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| Box Top |
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| Corporate Logo |
"DELUXE READING ... BETTER TOYS FOR YOUNG AMERICANS"
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| Box Side |
It comes with a mobile rocket transport - a cab/trailer combination that holds three of the missiles. The truck is generic, but is reminiscent of 1950s era GMC COE (cab over engine) trucks. The chrome is starting to flake, but is in good condition for its age.
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| Mobile Rocket Transport cab |
Truck with Trailer. Carries 3 of the 4 missiles. The thing I like most about this toy is the fact that kids could play with ICBMs. Nothing like playing army men and winning the game by launching a thermonuclear attack. Shown are an
Atlas rocket,
Jupiter rocket, and
Titan rocket.
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| Missile Transporter |
Detail of the transporter trailer.
Profile of the 3 missiles.
Also include is a
Nike missile base (editorial aside - in the early 1990s, when I was in the Army Reserves, we did a jump at Gary Airport in Indiana, along with an FTX. You could still see the remnants of a Nike site). This toy combines scale missiles with "controls" that the kid (or me) can pretend to manipulate himself. All 3 missiles still fire.
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| Nike missiles |
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| Close-up of the controls |
The missiles can elevate on their launchers, but, over time, the plastic has spread so that the ratcheting that is meant to position them no longer works. The can only positioned flat or fully up.
The final piece is the rocket gantry, shown here with a
Thor rocket. Spring loaded, and very powerful, even now. Can easily go 10 feet up or so. Ground crew preparing for launch.
May not be the most amazing toy ever made, but certainly a great toy and definitely of its time.
3 comments:
I had one of those sets. Still remember it and decided to see if I could find it online. And here's yours, exactly like mine was. Thanks for the memories.
I too had one for Christmas one year; total surprise. Loved it though, and played with it on and off for several years! Lovely memories.
I'm yet another of that generation. Remembered the parts very well, but couldn't remember the name. If I'd carefully kept all those play sets in their original boxes I'd be a rich man now!
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