#194 REDONDO – BRABHAM REPCO F1 & BRM H16 F1 (PENNY KNOCK-OFF) (around 1970)

JUGUETES REDONDO - REDONDO TOYS

It is almost impossible to find information about the toymaker Redondo, what makes this article a bit of a challenge. We know however a couple of things about them.

Redondo was a Spanish toymaker founded by the end of 1949. It was based in Aldaya a small town in the province of Valencia (Aldaia in Valencian language). The factory was located in 5, Avenida Miguel Hernández, but it doesn’t exist anymore. Before that factory, they were in Fleming Street without number.

By the middle of the last century, the town developed rich industrial activities with furniture, brick, hand fan and toy factories. The population back then was around 6400 inhabitants, but grew quickly and today it has around 30.000 inhabitants.

Redondo catalogue from 1970 (taken from an auction listed in todocoleccion.net)

The toy factory was, of course, Redondo. Redondo was never one of the “top” toymakers in Spain, but somehow “second class”. This would explain why there is not so much information about the company on the internet. Please let me explain that “second class” does not mean that Redondo built worse quality toys, but less quantity. Most of the times, the toys were cheaper, since smaller companies couldn’t afford advertising campaigns and the only way to compete against much more popular toy lines was offering them at a lower price. 

I remember when I was a kid in the 80s, that toys I used to see in the city where I lived were not the same that I saw in summer when I came to visit my grandparents. In small towns, where people had (in average) less money, cheaper toys would fill local toy stores, and that’s where Redondo had its business. The same applies to local festivities, where street vendors needed cheaper toys to offer. In such a festivity it’s where I bought my only Redondo toy ever… a plastic robot, something between Mazinger Z and a Transformer. I still have it with most of its accessories, so I’ll try to review it as soon as possible.

The company, as said before, was founded in the year 1949, so, to my surprise, my father also kept one toy made by Redondo, and it was the car I am presenting here. Unfortunately it was not in its best shape, so after playing with it, it finished in the state your seeing now. The grey car I am presenting was found in a flea market many years ago. I can estimate how rare Redondo cars are, because it is the ONLY Redondo car I have seen in flea markets in more than 20 years (and I visit flea-markets very often).

 

It is unclear how many models were manufactured by Redondo (from the 15 original Penny models), but here’s a list of the known references. Apart from these F1s, other cars by Penny were also manufactured, mostly the lower 200 references, for example nr.204 OSSI BISILURO, nr.205 FERRARI P4 or nr.206 FERRARI DINO (read comments below).

1-Ferrari-F1

2- Honda-V12-F1

3- Brabham-Repco-F1

4-Lotus-Climax

5- Cooper-Maserati-F1

6-BRM-H16-F1

7- McLarenFord-8V-F1

8- Eagle-Westlake-F1 
10- LOTUS BRM H16 F1

12- McLaren-Serenissima-F1 
13- BRM F1
15- FERRARI 36V F1
16- Ferrari 12V F1 

All cars were available in the following colours: red, yellow, gold, blue and turquoise, and available in cardboard box or jewel case.

The company also manufactured other types of toys, most notably metal-casted guns (most of them with powder capsules), key-chains (some of these formula1 were also available as key-chain! –in blister cards-), plastic robots, metal-casted planes and spaceships (in the Transformers-style) and other plastic items, for example a toy magnifying glass, an acrobatic motorbike. Most of this items can still be seen in auction sites.

 

At least one of the pistol models was forbidden and recalled, after a child died in 1983. In this article fromthe 31st May 1983, it is also explained, that Redondo exported the bigger part of their production. If you ever find one of these toys in its package, you’ll find that the instructions are often marked in three languages: Spanish, English and French.

The company definitely closed in November 1996, although it seems, that it continued in the toy industry, as it was absorbed by the Hasbro Iberia group.

UPDATE: Other Redondo die-cast models, pictures from the collection of Coro Naro from the Netherlands.

nr.204 OSSI BISILURO
nr.205 FERRARI P4
nr.206 DINO

nr.207 DINO COMPETICIÓN 

 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BRABHAM REPCO F.1 & BRM H16 F1
• Scale: 1:66 (approx.)
• Year: Around 1970
• Company: Redondo (Spain)
• Size: 6 cm

#193 ZYLMEX – EAGLE and B.R.M. H16 F1 (PENNY KNOCK-OFFs) (1969)

ZYLMEX FIRST RELEASES AND "D" SERIES

About half a year ago, I published three entries dealing with the first “Penny” models ever produced. It was a collection of 15 die-cast F1s from the 60s, from which I owned 12. You can check these old entries here, here and here.

