Here is the holy grail of Matchbox slot racing sets. Not only does this set feature a helicopter as a pursuit vehicle, it also features the crossroads and the branch tracks that were never included in any other set worldwide.
The helicopter was fitted to a black plastic base that contained the usual Powertrack chassis. The Helicopter then presumably moved as a sort of drone vehicle which the villain van avoided by following it and cutting it off at the branch junctions. An armature enabled the helicopter to swing up on acceleration and down when stationary. How stable all this was we will never know, not least because there is no record of it being released.
It appears in the 1979 catalogue alongside a dirth of other great Speedtrack and Lanechanger launches. Prolific though Matchbox were, it seems this one got left behind.
Which is a pity. The track layout alone was exciting, but the addition of the helicopter is not only cool but actually highly unique. The blurb suggests the car chases the van but the Police car can be used instead of the van for when you have had enough air action.
The helicopter was fitted to a black plastic base that contained the usual Powertrack chassis. The Helicopter then presumably moved as a sort of drone vehicle which the villain van avoided by following it and cutting it off at the branch junctions. An armature enabled the helicopter to swing up on acceleration and down when stationary. How stable all this was we will never know, not least because there is no record of it being released.
It appears in the 1979 catalogue alongside a dirth of other great Speedtrack and Lanechanger launches. Prolific though Matchbox were, it seems this one got left behind.
Which is a pity. The track layout alone was exciting, but the addition of the helicopter is not only cool but actually highly unique. The blurb suggests the car chases the van but the Police car can be used instead of the van for when you have had enough air action.
One other feature of distinction is the inclusion of a road block barrier that was randomly deployed to foil B.A. Baraccus and his boys in their blacked out GMC...
Of interest to me is where is the set that was photographed? For this set to be photographed there has to be one created. I suggest this will come to be worth hundreds of pounds over the next few years.
Of interest to me is where is the set that was photographed? For this set to be photographed there has to be one created. I suggest this will come to be worth hundreds of pounds over the next few years.
The Copter chase was to comprise:
1 x Police Car
1 x Helicopter
1 x Villain Van
1 x Cross Road
1 x Pair of Branch tracks
6 x 90 degree 9" curves
1 x 9" Terminal track
1 x 9" Straight
2 x 15" Straight
2 x 6" Straight
1 x Mains tranformer
2 x Hand controllers
6 x Crash barriers
6 x Track aprons
1 x Mains tranformer
2 x Hand controllers
6 x Crash barriers
6 x Track aprons
5 x Apron ends RH
3 x Apron ends LH
1 x Police road block
Track length: 18ft
Price - unknown but worth a grand if you see one...
1 x Police road block
Track length: 18ft
Price - unknown but worth a grand if you see one...
.
A fellow Powertrack fan (who has been collecting much longer than me) has informed me that the ''...the copter chase set was actually sold in America, I have seen one. It came in a cardboard box with black writing stamped on it with no fancy pictures or anything. The set was in a very poor state so I didn't bother bidding. I have also seen one chopper being sold seperately but this was also knackered..''
