Rob C.'s Gouache Sketches Based on My Toyscape Photos - Pt 6 (Final) Tri-ang Swing Wing Hawk

The last piece of art that Rob C. sent was his excellent rendition of Tri-ang's Swing Wing Hawk. He has the wings extended in his interpretation and I must say, it adds more drama, more 'oomph' to the composition! Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

Tarheel Industries, Inc Nova II Spaceship

Okay, so here's the deal. I was gonna start the next series of small space toys - Imperial Toys Apollo Moon Exploration - but it turns out I only have photos of them still in their blister cards! A few days ago I started breaking them out and photographing the individual sets but there are twelve sets so it's goin' to be a while before I'm finished.

But that's okay because our post actually ties in to the SpaceX / Golden Astronaut theme we've been following. Today's featured toy is Tarheel Industries Nova II Space Ship - or Rocket Ship if you prefer. You'll notice right away that it's a clone of the SpaceX/GA Swing Wing Hawk, only much larger. It measures 10 5/8" (26.98cm) L x 2 1/4" (5.71cm) H x 3 1/8" (7.93cm) wingspan - wings folded in or, 7.75" (19.68cm) wingspan - wings deployed. The tie-in to SpaceX/GA is that this Nova II ship is much more to scale with the 25mm figures that came with the Triang toys than was their line of small craft. The small toys were of course meant to be cheap pocket-money fare, but for those who may have wanted to set-up a right proper Moonbase or space colony display, they were too small. You can find out more about Tarheel at SpaceX Central. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's a Golden Astronaut figure along with the GA Hawk

Here's a Golden Astronaut figure alongside the Nova II. By physically comparing the GA guy with the figure in the cockpit, they appear to be the same size.

My sample came in quite dirty. After about an hour cleaning this was about as good as it got. I didn't want to use any abrasive cleaners instead opting for Armor-All and Windex, but it's going to need a little more TLC

Multiple Toymakers Golden Astronaut - Stage II Space Probe Series Swing Wing Hawk

Up next we start the four small carded sets of Stage II

STAGE II SPACE PROBE SERIES
-Swing Wing Hawk
-Supply Force Mercury
-Needle Probe
-Reconnaissance 1

There is a 3-piece large carded set which includes the Swing Wing Hawk, Supply Force Mercury, and Reconnaissance1. The Needle Probe got left out of that one. I do not have the 3-piece carded set.

Now here is a terrific looking interceptor style jet plane. Unlike the Lift Loader and Terrain Tiger, this thing veritably screams action! The SpaceX version was called the Rocket Ship "Hawk" while Multiple rebranded it as the Swing Wing Hawk and although it doesn't have a clear-cut origin, Paul V. does in fact have a theory about a possible inspiration for it here at SpaceX Central. It meaures 4" (10.16cm) L x 1 3/4" (4.44cm) wingspan (wings retracted) / 2 5/8" (6.66cm) wingspan (wings deployed) x 1" (2.54cm) H. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Two packages are shown to illustrate how figures were included at random. There was no such thing as: this particular figure was always paired with this particulr toy. That didn't happen - you got what you got.

Wings deployed