Tri-ang and Tri-ang Hornby Military rolling stock, etc...NATO and Battlespace.

[Ruffnut Thorston]

Battlespace was the later Tri-ang Hornby incarnation of the Tri-ang  Railways military themed  wagons.

 

First off in 1957, was the first type of bogie bolster wagon, fitted with a spring loaded rocket launcher from the Tri-ang Minic “Push and Go” M.328 Rocket Projector lorry.

 

 

This was the R.216 Rocket Launching Wagon. 

 

 

(From the 1962 catalogue.)

 

Another model from the Minic “Push and go” range was the Conqueror Tank, used as a well wagon load.

 

A special military set was made for Canada in 1958.

 

 

The RSX Military Special also included a Tri-ang  Minic M.409 “Push and Go “ Jet Fighter on a well wagon.

https://tri-ang.weebly.com/1958-military-set-rsx.html

 

The R.249 Exploding Car (1963), and the R.128 Helicopter Car (1960) were, along with the R.348 Giraffe Car, copied from Lionel (USA) models. At the time, Lionel were marketing Scalextric in the USA, and Lines Bros were marketing Lionel Science Sets in the UK.

The Helicopter Car was the first to have NATO markings.

 

The trackside trip that launched the helicopter, was the same one that also launched the ‘plane, and I believe operated the “Q Car” deploying the missile launcher.

 

 

I have not so far seen a System 6 version...

 

Lionel Catalogue 1960...

 

 

An early train set , “The Conqueror” RS.65 (1964) consisted of the R.251 Deeley 3F and Tender, with a Rocket Launching Wagon, and an Exploding Car.

Another NATO train set was “The Defender” RS.50. (1964) This consisted of the R.152 BR Green 0-6-0 Diesel Shunter, along with a Searchlight Car, Four-Rocket Launcher, and an Exploding Car.

 

The second series Transcontinental Series (T.C. Series) Baggage Car was turned out as tge R.248 Ambulance Car, with R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps) lettering, and Red Cross logos. 
 

 

The Tri-ang Railways Bogie Weltrol wagon formed the base for four wagons.

The R.343 Four-Rocket Launcher (1963), the R.341 Searchlight Car (1963), the R.249 Bomb Transporter, and the R.562 ‘Plane Launching Wagon.

 

The first three were originally released with NATO markings, but I believe that the ‘Plane Launching Wagon went straight into Battlespace markings, as the ramp has a moulded circle for the Battlespace logo sticker.

 

The Bomb Transporter carried a cap firing bomb from the Tri-ang Minic Range.

 

 

Battlespace,from 1966, introduced more space age wagons. The R.566 Satellite Launching Wagon, derived from the Helicopter Car, and the R.567 Satellite Tracking Car, with revolving Radar Dish. These, along with a red 0-4-0 “North British” type Diesel Shunter formed one of the Battlespace Train Sets, RS.17.

 

The RS.16 Strike Force 10 set had a Khaki Smoke fitted Jinty, with Battlespace logo stickers on the side tanks, along with a R.568 bogie well wagon carrying a tank fitted with a two-rocket launcher, and a ‘Plane Launching Wagon. The tank was the bottom half of the old Tri-ang Minic “Push and Go” tank, used as a load on the original well wagon with tank load wagon. There was no mechanism, instead TT Locomotive wheels, without flanges, were mounted loosely on axles. The rocket launcher was a new part, and used the same rockets as the four-rocket launcher.

 

This cover picture is interesting...

 

Thanks to Phil... @Phil Parker

http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2013/04/that-looks-bit-battlespace-to-me.html

 

Cover Picture: The drawing on the cover of our Annual is an artist's impression of what the Triang/Hornby Strike Force 10 train set might look like in a real life situation. These "Battle Space" train sets certainly add excitement to your model railway layouts.

 

 

Both the turret from the four-rocket launcher, and the two-rocket launcher from the tank were also sold mounted into expanded polystyrene emplacements, as ground based rocket launchers, R.671 and R.670.

