Corgi's latest classic TV model

SCALE: FTB 
PRICE: £29.99 
REF: CC96308

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, to give the TV show its full name, is a British science fiction television series that was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and produced by their company, Century 21 Productions. With a total of 32 episodes, each lasting 25 minutes, it was first broadcast on ITV regional franchises between 1967 and 1968, and went on to be shown in over 40 other countries around the world. It is one of several Anderson series that were filmed using a form of electronic marionette puppetry called "Supermarionation", which combined scale models with special effects sequences.

Set in 2068, Captain Scarlet follows the "war of nerves" between Earth and the Mysterons, a race of Martians who possess partial control over matter. When a misunderstanding causes human astronauts to attack their city on Mars, the Mysterons vow revenge and launch reprisals against Earth. These are countered by Spectrum, a worldwide security organisation. In the first episode, Spectrum agent Captain Scarlet acquires the Mysterons' self-healing power of "retrometabolism" and is thus rendered indestructible, being able to recover from otherwise fatal injuries. In this way, Scarlet becomes Spectrum's top asset in its fight against the Mysterons.

Fast, armed, armoured and amphibious, the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle is Spectrum's major Earth-bound combat force. A ten-wheeled two-seater bullet-proof vehicle capable of speeds over 200 mph (322 km/h), the 25 ft (7.62 m) long SPV has no windscreen and is driven from an aircraft-type bucket seat with the driver sitting facing the rear, steering the lightweight multi-purpose motors by television monitor.

Entry to the vehicle is via a sliding side panel which incorporates the driver's seat. Each SPV is equipped with revolutionary radar installations, super sensitive two-way radios, an air-conditioning plant and a proteinised food supply, enabling the crew to remain entirely self-sufficient for long periods. The SPV's armament consists of laser cannons, ground-to-air missiles and electrode ray cannons - the only truly effective anti-Mysteron weapon.

Essentially a reworked reissue of Corgi’s previous release of the SPV, the functionality is still there, with the nose missile being deployed by pressing down on one side of the front suspension and the side panel is released by pushing one of the panels on the roof edged in red. The set of rear wheels also folds down manually.

Although Corgi lists this as “Fit the Box”, given the model’s 14.4cm length, it works out to 1/53 scale. These have proved to be very popular indeed and the initial batch has sold out in many places already, so your pursuit 
needs to be fast! 

Models can be purchased from www.corgi.co.uk, or from your preferred retailer.