The Dinky #351 UFO Interceptor and the Dinky #353 Shado 2
Both are from the 1970s British TV show UFO by Gerry Anderson. I don't recall much about the old TV show, though I vaguely recall Planet Earth was under attack from aliens and these vehicles helped to defend it on a moon base. I was probably too young to be into the TV show as I just had a quick Google to see if it jogged any memories (it didn't). But I would have been plenty old enough to play with these military-like action vehicles out in the backyard as I was growing up.
These toys are not the originals I had as a small child. Mine probably got really well used, left out in the rain and gifted to some other younger neighbours or friends as I got older.
But I do remember deciding to rebuy them when my son got to a similar age as I was when I had them. He did not really get into them the way I did as there were a lot of other, newer, more exciting toys available. Toy companies and video games were marketing to his age group and targeted
him but it was a really good excuse for me to get them and add them to my desk space as a positive childhood trigger.
Replacement brand new or fully restored vehicles seemed to cost upwards of $200. From memory I picked these up as damaged or incomplete on an Ebay auction for under $20 Australian dollars each. It took a while to find, source and order in the replacement parts that I needed but it seemed there is a pretty big restoration marketplace happening for these sorts of quality dinky toys. It was fun when parts showed up and the rebuilds were only minor and east to complete.
My favourite part of the Shado 2 is the flip roof top and missile launcher. It is fully functional and fires about 6 metres. Still, I've got to be careful not to take somebody's eye out! It probably would not pass today's safety standards.
Both vehicles could do with a repaint but I sort of like the original played-with look.
The UFO interceptor's missile has a spring load reset underneath and a firing button on the right side of the main body near the cockpit and just above the little wing. It does not fire quite as far as the Shado 2, only a couple of metres, but the missile is a little heavier and not so aerodynamic.
Don't ask me to pick my favourite, as I am quite attached to them both, I just love the old school metal toys. I wouldn't mind adding a few more to my collection!
What was your favourite toy growing up?