 

The R.572 Honest John Missile and launcher is an interesting model.

 

 

The Honest John missile was from the Dinky Toys range, from Meccano Ltd. which was taken over by Lines Bros. (Tri-ang) In 1964.

 

 

The launcher is the Tri-ang Minic Rocket Launcher, mounted on the platform base from the Tri-ang Railways R.475 Goods Yard Crane.

This used the crane from the R.127 small mobile crane wagon.

 

Catalogue pages...

 

1963.

1965.

 

1966.

 

1967.

 

1968.

 

1969.

 

1970.

 

 

Up to now, the last versions of the Battlespace models came in a Hornby Railways train set, in 1982 and 1983. The Task Force Action Set.

 

 

http://www.hornbyguide.com/item_details.asp?itemid=407

 

Despite the early catalogue illustrations shewing the original rockets on the tank, the actual models had just one projectile, this being basically a ping pong ball launched by a captive stick!

 

The Helicopter Car and Exploding Car have plastic bogies, the originals kept the die cast bogies to lower the centre of gravity, increasing stability...

 

 

 

 

 

More recently, from 2011, a Hornby military set, Codename: Strikeforce, had no Battlespace models in it...

 

http://www.hornbyguide.com/item_details.asp?itemid=3979

 

 

Another, even more recent, Hornby military set.

 

Battle Zone.

 

 

These sets came with “Life Like” track, from the USA...and a base or fort...

Along with the Dino Safari sets...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2021 by Ruffnut Thorston
More added...

[Gordon A]

I remember having a lot of fun with the searchlight wagon as well as the four rocket launcher turreted wagon.

I found the helicopter wagon a bit disappointing as it only went straight up and down.

 

Gordon A

[Paul H Vigor]

22 minutes ago, Ruffnut Thorston said:

Battlespace was the later Tri-and Hornby incarnation of the Tri-ang  Railways military themed  wagons.

 

First off in 1957, was the first type of bogie bolster wagon, fitted with a spring loaded rocket launcher from the Tri-ang Minic “Push and Go” M328 Rocket Projector lorry.

 

The Exploding Car (1963), and the Helicopter Car (1960) were, along with the Giraffe Car, copied from Lionel (USA) models. At the time, Lionel were marketing Scalextric in the USA, and Lines Bros were marketing Lionel Science Sets in the UK.

The Helicopter Car was the first to have NATO markings.

 

An early Train Set , “The Conqueror” RS.65, consisted of the R.251 Deeley 3F and Tender, with a Rocket Launching Wagon, and an Exploding Car.

Another NATO train set was “The Defender” RS.50. (1964) This consisted of the R.152 BR Green 0-6-0 Diesel Shunter, along with a Searchlight Car, Four-Rocket Launcher, and an Exploding Car.

 

The second series Transcontinental Series (T.C. Series) Baggage Car was turned out as an Ambulance Car, with R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps) lettering, and Red Cross logos. 

 

The Tri-ang Railways Bogie Weltrol wagon formed the base for four wagons.

The Four-Rocket Launcher (1963), the Searchlight Car (1963), the Bomb Transporter, and the ‘Plane Launching Wagon.

 

The first three were originally released with NATO markings, but I believe that the ‘Plane Launching Wagon went straight into Battlespace markings, as the ramp has a moulded circle for the Battlespace logo sticker.

 

The Bomb Transporter carried a cap firing bomb from the Tri-ang Minic Range.

 

 

Battlespace,from 1966, introduced more space age wagons. The Satellite Launching Wagon, derived from the Helicopter Car, and the Satellite Tracking Car, with revolving Radar Dish. These, along with a red 0-4-0 “North British” type Diesel Shunter formed one of the Battlespace Train Sets.