As mentioned in the last of these three entries, this Penny models were copied (or licensed) by many other companies. In this entry I will show a knock-off made by Zylmex (Hong Kong), and in the next entry one made by Redondo (Spain).

Maybe this is the moment to write something about Zylmex (also known as Zee Toys). The whole information for this article was taken from Garyscars. If you want to go directly to the source or you want know more about this brand after you finish this entry, please visit: http://www.home.railscene.com/garyscars/zee/index.htm

Zylmex is known for the die-cast toy cars in 1:64 scale that were produced from the late 60s to the mid 90s. The production of the company splits in two big series: “D” (“Dart-Wheels” or “Dyna-Wheels”) and “P” (“Pacesetters”). Both are basically the same, but “P” series have a better quality (metal chassis), and often features practicable doors.

The first cars produced by this company are precisely the Penny knock-offs numbered D1 to D8 (These would be re-released many times; mine seems to be a reedition since in the box the “new” references are 8301 to 8308). They were available in the UK in “Texaco Scorchers” box (could be found in Petrol Stations).

This series is considered to be a different series from the “D” series, although the models would be later re-released through the 70s and 80s as a part of that series. The formula ones were also available under many different names and packages (blister card, box…). “Flitzer” for example was intended for the German marked, “Racing Car”,…

In the early 70s, the references D9 to D26 were released. Surprisingly, D9 to D14 have “Zee” on the plate, while D15 to D23 have “Zylmex”. These models are mostly custom and fantasy cars, pretty much in the line of Mattel’s HotWheels!

Over the next few years, the collection expanded with new F1s (D27 to D34) and European Cars (D35 to D40), what meant a complete change of mind. Shortly afterwards, models from the D9 to D40 range were re-released in a parallel series called “Crazy Wheels” (CW), featuring “Big foot” type wheels. This parallel series was numbered DxxB.

The mid 70s saw new models (D41 to D72), all realistic reproduction of American and European (also some Japanese) cars. Almost at the same time, the first “P” models were also released, although that will be explained some other time.

As seen on picture galleries, cars were released in different colours, different stickers and wheel types, so there’re a lot of variations for collectors out there. I own around a dozen of these, and I hope to take a picture of them soon, and show them to you.

Interesting about this model are the bright green colour (not the original of the car, nor the colour of the Penny model), the Ferrari sticker, and the wheels with hubcaps. The same car can be found with other types of wheels. Also interesting to mention is the german box, which includes a small sticker with the sentence "Express für Schnellbahnen", which is surely an indication, that the car can be used with HotWheels! tracks.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: EAGLE (No. D4) and B.R.M. H16 F.1 (No. D8)
• Scale: 1:66 (approx.)
• Year: 1969
• Company: Zylmex (Hong Kong)
• Size: 6 cm

#192 COMICS SPAIN – CAPTAIN AMERICA, SPIDERMAN, SUPERMAN, STARFIRE and AQUAMAN (1990, 1992)

Comics Spain is together with Yolanda, the most important manufacturer of Plastic (PVC) figures from Spain. Unlike Yolanda, Comics Spain disappeared by the mid 90s (some say 1996). Although there are many webpages and photo albums depicting the figures, you won’t find a single bit of information about the company in the whole internet… nothing. That’s why I have been skipping this article for so long. 

A few days ago, I contacted a seller of these figures who claimed to have met a salesman of the company, from whom he got a catalogue, bought some rests, and so on… but he never replied to my message. I contacted him a 2nd time, but he simply ignored me. Maybe it’s a good idea to publish an “empty” entry about Comics Spain with an open request: “please provide me information about Comics Spain!”

The company, as well as it’s concurrent Yolanda, made figures out of famous TV series, cartoons, comic books, and toys, everything that was popular among children had its place here. Most celebrated lines include My Little Pony, Star Wars, Ewooks or Marvel and DC Superheroes. And among Spanish television programs and cartoons (very unknown outside Spain): Capitán Trueno, Zipi y Zape, Don Quijote, Un, Dos, Tres, los Fruitis...  As said in the Yolanda entries, these figures were sold in toy stores and bakeries, since they are used to decorate birthday cakes and Easter Monas.

You might be asking yourself, what's that Batman figure there... Some Comics Spain figures are copies of (previously) existing Bully figures, and although I do not have the Comic Spain's Batman Figure, I have the german one. If I ever get it, I'll make a better comparison. Here are Comics Spain's Batmen (among other Superheroes).

In the last months, I managed to acquire a couple of figures by this company. Mostly superheroes, like those three I am presenting today.

