Category:Meccano Space

1979: Meccano Space 2501 Book of Models [image info]

1979: Meccano Space 2501 Parts [image info]

The Meccano Space range appeared at the end of the 1970s as a response to the success of Star Wars in 1977.

Parts

Meccano Space (released in 1979) presented a range of standard-looking Meccano metal parts in white, along with a two-part very pointed tapering angular cone, and base, the mid-section of which looked suspiciously like the lid of a Tippex" bottle.

There was also a clear cockpit canopy, with separate interior (which took a pilot), and some rather cheesy red plastic rocket engines.

On the plus side, the octagonal base of the rocket nosecone, with its interesting staggered sets of holes to take either section, made for a rather futuristic airlock door.

Naming

Inspired by "Space 1999" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" (and maybe "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"), Meccano chose to add a date to the new range, Meccano Space 2501. As well as a Meccano Space 2501 set, there was a Meccano Space 2501 Book of Models

Standard Models

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  Martian Marauder

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  Saturn Warcruiser

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  Cosmic Pirate

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  Federation Protector spaceship, and Blast Deflector

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  Galaxy Seeker spaceship

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  Ground Base

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  Intergalactic Stingray, and Space Wasp

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  Jupiter Tr-Ship and Space Wasp

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  Landing Module

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  Space Rocket and Mobile Gantry

Reception

Some of the example models were, to be honest, not that great. But it turns out that Meccano does look rather nice in white, and the 2501 set (and the subsequent Concorde sets) did finally mean that we could buy white Meccano. :)

Expansion

The natural companion to the 2501 Space set is a Meccano Concorde set: while the space set has no cylindrical sections, and its standard model rocket model has just two cylinders made by curving flexible plates, and lots of gaps, the official Concorde sets provides six nice white cylindrical sections that can be used as rocket sections or engines, or space station living quarters.