 

The Strike Force 10 set had a Khaki Smoke fitted Jinty, with Battlespace logo stickers on the side tanks, along with a bogie well wagon carrying a tank fitted with a two-rocket launcher, and a ‘Plane Launching Wagon. The tank was the bottom half of the old Tri-ang Minic “Push and Go” tank, used as a load on the original well wagon with tank load wagon. There was no mechanism, instead TT Locomotive wheels, without flanges, were mounted loosely on axles. The rocket launcher was a new part, and used the same rockets as the four-rocket launcher.

 

 

 

Both the turret from the four-rocket launcher, and the two-rocket launcher from the tank were also sold mounted into expanded polystyrene emplacements, as ground based rocket launchers.

 

I cannot imagine my childhood without caps (Brocks?)! Seems one can still buy caps for pistols??

[andyman7]

It's fascinating to see (and be reminded) that military themes for toys were such a staple back then - no doubt enhanced by the proximity of WW2. Dinky, Corgi, Airfix etc had significant military themes and no doubt Tri-ang considered that this theme would extend the reach of Triang Railways to boys (yes very gender specific targeting in those days) who might not otherwise be engaged. 

I've only got a few of the items, the Searchlight wagon is my favourite I think. Repurposing the Giraffe Car as a Sniper vehicle is mind boggling!

Edited May 27, 2021 by andyman7

[cypherman]

Hi all,

I think that at one time or another as a child I have had all those wagons except the hospital coach, mail coach and exploding box car. I remember that the search light wagons light was rather weedy with basically just a glow from the bulb.

Edited May 27, 2021 by cypherman

[Paul H Vigor]

23 minutes ago, andyman7 said:

It's fascinating to see (and be reminded) that military themes for toys were such a staple back then - no doubt enhanced by the proximity of WW2. Dinky, Corgi, Airfix etc had significant military themes and no doubt Tri-ang considered that this theme would extend the reach of Triang Railways to boys (yes very gender specific targeting in those days) who might not otherwise be engaged. 

I've only got a few of the items, the Searchlight wagon is my favourite I think. Repurposing the Giraffe Car as a Sniper vehicle is mind boggling!

Those happy days of cap-firing pistols and spud guns! 

[Ramblin Rich]

Turbo car alert! Paging @Phil Parker

1 hour ago, Paul H Vigor said:

I cannot imagine my childhood without caps (Brocks?)! Seems one can still buy caps for pistols??

I remember deliberately dropping a half house brick on a roll of caps. I swear the brick jumped up a couple of feet! I think mum was annoyed with me but I couldn't hear what she was saying for about 10 minutes...

Edited May 27, 2021 by Ramblin Rich
turbo car!

[Dave John]

Ah, memories. 

 

I had the rocket thing, bit tame. However I had an uncle who smoked cigars and saved me the aluminium tubes. Vinegar,  cotton wool, baking powder, cork. Livened things up. 

 

Then I discovered jetex motors.... 

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

That's brought a few memories back.

Hmmmm, I wonder if you can still buy them?

 

Mike.

[Phil Parker]

Quality models. I don't really do military stuff, but I lover the play value, because I am a big kid.

 

 

The Battlespace Turbo car is brilliant. It runs on a split-frame chassis and is just completely mad, and great fun,

 

 

In G scale, LGB make a couple of versions which work in the same way. Should you need more speed, Swift Sixteen produce a kit designed around a brushless motor.

 

Despite regular requests, Simon refuses to put the Turbocar back into the Hornby range...

[RedgateModels]

I had the plane launching car as a kid, bought another in 2018, scanned the damaged wings in and cleaned up the image. Made some passable copies to restore the look. Still need a trip lever, but refuse to pay the prices asked when they do come up on eBay ....

[Ruffnut Thorston]

The original posting has now been much edited, adding a fair bit more. 

[GoingUnderground]

Lots of very interesting examples of how, by mixing and matching, and moulding in different colour plastic, Triang produced lots of different models from a limited number of parts.

