Dinky Toys

Dinky Toys began in 1934 as a line of "Modelled Miniatures" and were originally produced by the British company under the Meccano Dinky Toys Ltd. brand. 
Long preceding similar lines from Corgi, and Hot Wheels, later products were marketed as Dinky Die Cast Toys and primarily consisted of small-scaled automobile and truck miniatures. 
The runaway success of Mattel's Hot Wheels line in the late 1960s precipitated the company's eventual demise as Dinky continued to lose market share. Over a long decline, its parent company was owned by a succession of other companies but finally succumbed to bankruptcy and was folded in 1979. Somewhat ironically, Dinky's assets are presently owned by Mattel.
==Star Trek releases==
During the 1967-1979 period, Dinky released twenty-four licensed die-cast vehicle castings from television series including , , , , and Star Trek. 
In 1976, Dinky first manufactured the and the Klingon D7 class battle cruiser and slated them for release during the following year. With many "play features" found on toys, they were, nonetheless, the first Star Trek model releases that were manufactured from die-cast metal. 
Eleven centimeter-long die-cast versions of both starships were released in 1979 but saw limited distribution outside of the US, due to the closure of the company.
A refit model, a modification of the 234 mm-long USS Enterprise model (No. 358), was scheduled for a 1980 release but did not reach production.
Item 	Item No. 	Notes 	Box art
1977 releases 	1977 releases	1977 releases 	1977 releases
Klingon Battle Cruiser 	357 	Boxed and windowboxed versions; fires plastic discs; 228 mm 	
 	358 	Boxed and windowboxed versions; fires plastic discs; plastic shuttlecraft included; 234 mm; see above for unreleased refit version	
Space Gift Set 	306 	Unreleased triple-pack with , Klingon Battle Cruiser and "Galactic War Chariot" (unrelated casting) in windowbox 	
and Klingon Battle Cruiser	309 	Double-pack in windowbox 	
1980 releases 	1980 releases	1980 releases 	1980 releases
(refit) 	801 	Fires projectiles; not formally released due to bankruptcy - rare item; 11 cm 	
(refit) 	803 	Non-firing version with rectangular blister 	
(refit) 	803 	US non-firing version 	
Klingon Cruiser 	802 	Fires projectiles; not formally released due to bankruptcy - rare item; 11 cm 	
Klingon Cruiser 	804 	Non-firing version with rectangular blister 	
Klingon Cruiser 	804 	US non-firing version 	
==See also==
* Star Trek starship miniatures
* Star Trek model kits
==External links==
* 
* - Comprehensive articles about Dinky Toys' Star Trek releases
Category:Collectible companies