One of the best-selling toys of Christmas 2005, the Deluxe Skybase (aka DX Skybase), is being heavily promoted by manufacturers Bandai in the run up to Christmas 2006, but does it deserve to be back on the list? one of the best sellers this year? ?

The Skybase looks impressive at about half a meter long and is a highly detailed copy of the Skybase from the new Captain Scarlet TV show updating the 1960’s classic with CGI ‘actors’ instead of puppets.

There is a lot for the children to play. The base has an array of lighting effects and features sound effects and speech from the TV series. Below one track is a vehicle docking bay and below the other, a repair area with a mobile crane arm. At the top is a turntable that is used to launch the vehicles.

In the series, the air base is the headquarters of Spectrum Earth Defense and the home of the Angel interceptor fighter squadron. Included is an 8cm long angel interceptor fighter and a small figure of Colonel White.

Skybase offers enough features to get kids involved and have fun and encourages fantasy play and role play. To get the most out of it, you really need to buy a few more vehicles and action figures because the one included is not enough. Bandai offers 2 vehicle sets for the base, each including three additional 8cm vehicles and a small action figure. There seems to be only a small number of accessories available for the base, considering it’s been around for a year. We reckon kids might have more fun with the thicker Captain Scarlet figures, of which there’s a much better variety.

Advantages:

• good value
• good quality
• Gets kids involved in imaginative play.

Cons:

• It really needs additional vehicles and figures for kids to get the most out of it.
• A wider range of figures and vehicles is likely to be of interest to children.
• Limited range of additional figures and vehicles available in the smallest size (8cm).

Details:

• Requires 3 AA batteries (not included)
• Suitable for ages 4 and up.