The text of the following article is reproduced from the one originally published in Model Railway Enthusiast in the UK in August 1994. It is typical of the many titles available in respect of model railway and diecast collecting history. Potential publishers interested in accessing this material please make contact. A bibliography is accessible.
Copyright R N Forsythe Edition date: 27.4.97
Each year between 1966 and 1971, the Tri-ang Hornby catalogue contained a page or more dedicated to a futuristic (nightmarish?) range of toy trains labelled 'Battlespace'. They were part of the perennial efforts to add 'play value' to model railways. That they were run for six seasons and involved at least 24 different models indicates that the concept enjoyed some success. Their appeal was not to the railway modeller. Instead as tools of the childhood battleground and now averaging some 25 years old, they have become sought after collectables.
Like so many discrete areas of Tri-ang/Hornby's production, there is a before and after story. Several of the models originated in the early 1960's in a pseudo serious role as members of NATO. One or two have made subsequent appearances until quite recent times.
PRE-1966
Two strands were woven together to inspire the first models. One was components available from Lines' Minic vehicle range. The second was products of the American Lionel concern with whom Lines had a cordial relationship. The very first model was Minic derived and preceded other releases by five years. The R216 Rocket Launcher appeared in 1957 using a Minic series Rocket launcher attached to the then current Tri-ang bogie bolster. Throughout the pre-1966 period the body remained grey and nor was it changed to the new more accurate moulding of the bogie bolster in 1961. Since the model lasted till the end of Battlespace, it rates as moderately easy to find.
The second item also proved the longest lasting. The Helicopter launcher took its lead from a Lionel model and marked the arrival of the NATO models. It used the Transcontinental series flat car as a base. With it came a key component for the future of these models. This was the trip switch. A trackside lever could be clipped into the track. When raised, this engaged a further movable trip on the side of the wagon. Hey presto, it flew or exploded. In the case of the helicopter, the trip released a wound up spring which transmitted the force into the rotors. Very early models were actually released in the grey plastic of the derivative wagon.
This became a very popular wagon and one may be confident that more than 100,000 were made. Nonetheless with livery and helicopter variations there are some rarer versions to find. For 1962 only, the helicopter was on sale solo as R165. The wagon made appearances in the Hornby ACHO range in the second part of the decade. For this purpose the coupling was changed but the R number retained.
The three other NATO green livery models were modified from the British prototype Trestrol wagon. These four models formed a major Tri-ang innovation for 1962; along with the older rocket car (catalogued pages away) they made the total five. However only the bomb transporter actually arrived that year. The bomb was courtesy of Minic and caps could be exploded in its nose.
The other two models were not in the shops till 1963 when they were joined by what might be seen as the quintessential item in the whole series: the exploding box car (another Lionel idea). The ambulance car was a further 1963 addition but hovered at this point betweeen the Transcontinental and Action Accessory ranges. An antipodean version was allocated to the ANZAC's and not the RAMC. It also used the older pattern TC series baggage car.
Apart from seeking out solo helicopters to line up on the flightpad, the collector's interest in this period is also marked by the three sets. Attractive box artwork was a feature of Tri-ang's sets in these years. The interest is heightened by the 'Conqueror' set of 1964 not appearing in any catalogue. Despite this, sales of 18,600 in 1964 were achieved, aided by its promotion on television and by Beatties. The three sets all used unmodified items of motive power taken from the standard range.
THE BATTLESPACE YEARS
There were plans for extension in 1964 but the wider uncertainties of the period meant that these models trod water until 1966's catalogue. Then it was Battlespace with a bang. Thunderbirds were go, the Americans sought the moon. The time was ripe to powerfully re-present and extend the range.
What made this range? Three distinct visual features formed the brand. These were distinctive red and yellow boxes, an almost universal use of a khaki livery and and the Battlespace sticker logo. This was a crossed black rifle over a white rocket on an orange roundrel. These unfortunately can all too easily fall off over the years.
The first backbone of the range were reliveried versions of what had been offered in the 1965 NATO series. To these were added several new models over the years. In the main these were adaptions of Transcontinental models. The major new elements of moulding would create the Turbo car, the Radar Tracking Command Car, and the Plane Launcher.
