Shelf · TV series · 5 items
Matchbox 1992 range & Tracy Island
The range made for the BBC2 revival — Tracy Island, electronic craft, die-cast and figures — that sold out at Christmas 1992.
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Specimens
On this shelf
- Matchbox Tracy Island Electronic Playset The playset that sold out at Christmas 1992 and inspired Blue Peter’s famous make-your-own version. Vintage
- Matchbox die-cast Thunderbird 1 (TB-001) The die-cast Thunderbird 1 from the 1992 range, sold in a bubble pack on a card. Vintage
- Matchbox die-cast Thunderbirds 2, 3, 4 and FAB 1 The rest of Matchbox’s small die-cast range for the 1992 revival — also sold as a Radio Times exclusive set. Vintage
- Matchbox Electronic Thunderbird 2 An electronic Thunderbird 2 with sound effects and a miniature Thunderbird 4, from the 1992 range. Vintage
- Matchbox Thunderbirds action figures Action figures of the Tracy family, Brains, Lady Penelope, Parker and the Hood from the 1992 range. Vintage
Matchbox 1992 range & Tracy Island
Collector’s notes
When the BBC showed Thunderbirds nationally on BBC2 from September 1991, Matchbox took the toy licence. The Independent reported in December 1992 that Matchbox acquired the licence in January 1992, had to start from scratch because the original moulds and tooling had been destroyed, and that the toys — all made in the Far East — only reached British shops in September 1992.
Demand outstripped supply. Matchbox rationed retailers, the Toy Retailers Association recorded “an acute shortage” of Tracy Island with people queueing all night, and the BBC’s Blue Peter showed viewers how to make their own (broadcast on 7 January 1993). Thunderbirds was named Toy of the Year for 1993.
The range
According to Wikipedia’s summary (citing Chris Bentley’s Complete Book of Thunderbirds), the range included the Tracy Island electronic playset, electronic Thunderbirds 1 and 2, die-cast Thunderbirds 1–4 and FAB 1, pull-back vehicles, Thunderbird 2 pod vehicles and action figures.
Identifying 1992 pieces
Items carry 1992 Matchbox and ITC Entertainment copyright marks — the V&A’s Tracy Island reads “Matchbox. 1992. ITC ENT GRP LTD. Made in China.” Because the tooling was new, 1992 Matchbox toys are not reissues of 1960s toys.
Sources
Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds