Eagle Freighter thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Eagle Freighter

Spacecraft
1978 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Boxed toy spacecraft, representing an Eagle Freighter from the television series Space 1999. The spacecraft is elongated, made from painted die-cast metal and injection-moulded polyethylene. It has four landing feet, which are sprung, and a large engine at the rear with four red plastic exhausts. The main body of it is a plastic lattice, in the centre of which is a metal lever which releases a pod which is connected beneath the spacecraft. The pod has a crane: a magnet attached to a length of thread which is wound around a winch. The winch is turned by either of two black plastic toothed wheels located at the front of the pod. Behind the winch is a rotating wheel into which the four 'fuel waste containers' can be fitted. The pod itself has four legs. The fuel waste containers are of yellow plastic, each with an orange paper sticker and a steel disc inset into their tops, by which they are lifted by the crane.

The spacecraft is contained in its original box, which is made from printed card with a transparent plastic window. On the box is printed images of two characters from Space 1999: Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) and Dr. Helen Russell (Barbara Bain). On the reverse is an artist's image of three other vehicles produced by Dinky: Thunderbird 2, UFO Interceptor and SHADO 2 Mobile.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Spacecraft
  • Crane
  • Container
  • Container
  • Container
  • Container
  • Box
  • Packaging
TitleEagle Freighter (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Injection-moulded polyethylene, painted die-cast metal, printed card
Brief description
Boxed spacecraft, 'Space 1999 Eagle Freighter'; metal & plastic; England, Dinky Toys, 1978
Physical description
Boxed toy spacecraft, representing an Eagle Freighter from the television series Space 1999. The spacecraft is elongated, made from painted die-cast metal and injection-moulded polyethylene. It has four landing feet, which are sprung, and a large engine at the rear with four red plastic exhausts. The main body of it is a plastic lattice, in the centre of which is a metal lever which releases a pod which is connected beneath the spacecraft. The pod has a crane: a magnet attached to a length of thread which is wound around a winch. The winch is turned by either of two black plastic toothed wheels located at the front of the pod. Behind the winch is a rotating wheel into which the four 'fuel waste containers' can be fitted. The pod itself has four legs. The fuel waste containers are of yellow plastic, each with an orange paper sticker and a steel disc inset into their tops, by which they are lifted by the crane.

The spacecraft is contained in its original box, which is made from printed card with a transparent plastic window. On the box is printed images of two characters from Space 1999: Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) and Dr. Helen Russell (Barbara Bain). On the reverse is an artist's image of three other vehicles produced by Dinky: Thunderbird 2, UFO Interceptor and SHADO 2 Mobile.
Dimensions
  • Spacecraft length: 22.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Part of the Edward Castle collection.
Production
This version of this toy dates from 1978. Earlier green and white and all-white painted versions were produced from 1974.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.99:1 to 8-2016

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Record createdNovember 1, 2016
Record URL
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