The range's launch in the 1966 catalogue co-incided with the first Tri-ang- Hornby annual catalogue. The three items of new moulding date from this year. Along with reliveried individual items, the excitement was intensified by the two full sets into which some investment was ploughed. The RS16 Strike Force Ten set employed the new plane launcher, whilst the other used the Radar Tracking car in the RS17 The Satellite Set. For the collector these sets provide two re-liveries of British traction; the North British diesel shunter in red and the LMS Jinty in khaki complete with intact roundrels are definite musts. LMS Jinty's did serve with the British War Department but never in this livery!
Probably the rarest model was the G-10 Q car. Catalogued for three issues, it was actually only made in 1968-69 with a total of 2600 recorded. It used modified exploding box car components. The cap mechanism was replaced with a missile launcher.
It was the sheer diversity of play value that sold the range. Planes that flew, wagons that were blasted apart, the range's own mail car and the lighting feature in the Searchlight and Radar Tracking wagons all made for a hectic playtime. Remember the range's incredible aerial potential which was fourfold: all of manned fixed wing, helicopter, rocket and satellite travel were available for action.
Amongst the selection, the Turbo car enjoyed a unique place. It was the only self propelled item designed purely for the range. The outline shown in the 1966 catalogue in no way resembled what actually was released in 1967. Propulsion really was by propeller. The body was a very simple plastic moulding with stick on windows. Earlier models had a plastic nosecone later this was changed to rubber. The chassis was brass and the motor was totally unconnected to the freewheeling wheels. Instead the plastic propeller was driven. This in the hands of a nine year old (me) was a fearsome machine. Speed was phenomenal and it became a real test of driving skills on trainset curves. The only way to brake was to reverse thrust, which did not have the quick effect that such an action would have on any other item of Tri-ang motive power. The model is rare today, a fact potentially not unconnected with the number that flew into orbit off the baseboard.
The Turbo Car is illustrated here in the 1969 Hornby ACHO French Catalogue by courtesy of Hornby Hobbies.
The re-used items from the normal range build up to an impressive quota. The British models supplied the first type bogie bolster, the well wagon, the Trestrol wagon base and the two locomotives. The Transcontinental range supplied the baggage car, operating mail car, cattle truck, and the flat car. The cattle truck was reliveried into the POW car and via the Giraffe car modification further modified into the Sniper car. It adds up to an impressive testimony to cost effective inventiveness.
Although the dates in the tables are taken from catalogues, they are not necessarily infallible, For instance the last item introduced was R673: the assault tank sold solo. It only appears in the 1971 catalogue but the 1979 Hornby Book of Trains dates it to 1970. In all likelihood, allocation of a separate number reflected an attempt to move excess stock decided on partway through the year.
Amongst the more difficult items to trace nowadays are the oddball 'solos' like the loose assault tank, the Honest John Launcher, the loose bomb (from the pre 1966 range) and the Battle Space squaddies. The G10 Q car and the Turbo car are also hard to track. Indeed compared with Mark One coaches, none of the series can be described as common. Yet several of the items must have been made in very considerable number. The answer perhaps lies in the number played to destruction!
The range also crossed the Channel in the wake of the Helicopter car mentioned previously. I have had sight of both 1965 and 1969 Hornby ACHO catalogues and am advised that the coupling modification shown did actually happen. What remains intriguing was the continued use in the 1969 edition of the NATO livery. Indeed, the RS50 set was apparently on sale in France then, some four years after UK deletion. The only model donning Battlespace livery was 'la locomotive de l'espace'. As the Turbo ram car, it had little choice.
AFTERWARDS
In the 1972 catalogue, the range might as well have never existed. Two years later, and it looked as if the renamed Hornby Railways would have another go at action accessories. The R128 Helicopter carrier was revived in yellow and was featured twice in the catalogue: once as a solo item; also in the R536 Dockyard Police Set being hauled by the black Dock Shunter diesel. The items were not shown in the following year and it seems overwhelmingly likely that none of R128 or R536 were actually marketed.