An interesting article about Comics Spain's Superhéroes was published in the F.E.A. Magazine from December 2014 (in Spanish).

UPPDATE (Feb/2018): Two more characters: Starfire and Aquaman.

 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: CAPTAIN AMERICA, SPIDERMAN, SUPERMAN, STARFIRE and AQUAMAN
• Alternate Names: CAPITÁN AMÉRICA (Spain)
• Year: 1990, 1992
• Company: Comics Spain (Spain)
• Size of the figures: Around 7 cm (between  2’’ and 3’’).

#191 MADELMAN 2050 – DELTOX-ZAN (Ref. 1506) (1989)

M2050’s SECOND WAVE

The second wave of Madelman 2050’s was already mentioned when I first introduced this great line of action figures. The first wave had relatively bad sales, but it seems that the plans to develop and manufacture a second wave were done earlier than usual. Maybe the company expected better results and decided to work directly in a second wave without waiting at the sales. The thing is that a complete second wave was designed, including prototypes, packaging and bringing some innovation to the toy-line, like for example, remote controlled vehicles.

Blister design for Gornak "Assault Megacaptor"

After the bad sales of the first wave, Exin decided to launch the second wave: not as initially planned, but in a reduced form. All vehicles (or almost all) were marketed together with two new figures (if we do not consider the two pilots of the “Clonstar” as figures, but as “vehicle”): Deltox-Zan and Alactro-Lagard. These two figures were the only two in the new wave that were repaints of the figures in the first wave. The unproduced figures (they were only produced as prototypes) were new and exciting designs that, unfortunately, never did it to the toystore shelves. Those toys that were sold are nowadays very hard to find and very expensive to buy.

The two repainted figures are the same characters that were already available in the first wave: Zan and Lagard, who, if you revise the old entry, are the commanders of both factions.

Different close-ups of Deltox-Zan and accesories

Deltox-Zan in a repaint of Bran

The gun is the same that was available with Bran

the helmet was also available with Bran, only in blue instead of red

Unexpectedly, the “v2”s of these characters were made using the bodies of other figures: Darman was recoloured in red as Deltox-Zan and Reptis in black as Alactro-Lagard, but we don’t know why did they took those casts and not others.

This figure came with the same weapons as Bran except the backpack, that was replaced by a bigger three-pieced backpack that resembles a delta-wing, or some kind of flying backpack.. Alactro Lagard came with a similar backpack and a new casted gun.

M2050 second wave's backcard

Specially interesting are the new designs of the blisters. Personally, I like them less than those from the first wave, with the great drawings by Rafael López Espí, but these blisters might have looked more modern at the time. Note the scrollbars and some symbols used in computers. In 1989 the symbols might have been a complete mystery for 99% of the population...

In this wave, the figure and accesories were placed over a big plastic "M" (symbol from Madelman 2050) with the comic behind. Unlike the first wave blisters, second wave blisters have the bubble glued to the card. That's why I cannot put pictures of the comic book this time. It should be one of the 4 comics books ever released. The first one can be seen here.

COTA Men - This picture belongs to a vehicle box, is the same picture above, but with higher resolution

Zarkons - This picture belongs to a vehicle box, is the same picture above, but with higher resolution

The other 4 figures that were never produced were: Nork (ref. 1504), Dron (1505), Cranax (1604) and Gornak (1605). A lot of prototypes was once sold at ebay.es for around 300 Euros (375 US$), and the buyer was somebody most figure collectors may know. I took this screenshots as a “souvenir”. 

If you analyze the pictures thoroughly, you might recognise:

• the two drivers of the clonstar, plus a figure based in the same cast, but repainted.
• Dron, one of the unreleased figures
• Two (same) soldiers in green camo uniforms (prev. unreleased)
• A mixture of Serpion and Reptis repainted.
• Two comics (“Basertron 2050” and “¡Combate!”), both previously released
• Stickers sheets (unidentified, since they are similar for all vehicles)
• A bunch of weapons, most of them already released. Specially intereting are the “boots” of Dron, the weapons of the Clonstar pilots, and the weapon that should have belonged to Cranax. Among this pieces are also some parts of vehicles, and two green backpacks that I don’t know where do they belong.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: DELTOX-ZAN (Ref. 1506)
• Toy Line: Madelman 2050 (Wave 2)
• Year: 1989
• Company: Exin (Spain)
• Size of the figures: 3¾’’ or 9,5 cm

#190 MATCHBOX – CORVETTE and GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER (SEA KINGS, Ref. K-302 and K-308) (1976)

THE SEA KINGS SERIES

The Sea Kings were first released in 1976, but the line was not very successful, and only a few more models were released over the years. The series had a very short lifespan, and a very short catalogue of only 10 models: 8 released in 1976 and 2 in 1979. It is said that 3 more models were in pre-production in 1981, when the line was cancelled. 

