The Eagle spacecraft from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1975 sci-fi TV series Space: 1999 remains one of the most recognisable and beloved vehicle designs in science fiction. Designed by the series’ special effects maestro, Brian Johnson, the 311 men and women of Moonbase Alpha utilised a variety of different Eagle vehicles in their unexpected exploration of the universe when the moon is accidentally blasted out of the Earth’s orbit.
Many toys, playsets and collector-orientated models based on the Eagle’s classic design have been produced over the decades, a sign of its enduring popularity. One of the earliest examples of the Eagle’s toy-friendly design and features came from Mattel, who produced their own Eagle toy playset in 1976. Nearly 50 years on, ZICA Toys and Giant Leap Toys have partnered to recreate the Mattel Eagle One, now rechristened as the Eagle: 1976.
This meticulously produced playset can be enjoyed as an interactive toy that brings a fun-first philosophy. The 36-inch model boasts an intricate design that’s faithful to the original toy, opening cockpit and pod and compatible figures. Both the nosecone and the rear engine can detach from the main body to form the smaller Eagle Probe craft. The standard edition of the Eagle: 1976 is available to pre-order at the Official Gerry Anderson store, direct from ZICA Toys or from Big Bad Toy Store for an estimated mid-2025 release.
We caught up with Craig Owen of ZICA Toys and Tim Ellis of Giant Leap Toys to discover more about the triumphant return of this fantastic toy!
Why has ZICA Toys and Giant Leap Toys brought the Mattel Eagle One playset back to life as the Eagle: 1976 playset?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: We feel there is a great deal of potential in the Gerry Anderson universes. Thunderbirds gets a huge amount of attention but there are so many other worlds, Space: 1999, UFO, Captain Scarlet, etc., that could benefit from more merchandise and hopefully expanding the fan bases. The Mattel Eagle felt like a solid jump off point for us to introduce our companies to the fans and update a long-loved collectible that the fans are familiar with.
How did the two of you decide to join forces for this release?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: We were both exhibiting at a Toy Expo in adjoining booths and commenting on how many classic toy lines are currently having a resurgence. That started the conversation about what toy from our childhood would we like resurrect and both of us had the Mattel Eagle 1 playset at the top of our lists. About a month after that show, we had our Eagle: 1976 pitch to Anderson Entertainment together and things took off from there.
How might this renewed version of the playset differ from the original one?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: We’re also fans of 3 ¾ inch action figures so we wanted to increase the overall scale of the ship to accommodate 1:18 scale figures. That increased the length of the Eagle from 30 inches to 36 inches. The width increased to 15 inches and the height to around 8 inches. It’s a very impressive scale. Knowing our audience is also older now and more sophisticated than when they were 10 years old, we added more details to the ship’s exterior and interior. It’s not 100% screen accurate, but it is a nice update while maintaining some key elements of the Mattel version.
How important is it to maintain that classic aesthetic of this being a toy from the 1970s?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: Very important. We felt with wanting to pay homage to the classic 1976 Eagle and respecting its fans, we needed to not veer too far from that vision. We started off by discussing the design elements that were key to retain, and even named the project Eagle: 1976 to honour its roots. We wanted to create an updated collectible for the 2024 market, but at the same time, felt obligated to ensure some of the toy elements that made this such an appealing toy back in 1976 still remained.
The Eagle: 1976 is loaded with interactive play features that invite you to really grapple with the toy. Do you think that interactivity is what sets playsets like this apart from other modern collectables based on much-loved vehicles from these classic TV series?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: Absolutely. The play elements that made the Mattel version so appealing are in this version, too. The full side open transport module, 2 astronaut figures with equipment and weapons, the hook and winch with access hatch, and, best of all, the ability to combine the capsule and engine module to make an Eagle Probe ship. Some collectors just like to display their toys, but for those collectors who still like to play with them, all that playability is still there in the Eagle: 1976.
What do you think it is about the classic Eagle spacecraft that makes it such a brilliant design, and one that’s so compatible with spectacular models and toy incarnations, such as this one?
Tim Ellis & Craig Owen: There are different ways that vehicles become adored by the fans. There’s always an emotional reaction when you first see the amazing design work of a spacecraft. Sometimes positive and sometimes not. Those designs that really resonate with the fans not only make a strong impression on their psyche but also emotionally. You really drink in that moment and savour the impact of what you’re feeling. Think about the first time seeing the Enterprise, an X-wing, a Cylon Raider. There is a reaction that just becomes part of you. That’s how it was for us and the Eagle. Brian Johnson did an amazing job translating what could potentially exist once the NASA program of the 70’s had evolved by the 1990’s. It felt very purposeful and elegant and did not feel very far removed from what we were seeing in our real world.
At the same time, it had a beyond-this-world, futuristic feel as well. It really bridged real world practicality with science fiction fantasy. Through this project, we’ve come across many people who don’t really know much about Space:1999, but they know the Eagle simply because of its iconic design.
Many thanks to Tim and Craig for giving us their time! Pre-order your stunning Eagle: 1976 now at the Official Gerry Anderson store via Zica Toys or Big Bad Toy Store and prepare for blast off into a universe of nostalgic adventure with this incredible model playset!
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