Modern Toys

YOSHIYA (KO)

Yoshiya, KO, made a wide range of flying saucers. They are characterised by originality of design and by the incorporation of standard parts from their space toy range. In particular, Yoshiya paid extra attention to the saucer pilots; they're large, tin and well detailed. I'm still working out the age of these saucers so, for the moment, they are presented in no particular order.

Z-26 KO made the crank action its own. Winding the crank imparted enough momentum to a flywheel to keep the saucer boucing around and to provide a sparking action at the rear. It's also usual te the astronaut tapping his hand up and down.
L-101 A small red crank action saucer. Anyone got a photo?
Space Commander Ship, X-15 Similar to the Z-26 above, but with a single fin and a tubbier shape. The astronaut verges on being a robot. Another crank action toy with sparking action, and very desirable.
Flying Saucer with Space Pilot "Deep dish" design, the row of slots around the edge, the spiral antenna and whippy side antennas are sure signs of a KO saucer. One of a range of these great battery op saucers.
Space Patrol 3 Flying Saucer A colour change, but it's the same recipe as the one above.
Sky Patrol Flying Saucer They must have had lots of those little plastic gear wheels at the Yoshiya factory. They find their way in to the High Gear robots, the Mighty Robot and now the saucers have them. They're all neatly tucked under a plastic cover. Same as above, with an extra topping.
New Flying Saucer An uninspiring name, but who's compaining? This one has sprouted a rear fin, and the novelty value is provided by a ring of flashing lights with extra antennas.
Space Patrol 7 I've only this poor quality photo of this space ship, so I guess it's far from common. It's a variation of the New Flying Sacer above, though the slots around the edge are now circular. The tall, highly detailed astronaut is typical of Yoshiya.
King Flying Saucer, Space Patroler X-081 Oh dear! The box graphics aren't half bad but the toy is a poor one. To compensate for the complete lack of charisma there's a big name, an odd X number and lots of flashing lights. The action is unusual in that this saucer slowly lifts tilts sideways. It would need to whistle Dixie to get on my shelf.
Jupiter Flying Saucer Well, they did the impossible. They took the King Flying Saucer and removed the character! Definitely a candidate for the worst saucer ever.