Bloodhound Missile System

The Bristol Bloodhound is a British ramjet powered surface-to-air missile developed during the 1950s. It served as the UK's main air defence weapon into the 1990s and was in large-scale service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the forces of four other countries.

Corgi Toys added it to their range in 1958 pairing it with a launching ramp and a transport trolley in a number of gift set configurations. It was Corgi's second missile after the English Electric Thunderbird, which was an Army rather than an RAF weapon, was released earlier the same year.

1108 Missile on Launching Ramp

The second missile - the Bloodhound is here sold as a set with the loading ramp, released in October 1958. They did not become available a separate items until the following year. There were however available in gift sets. This pairing stayed in the range until 1961. My loading ramp is missing the bit of roadway it should sit on and I've just not been able to find one in almost two years of looking. The missile is a bit rough too - the nosecone is perished and there are a couple of rocket ends missing,

GS4; Bristol Bloodhound Guided Missile Set

Releasing two RAF gift sets with different missile types in one year might have been a bit confusing for the public, but here is the second one from 1958. It uses the same RAF Land Rover as did the Thunderbird set, however this time we have very finely engineered missile, transport & loading system. The trolley has a sophisticated raise and lower mechanism. I can't help thinking though that the Land Rover looks under sized and is the wrong colour. It should have been olive to match everything else, maybe the towing vehicle should have been something bigger? The International 6X6 perhaps? This set stayed in the range until 19601002

1109 Bristol Bloodhound Missile on Loading Trolley

The Bristol Bloodhound was sold as a set with the loading trolley. They did not come available a separates until later in the year. In the Corgi Gift Sets it is paired with a Land Rover which is dwarfed by it, I've paired the missile and its trailer with the International 6x6 army lorry which seems beefy enough to pull it. The set was introduced in 1959 and remained in the range until 1961. There are no listed variations

1115 Bristol Bloodhound Guided Missile

Bristol Ferranti Bloodhound Guided Missile; It doesn't do much by itself. It was usually part of a set with either the launch ramp or the trolley or in a larger set with other military hardware & vehicles. It was first available in 1958 in various sets and became a single piece in 1959 remaining in the range until 1961. There are no listed variations.

1116 Missile Platform

 It has a clip to hold the missile in place and a mechanism to raise the missile for firing. This Ramp was available singly as here and in a number of sets paired with the Bristol Bloodhound guided missile (1115). This example is missing the bit of roadway it should sit on and I've just not been able to find one in years of looking.

1117 Missile Trolley

There is a crank on the side and brass gears that raise and lower the missile on a scissor movement dragging the hydraulic rams with it. Classic Corgi engineering for boys, superb. This trolley was available singly as here and in a number of sets paired with the Bristol Bloodhound guided missile (1115). It is usually towed behind the RAF Land-Rover