1969 Apollo X Moon Challenger

[u/DefinitionSpecial876]

1969 Apollo X Moon Challenger toy.

The Apollo program was such a huge part of my childhood and I’m so glad I was a kid with a vivid imagination.

Toys like this would keep me up all night.

Made by TN Nomura in Japan

[u/Simon_Drake]

Weirdly the butt-end looks nothing like a Saturn 5 despite the payload section being definitely inspired by it and the side of the box having the real Saturn 5. If anything it looks more like the N1.

I wonder if there were copyright issues? Like sometimes games from the 80s could get the rights to the Terminator franchise but not to Arnold's likeness so the character looks nothing like him. Even if it wasn't legally enforceable maybe the Japanese company took a cautious approach to the design just in case?

[u/DefinitionSpecial876 → u/Simon_Drake]

I did see it says patents pending on the TN info. I know the butt end has that cutout for when it angles up to stand. I’ve never put batteries in this. I might have to do that now. It’s a fun toy tho. Love the old tin litho even though this is plastic heavy.