Since no Spacex Nuclear Freighter & Salvage Craft have surfaced so far, Paul Woods set about making one for himself, based on the card back illustration. Bill Bulloch supplied the backing card for this tantalising impression of an elusive toy.
For an encore, Messrs Woods and Bulloch produced a few miniature versions of the Salvage Craft, using the Ravenstar gaming piece painted up in the card-back illustration colours. (use your Browser's Back button to return here)
One of Paul's many talents is his wonderful knack of taking ordinary household objects and building the most evocative representations of Spacex and Sword vehicles and spacecraft out of them. His ability to capture the essence of these toys is as uncanny as it's admirable! Paul's photographs below include four different renditions of the Spacex photonic-powered Space Station - the small one based on illustrations of the toy, the others on photographs of the one I have.
This most convincing rendition of the Spacex LT-10 started life as a lipstick holder amongst other things. Instantly recognisable and the colours are spot-on.
The LT-10 was shortly followed by this ingenious take on the Moon Buggy, with a body made from a whistle and wheels made from plastic balls.
Next up was a Rocket Transporter capable of carrying the Spacex Interplanetary 1 rocket, and fitted with working lights.
Two LAMA versions made from Hungry Hippo game parts...
... rapidly followed by a Crash Tender.
Another Salvage Craft, this time as a scratchbuild as opposed to the sculpted one higher up this page.
Up next were two renditions of the ATS, the left one featuring a torch inside.
Quickly followed by a rather splendid Surveyor 2.
Paul's interpretation of the Soyuz 6 & 7 is made from deodorant rollers with practice golf balls, detailed by metal bracelet links for the solar panels and engines made from salt bottle lids finished with toy gun cap rings.
A lightbulb was turned into a somewhat wonky Molab...
... followed in record time by a Nuclear Ferry...
... and a Rescue Craft built around another deodorant roller top, fitted with a clockwork motor.
The last photo shows a very abstract Sword/Spacex Prospector and a particularly inspired representation of the Spacex Lunar Orbiter sattelite. I can't help but wonder what the resourceful Mr Woods will surprise us with next!