Flying Reptile's Clear Suspension Line

[mynameisbrent]

This is a subject I've had a question about for over 40 years. As a kid I had at least six of the Flying Reptile kit (Being one of the less-expensive kits, it was a popular gift option; I ended up with three of them on my sixth birthday alone.) I had both the first and second box versions, which indicates both early and later production dates.

My question revolves around this fact: None of my kits contained the clear suspension line. I was a very meticulous little kid, so I am completely certain that I didn't just overlook it and accidentally discard it. We always had monofilament fishing line on hand, so I used this to hang my flock of Flying Reptiles around the house, much to my mother's chagrin.

Is anyone aware of Flying Reptile kits missing the clear suspension line? Was this a recurring situation or was I just extremely unlucky?

[TAY666]

This is actually a very good question.
For many years I thought they never came with a string.
I didn't remember having one in my kit when I was a kid, and I had never run across one in all the kits I've handled the past several years I have been doing this.
I even said as much on my website. That it must have been an uncorrected error on the instruction sheet.
Until one day someone contacted me and said they remember getting a string with their kit. They then pointed out that I actually have an auction picture of the kit with the string.
www.tylisaari.com/prehistoricscenes/kits/flystring.jpg

So, I guess some of the kits did come with the string.

[jkh66]

I also had the flying reptile when I was a kid and mine did not come with the string either, so I also used fishing line to hang it.

[artdecovampire]

I got mine from a shop in the UK called Youngsters. Mine had a clear suspension wire (fishing line) in a small plastic bag. This must have been 1972 as I was eight years old. The shop assistant warned my dad that it was in there as they had had a complaint about safety when another kid had got it wrapped round his finger so tight it cut him. I was way too sensible to do this and me and my dad laughed which did not amuse the assistant. I remember when we built the kit we didn't use the line and he said with a wry smile on his face that we better keep it safe in case somebody got injured. I hated that clip on the FRs back and every time I've built it I have trimmed it off. I use a clear acrylic rod coming out of the rock and in to the beasts chest and it looks much better. They may have taken the decision for cost cutting or safety to didtch the line, though on the colour info sheets I think it does mention the line.