AirDave's Kool Wheelz Collection

[THE DC]

Originally Posted by airdave

I don't know Galileo 5?

I looked it up...and I am unsure why I would put out a model of it?

Coleman - Galileo 5



Oh, you must mean this:....?

Galileo 5 and 6 Recovery | GALILEO

Something like that...ironically the story that the big G that I am talking about DID have a camping scene...

[THE DC]

Is it Monday yet?

[airdave]

The Matchbox Toys (and Thunderbirds) BP Autotanker
...
Time for a lesson children...sit down and be quiet.

A while back...I was online...looking for more Gerry Anderson stuff... you know, Thunderbirds and the like....

and I came across a guy who has recreated the entire Fireflash crash scene from Thunderbirds Episode One "Trapped in the Sky".
He recreated it almost perfectly and has done it all digitally...CGI... and its quite amazing.

But, in the details of his project was information about the ground vehicles used around the airport (in the original episode).
It turns out, the makers of the Thunderbirds show often used store bought vehicles...
plastic kits and diecast toys...for various background and static vehicles.
Many appeared in their original store bought form...and many were modified into other things.

And one in particular... is this diecast Autotanker by Matchbox Toys .

You can spot it around the airport in that first episode...you can spot in in other episodes...you can spot it all over the place.
Sometimes it the yellow and green Matchbox Autotanker, and sometimes its customized into other vehicles.



After a little more research I discovered the original Matchbox toy (released in 1961) was based on an earlier real-life vehicle, the British Petroleum Autotanker.
BP had commissioned this sleek modern Tanker Truck in the late 1950s.

Way ahead of its time, the toy was the perfect choice for a Thunderbirds vehicle of the future.
It looks like it was tailor made for the TV show, and yet it was on the roads for real, more than five years before Thunderbirds was even made!

I never owned this toy as a boy...can't say I remember it at all...but I think its really neat looking
And its connection to Thunderbirds makes it an ideal choice for a Koolwheelz model.



My model is a fairly simple build...
...but the vehicle has a very distinctive notched rear section,
and I felt like I had to include a more complicated part for that area.
It takes a little more patience to build, but the end result is more interesting than just a squared off box.

There is no Instruction sheet for this one...not really needed...although I have added a small diagram for the rear assembly.

Find the model in the Specialz - Promotional section...and in the Star Carz section (of Koolwheelz) at my website.

[Vermin_King]

I'd have never guessed that one, but it is a logical fit as a Koolwheelz vehicle.

Thank you, sir

[OgdenBob]

How cool!! Thanks Dave, for the model, and the vecicle's colorful history, both in real and model form.


Bob

[Scott K]

Thanks, Dave. Another one I vaguely had in mind to make myself some day, and now don't have to. And just because I find the coincidence interesting, a picture that i just happened to be looking at yesterday. My brand new Autotanker is at my feet, and I'm holding my as yet unopened Matcbox BP Station set. Still have the tanker, as well as the tow truck and smaller tanker that came in the set. Wish I still had the station itself though. Hmm, another KW accessory idea?

[Kevin WS]

Very interesting model and history Dave - I have been reading up some more on it. Amazingly advanced, with a modern cab that would not be out of place today.

Scott - nice photo and synchronicity as well!

[gotham]

Thanks Dave for the history lesson, and the tanker model. The tanker looks very familier to me, I just can't recall if I had one of those or one of my friends did...it's some time ago now !

[airdave]

Originally Posted by Scott K

Thanks, Dave. Another one I vaguely had in mind to make myself some day, and now don't have to.
And just because I find the coincidence interesting, a picture that i just happened to be looking at yesterday.
My brand new Autotanker is at my feet, and I'm holding my as yet unopened Matcbox BP Station set.

wow...what an absolutely fantastic photo, fantastic memory, and fantastic coincidence!
You just made this project that much more special.
Even though its not my memory, you just took me back in time with your photo.
I never had this toy...but I had similar moments.

This is the kind of thing I am going for
...and why I started the Koolwheelz collection in the first place.
To bring those old memories and experiences back to life with a tangible object.

I have to say, the responses on this one have put a smile on my face.
Thanks for showing some interest.

Originally Posted by Scott K

Still have the tanker, as well as the tow truck and smaller tanker that came in the set.
Wish I still had the station itself though. Hmm, another KW accessory idea?

yes, but do you also have the box?

[Scott K]

Originally Posted by airdave

wow...what an absolutely fantastic photo, fantastic memory, and fantastic coincidence!
You just made this project that much more special.
Even though its not my memory, you just took me back in time with your photo.
I never had this toy...but I had similar moments.

This is the kind of thing I am going for
...and why I started the Koolwheelz collection in the first place.
To bring those old memories and experiences back to life with a tangible object.

I have to say, the responses on this one have put a smile on my face.
Thanks for showing some interest.




yes, but do you also have the box?

Glad I could "help".

I wish I did still have the box for it. With the number of things in the photo (and the others I have with it) that I later lost to my stepmother's clean-out, I'm surprised I still have the tanker. I'm sure the box would have gone then if I still had it, but don't think it survived more than a few weeks after Christmas.