In addition to that, the last three references (K-308/309/310) are difficult to find because of their short production. There are a few variants known, however, like pieces in slightly different colours and that kind of things, but I am not familiar with them.

Plastic cannons on deck -detail-

According to Wikipedia, Matchbox expanded their lines by the mid 70s in an attempt to obtain more benefits. Sea Kings was not the only line from this period of the Matchbox history; Adventure 2000, Battle Kings Sky Busters and the two pack series were also launched at the same time, with almost identical sales. Only the two pack series (a car plus a trailer) and the Sky Busters made themselves place in the catalogue, even though not for a long time. All these series (except the "Two Packs") were derived from the succesful "Super Kings" (also "King Size")

Deck detail

The Sea Kings are reproductions of Battleships and Carriers made in metal with some plastic parts (some of them practicable). They were made with wheels so they can roll, although they’re quite well hidden.

All models and references in this series were:

• No.K301 Frigate
• No.K302 Corvette
• No.K303 Battleship
• No.K304 Aircraft Carrier
• No.K305 Submarine Chaser
• No.K306 Convoy Escort
• No.K307 Helicopter Carrier
• No.K308 Guided Missile Destroyer
• No.K309 Submarine
• No.K310 Anti Aircraft Cruiser

The pictures belong to the reference K302, “Corvette”. Note in the picture that the hull was re-used in the K306 reference “Convoy Escort”.  I recently found it in a flea-market and bought it within a lot of die-cast models. It’s a nice piece to have, although I don’t think I’d buy anymore of them.

They are “play-proof”, note that the ship is played with condition and despite this, all small plastic details in the deck are not broken. The red cannons can be turned to point in all directions.

Last but not least, a very similar line was launched a few years later by the Spanish manufacturer Mira. I mentioned them in this article (#143) you might like to review now.

UPDATE (Dec/2025):

I later acquired another Sea Kings model, the K-308 Guided Missile Destroyer. Here it is.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: CORVETTE and GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER (SEA KINGS, Ref. K-302 and K-308)
• Scale: ?
• Year: 1976
• Company: Matchbox (G. Britain)
• Size: approx. 18 cm

#189 GUISVAL – KENWORTH W900 & K100 TRUCKS (Around 1981)

COLECCIÓN TIR by GUISVAL

Guisval is mostly known for its miniatures in 1:64 scale. As it often happens with this scale, the cars are around 3 inches, and in the same size, some trucks are also released. The trucks are often labelled with a 1:100 or 1:87 scale, depending on the real model (all toys are around 3 inches).

In the “normal” (Campeón) series, some trucks were released over the years, most notably a Magirus-Deutz and a Volvo in dozens of different versions. Now I am only referring to the series with trailer: The old “200” series (truck + trailer) was around 1981 replaced by this new “TIR collection”, with new, more attractive models.

Guisval, of course, also released trucks in a bigger scale (see for example #37). 

Note that among the three trucks in the pictures, two of them are actually the same model with different colours, while the third one is a different cast. This series was conformed by an undetermined number of trucks with a long trailer: the truck could be either one or the other, while the range of trailers was much broader.

The TIR collection was sold in single blister packs, jewel cases and also in a big porexpan or cardboard showcases with place for many trucks.

The same Kenworth trucks were part of other series. Precisely in the “Campeón Servicio Público” or the “Campeón transportes” series were both models available without any trailer or with a shorter (not articulated) trailer.

Within the TIR collection we may tell between the transport trucks and carrier trucks. The second group’s trailer was a platform in which some vehicle was placed, like a tractor, aeroplane, yacht…Reference numbers go from 7001 to 7010 depending on the load. The colour of the truck may vary for the same reference. For example, the truck with the yacht might be yellow (with red and white boat) or orange (with (blue and white boat).

Guisval 1987 wholesale catalogue

Guisval 1987 wholesale catalogue

Blisterpack pic courtesy of Carlos Fuentes ( juguetesjugados.blogspot.com )

The chassis is made of plastic, as well as the exhaust pipes and other details (chromed). Note that the front bumpers of the red truck are broken and also is one of the rear bumpers in the yellow model. The exhaust pipes are usually broken, also in my red and yellow models. The white truck is complete.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: KENWORTH W900 & K100 TRUCKS
• Scale: 1:87 (approx.)
• Year: (Around 1981)
• Company: Guisval (Spain)
• Size: approx. 16 cm (with trailer)