 

The Transcontinental mail coach is a nice example. It started life back in 1956 Standard Track days as part of the Transcontinental range in red/maroon in the R.119 set. That was joined in 1959 by the R.319 set for Series 3 Track. It was reissued for Super 4 track in both red R.400, and blue, R.401 sets in 1962-64. It turned into the Battle Space Command Car set R.725 in 1967-1970. Then it came back to life between 1974 and 1977 moulded in blue with the top half pale grey, again as R.401, to become an unconvincing BR Royal Mail travelling Post Office, giving it an end to end 21 year life.

 

Richard Lines said that sales of Battle Space were good for the first two years, but after that they were hard to move, and gave the impression that he regretted producing the range (Source: the Axiom Triang Hornby video), probably because of the resultant financial hit of writing down the slow-moving stock.

Edited May 28, 2021 by GoingUnderground
Added dates

[Il Grifone]

H & S would have a fit over some of the above today!

 

WE must have been made of sterner stuff, as we survived them....

 

My brother had  the original red exploding box car. It was quite fun, but a pain to put back together again. IIRC one of the sides got lost and it was thrown out.

 

The DinoSafari set looks fun, but I've been  told, "No more dinosaurs!"  * (I do have three boxes full of the things.) The dinosaurs must all be babies! and, to be pedantic, pteranodon is not a dinosaur.

 

* Also "No more trains", but that does not make any sense at all!

[Phil Parker]

56 minutes ago, GoingUnderground said:

Richard Lines said that sales of Battle Space were good for the first two years, but after that they were hard to move,

 

Simon K has said the same about the later versions of the sets too.

[Phil Parker]

10 minutes ago, Il Grifone said:

H & S would have a fit over some of the above today!

 

WE must have been made of sterner stuff, as we survived them....

 

Some of the models have re-appeared, but I can see the Turbo Car with it's unguarded propeller and original plastic nose could be interesting in a modern world.

 

The problem isn't so much H&S and legal. Back in the old days, if you hurt yourself, mummy and daddy told you to stop crying. Now, they are on the phone to an ambulance chasing lawyer.

[Johann Marsbar]

I remember persuading my Mother that I wanted a Battle Space wagon for my rather basic (clockwork) Triang layout (the "proper" layout was completely Hornby Dublo at that time in the 1960's) so we visited the local model shop (Everybodys Hobbies, St Nicholas St, Ipswich) with a desire for one of the rocket firing tank on flatcar models.

Turned out they only had a choice of the large bomb on the flat wagon or the satelite launching car in stock, so I ended up with the latter. Unfortunately, I broke that up many years later, though I still have the "building" that was on it somewhere after it ended up being used as a PW hut on a later layout!

I do still have a complete Giraffe Car though, and it's box has managed to survive over 50 years as well, as that ended up being used to store things in!

 

[Legend]

I had  the Multiple Missile Launcher .  Nothing was safe . It didn't survive my childhood.  Got one off of eBay last year . These Rockets still hit with force . Nearly took out the backscene . Its amazing these were sold as toys in the day .

 

 

[GoingUnderground]

1 hour ago, Phil Parker said:

 

Some of the models have re-appeared, but I can see the Turbo Car with it's unguarded propeller and original plastic nose could be interesting in a modern world.

 

The problem isn't so much H&S and legal. Back in the old days, if you hurt yourself, mummy and daddy told you to stop crying. Now, they are on the phone to an ambulance chasing lawyer.

I remember the toy army cannons made by Brittains that fired matchsticks or bits of cocktail sticks out of the barrels. And the counters in ludo and tiddleywinks sets were nice choke hazards for younger children if left lying around. 

 

It's H&S and legal/financial/commercial. The claims, justified or not, cost time and money to defend and if lost force up the cost of product indemnity insurance. The bad publicity of a clam damages the company's reputation. So businesses do whatever they can, at minimal expense, to reduce the likelihood of a claim being successful. That means withdrawing many products that could cause an injury. There must be lots of products from the past that would never be put on sale today because of the H&S issues.

