Terrific tie-ins

Five film toy spin-offs worth owning

CORGI ASTON MARTIN DB5 FROM GOLDFINGER

The toy version of James Bond's most famous car, which came with rotating number plates, rocket launchers and a working ejector seat, cost just a few shillings back in 1964. In mint condition, with all its packaging, it will now set you back about £450.

THUNDERBIRD 2 FROM THUNDERBIRDS

The big green transporting thing from the world's greatest puppet show had, in its toy form, unconvincingly spindly legs, but it did come with a tiny Thunderbird 4, which, until it lodged in the cat's larynx, greatly enlivened juvenile bath-times.

STAR WARS ACTION FIGURES

The line that really started the merchandising revolution. Some were flung from windows, buried in the sand and fired from catapults. Less fortunate Boba Fetts and Luke Skywalkers were kept imprisoned in their boxes by fanatical collectors with no inclination towards joy.

TRANSFORMERS (GENERATION ONE)

The new Transformers are impressively complex- looking and the second generation, which emerged in the early 1990s, have their fans. But purists will accept only the original, faintly boxy line of robots in disguise. Seek out the Megatron that turned into a Walther P-38 handgun.

HULK HANDS

An odd one, this. Ang Lee's film of the Marvel comic was not a roaring success, but everyone loved the big green plastic gloves which made crunching noises when smashed against buildings, tanks and passing younger brothers.