The second attempt did more or less succeed and took place in 1982-83. Three of the items were revived and were sold only in one set called the R580 Task Force Action Set. This featured a specially liveried version of the recently revamped BR 08 diesel shunter. The models shown in the 1982 catalogue are prototypes. Those released resembled the 1983 models. Thus the exploding box car was renumbered and labelled 'Rockets', but it was an all red model and did not have the grey roof of the 1982 illustration. Likewise, first thoughts indicated a simple relivery of the missile firing tank wagon. In fact, the launcher was converted from twin firing rockets to a single launcher firing a 'golfball' (two were supplied). Although the set cannot be described as common, it can be encountered. One was for sale at April 1994's Gateshead Swapmeet for £40. An exception was made for the helicopter car which alone from the set was available solo at this period.
The moulds presumably all still exist. It will be intriguing to see whether new generations of chidren are given another chance to play at Battlespace, or whether today's toy legislation means that they will have to remain in the history book.
Years specified are years catalogued.
The pre-Battlespace action war models.
R128 Helicopter Car NATO grey and NATO green 1962-1965
R165 Helicopter red 1962
R216 Rocket Launching Wagon in grey 1957-1965
R239 Bomb Transporter NATO green 1962-1965
solo bombs were also sold boxed
R248 Ambulance Car white/green 1963-1965
R249 Exploding Box Car red 1963-1965
R341 Searchlight Wagon NATO green 1962-1965
R343 Four Rocket Launcher NATO 1962-1965
Sets:
RS38 Snow Rescue Train: R128 and R248 were combined with the Transcontinental switcher and snowplough and track. 1963-1965
RS50 The Defender: R249/341/343 were attached to the green BR 0-6-0 diesel shunter with track. 1964-1965 (1969 in France)
RS65 The Conqueror: R216/249 were attached to the black BR 0-6-0 tender engine with track. 1964 (uncatalogued)
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The Battlespace brand models. All are khaki unless specified otherwise.
R128 Helicopter Car 1966-1971
R164 7 Battle Space Men 1966-1967 (the men continued to be supplied with most models till 1971)
R216 Rocket Launching Wagon 1966-1971
R239 Bomb Transporter 1966-1967 1969-1971
R248 Ambulance Car white/green 1966-1967 plus 1971
R249 Exploding Box Car 1966-1971
R341 Searchlight Wagon 1966-1971
R343 Four Rocket Launcher 1966-1968
R558 Battlespace Jinty (not sold separately) 1966-1970
R562 Catapault Plane Launcher 1966-1971
R566 Spy Satellite Launcher 1966-1971
R567 Radar Tracking Command Car 1966-1971
R568 Assault Tank Transporter 1966-1971
R571 G-10 Q Car 1967-1969
R630 P.O.W Car 1967 1969-1971
R631 Tank Recovery Wagon 1967-1971
R639 Sniper Car 1967-1971
R670 Twin ground to air missile site green 1967-1971
R671 Multiple ditto green 1967-1971
R672 Honest John Missile Pad grey 1967-1968 plus 1971
R673 Assault tank with operating rockets 1971
R725 Command Car 1967-1971
R752 Battle Space Turbo Ram Car red 1966-1971
R756 Battle Space 0-4-0 diesel red (not sold separately) 1966-1970
Sets:
RS16 Strike Force Ten: R562, R568, R558 loco, track, commandos 1966-1970
RS17 The Satellite Set: R566, R567, R756 loco, track, commandos 1966-1970
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Post Battlespace revivals.
R128 Helicopter Car 1974 (not sold) 1983-1985
also in set R536 Dockyard Police Set for 1974 (not sold)
R580 Task Force Action Set 1982-1983
(R579 without controller)
contained R339 W.D. 17 green 0-6-0 diesel shunter
and unreferenced versions of R128/249/568. Components not intended to be sold separately.
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Acknowledgements: This article has been assembled using Pat Hammond's information from Tri-ang Railways Volume One and his further help, the lists in the 1979 Hornby Book of Trains and my own run of catalogues and models.
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