 

The judges should have thrown out many of the cases that set the ball rolling, like the ones from folks complaining that they got burnt by a hot cup of coffee dispensed from a vending machine selling "hot drinks". I'm surprised that no one has tried suing kettle or cooker makers for getting scalded or burnt because the steam coming out of the kettle spout was hot, or because they took the tray with the just cooked Sunday roast in it out of the oven with their bare hands.

[kevinlms]

50 minutes ago, GoingUnderground said:

I remember the toy army cannons made by Brittains that fired matchsticks or bits of cocktail sticks out of the barrels. And the counters in ludo and tiddleywinks sets were nice choke hazards for younger children if left lying around. 

 

It's H&S and legal/financial/commercial. The claims, justified or not, cost time and money to defend and if lost force up the cost of product indemnity insurance. The bad publicity of a clam damages the company's reputation. So businesses do whatever they can, at minimal expense, to reduce the likelihood of a claim being successful. That means withdrawing many products that could cause an injury. There must be lots of products from the past that would never be put on sale today because of the H&S issues.

 

The judges should have thrown out many of the cases that set the ball rolling, like the ones from folks complaining that they got burnt by a hot cup of coffee dispensed from a vending machine selling "hot drinks". I'm surprised that no one has tried suing kettle or cooker makers for getting scalded or burnt because the steam coming out of the kettle spout was hot, or because they took the tray with the just cooked Sunday roast in it out of the oven with their bare hands.

But many (most?) H&S issues are quite genuine.

 

Look how much safer cars are these days. There was an old ad on Australian TV, which mentioned how safe the dashboard front edge was, because it had a nice soft foam surface to it, thus protecting your forehead.

Problem was from a seating position, you only got to the foam, after smashing through the steel steering wheel rim first! At which point the foam, was just a little too late.

[GoingUnderground]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that some improvements weren't needed. No one should be sent to do a job of work in unsafe conditions or using dangerous or inadequately guarded equipment, or be able to buy a product which when used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions will kill or severely maim the user or those round them. But, in my humble opinion, the pendulum has swung too far towards H&S and too far away from personal responsibility for one's own actions and their consequences. I could say more, but I won't.

[kevinlms]

8 minutes ago, GoingUnderground said:

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that some improvements weren't needed. No one should be sent to do a job of work in unsafe conditions or using dangerous or inadequately guarded equipment, or be able to buy a product which when used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions will kill or severely maim the user or those round them. But, in my humble opinion, the pendulum has swung too far towards H&S and too far away from personal responsibility for one's own actions and their consequences. I could say more, but I won't.

But we aren't talking of adults 'taking responsibilities for their actions', but toys for kids, which was the prime target of the 'Battlespace' type models, as in fact previously confirmed.

 

But I agree, this ought not be discussed further here.

[russ p]

Wasn't there a military themed airfix set with a blue 31, mk2 Aircon and some military wagon of some sort? 

[Ben B]

It's interesting noting they went from 'real world' NATO branding, RAMC logos and so on, to the more generic 'Battle Space'.  Would it have been a copyright cost issue, like with permission needing to be granted for the British Railways crests and so on?  Or more like the recent business with U.N.I.T in 'Dr.Who' being reclassified as the Unified-Intelligence-Taskforce because the real UN didn't like the association of their name with the show?

 

I seem to remember reading on the old "Simon Says" blog that the whole Dino Safari thing was a bit of a non-starter because the stock needed different back-to-backs for the special tracks, or something similar.

 

I wonder if you'd count the modern Bachmann MoD set with the 03 and wagons as the more sober, current-day iteration?  Obviously no exploding box vans there, sadly

[Phil Parker]

10 minutes ago, russ p said:

Wasn't there a military themed airfix set with a blue 31, mk2 Aircon and some military wagon of some sort? 

 

Dr X - http://www.airfixrailways.co.uk/ARSdr.Xset.htm