL blog, SCOOP has some pictures up of his CENTURY 21 SPV from the late-'60s, and this VIVID IMAGINATION version is clearly channelling its earlier predecessor. Click on Moonbase's name above to see Scoop's photos, but first take a look at mine, seeing as how I went to all the bother of pressing a button on my camera (nine times).
20 comments:
It looks pretty good, Kid. I like all the tiny figures, Captain Black getting ejected. It's obviously got plenty of features for the kids, missiles etc.and the opening rear section. In its static pose it unsurprisingly looks like a larger version of the Vivid Soundtech.
Would I invest in one? At the right price and condition, maybe.
It would be worth having, seeing as how it's the modern (well, it was in 2001) equivalent of the Century 21 version. Think how good they would both look being displayed alongside one another. I saw one a few months ago on ebay for around £25, but I'm not sure what the going rate is for a pristine, boxed one. I still have the box for mine, but it's up in the loft somewhere.
I really like this version of the SPV! I've had one in the past and enjoyed it a lot. I was pleased with the look, despite it not having double-wheels. More importantly for me was the fact that it offered some exciting play features with scale figures, plus gave very good value for money. However, I didn't realise that the bluish tinge changed over time, Kid. I also like the Thunderbirds and Stingray range which were also made in this scale by the same company. Only wish I'd had them to play with as a lad :)
Yes, I have most if not all of the Vivid Gerry Anderson range. I thought their Stingray was very good (a more sophisticated version of the rubber-band powered Lone Star one), but unfortunately some of the blue plastic parts take on more of a green tinge over time. I bought two of them, and even the one that was never removed from its bubble-pack, and which was kept in a bag in a cupboard for years, has also discoloured in places. The reason I bought all those toys was simply because, like you, I'd have loved to have had them as a kid, so I wasn't going to let being an adult (allegedly) stop me from owning them.
Couldn't agree more, Kid. My thoughts exactly :)
Matchbox (before Vivid) also did a nice big Playset Stingray, which was very good. And a Marineville, which was excellent. Made me think I was a kid again.
I know the sets you mean. That was a boom time revival for some super quality Anderson toys. These vehilces and playsets weren't just imaginative and good quality, many were also robust and could handle the sort of tough adventurers they were intended for. My son, now in his 30s, is an obsessive toy collector of '80s and '90s stuff. He had these as a lad and now has both boxed and loose examples of the whole range. You did very well to add so many to your own collection. I wish I had. I gotta go at this point because I'm startin' to feel regretful, left out and just a tad sorry for myself. Catch yeah soon :)
Unfortunately, Stingray and Captain Scarlet didn't have quite the impact that Thunderbirds made when all three shows were repeated in the '90s, so I think Matchbox and Vivid didn't shift as many toys as they'd anticipated in the wake of the successful Thunderbirds range. I'm glad they made them though. Now if only they'd done some Fireball XL5 stuff I'd have been even happier.
Had an original . Figures long gone. My brother has it now. Thunderbirds was so popular these toys were even sold in the USA.
Did you get the Captain Scarlet TV show as well as the toys, PS?
Ace that is..i had most of the Vivid toys during the BBC Anderson revival, i was really hoping for some UFO toys, like a moonbase playset, or a big mobile, like the big SPV but it never happened, the Marineville set was ace though, and the Big stingray.
Product Enterprise made some diecast UFO stuff for collectors at a reasonable price - did you get any of that, RD?
no Kid, i remember seeing the UFO toy's when they were out, but i never bought them, i think they were around £30 when they first came out, I'm not sure why, probably because I'd sold my collection by then,and i didn't want to start again!..they looked fantastic though, i must say, and the talking Gay Ellis was cool too.
Yeah, I've got that figure. Got it brand-new for a fiver in a discount shop.
Fantastic!..what a Bargain!
Sure was - still in its unopened box too.
I had the original back when I were a lad, and the white vehicle, was the the MSV?
TG
I've got all three original Dinkys - in their boxes too. However, the Dinky SPV was nowhere near as big as this one.
We did! Plus the toys! Gerry Anderson weren’t quite as big as other tv shows because they didn’t get as many repeats as say Star Trek but were popular enough the toys all sold out.
Good to hear, 'cos there were some great ones.
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