This is a new toy from Vivid Imaginations. This vehicle is about 10 inches long. We'll take a look at the good bits and the bad bits of this toy. Overall though, it's very impressive.

Whilst it could be argued that this is a toy and so it does not have to be particularly accurate - we don't take that view. There are many toys produced today that are extremely accurate, and still more that are pretty dodgy. We are glad to say the SPV is a good model, though it could have been a lot better.

Good bits:
This is a large model - even bigger than the large Imai kit featured elsewhere on this website.
As you can see from these photographs it's a very nice looking model.
Features include opening side hatch, ejector seat, firing missile, drop down rear tracks, folding aerials and sound effects.
The major good bit is that this toy looks really good - even has the proper fin on the top instead of the usual button found on previous toys.

Bad bits:
The box is huge, containing mostly cardboard packing. There is a fold out section of roof revealing some rear seats and control panels. All very well, but the SPV seat configuration is actually four seats facing each other - in one compartment. This 'extra' in the toy is purely imaginary. To be fair, the proper seat arrangement would have been impossible to do as a toy, given the hatch and ejector mechanism housings.
There are several unsightly buttons and hinges on the model that could have been less obtrusive on this scale. The hinges are particularly clumsy. By contrast, the missile firing mechanism is hidden - as on the old Dinky toy, you just press down on the front wheels to open the foward hatch and then again to launch the missile.
The tracks at the back are molded in one piece and do not move, but they don't look bad.
The wheel to fold down the aerials is rather large and could have been more concealed on this large model.
As on previous toy SPVs there are only ten wheels instead of the correct ten pairs of double wheels.
This is not really noticable though. It is a pity the wheels are hollow on the inside.

Included with the SPV are three scaled figures of Captains Scarlet, Blue and Black that fit in the seats. Sadly, they have oversized heads. Vivid didn't seem to realize that the puppets for this series were properly proportioned.
There is also a small 'exploding' truck that you can take pot shots at with the SPV's missile.

Let's take a closer look at this SPV.

	Missile hatch open The button is to open the side hatch. The missile hatch is not 'authentic' being an invention incorporated in the Dinky diecast model. Authentic or not, it does not mar the look of the vehicle and certainly adds to the play value. A nice touch is that when you fire the missile there are sound effects. To my mind, sound effects are far better play value then the obligatory voice clips also included. I mean how often can you stand hearing Scarlet saying he can't go any faster? Note the nicely done 'teeth' markings and air intakes.
	SPV side view, showing rear tracks folded down. Note the correct fin on the top of the vehicle. Earlier toys had a buttons to operate the side hatch instead of the fin. The twin aerials fold down by rotating a knob on the back - just as in the Dinky version.
	Rear view The tracks look okay. A pity they are molded in one piece, still it does mean you can't lose them. Here you can see the large wheel used to fold down the aerials, just like a scaled up Dinky toy.
	Opening side hatch Unfortunately for the driver, the hatch does not open far enough on this model, so getting out would prove rather difficult. Personally, I'd have preferred that Vivid had not bothered with the ejector seat on the other side so they could correctly model this hatch and have a swing down seat like on the Dinky model from the 60's. They could also then have had correct interior detail. Still looks pretty good though doesn't it?
	Rear cabin area with Captain Blue Here's Captain Blue sporting a rather oversized head for his body. Doubtless this 'playset' interior has some merit. I would have preferred a more accurate interior though, and it does have a rather ugly hinge to allow the top to open.
	Ejector hatch When the going gets tough, Scarlet usually ejects Blue out of harms way. Pressing the button shoots the ejector seat and passenger a couple of inches into the air.

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