Sonar Officer Mockup?

[LDR]

Another vectis win. This ones a bit odd and I'm not sure what purpose it served.
Its a Sonar Officer on a Space Pilot card. The cards name has a sticker over it with Sonar Officer on it.

The back of the card has the normal photo showing the Sonar Officer.

So a few ideas.:

1. Some sort of mockup using an existing Space Pilot card as the Sonar Officer front didn't exist. If a mockup though you'd expect the photo on the back not to show the Sonar Officer. Unless the photo was taken of all figures before mockups were made?

2. Overstock. Perhaps there was alot of Space Pilot cards that needed using up. And perhaps at first they started sticking stickers on with the figures correct name.

Figure and card are normal production versions. Interestingly bubble has waffle pattern.

[Newswseller]

I think this is a hybrid/sample, between the UK and german version, because the gun is exclusive to the german version, rather than overstock as i doubt they would have gone to the effort of applying a new label?

[LDR]

Aah didn't know about the gun.

With overstock they might have cared at the start!

[The Kraken Wakes]

Waffle pattern?!?! Its a TOY toni!

[LDR]

Lol...waffle pattern means its NOT a TT.!

[Thundershot]

Lol...waffle pattern means its NOT a TT.!

Until it passes a float test I wont be convinced it's genuine

[paul463]

If you look at early pictures of Phones he does have the red coloured pistol. If you find the picture box swordfish photo in the archives you'll see what I mean

[LDR]

What does this mean Paul?

[paul463]

You have the first ever mock up of the sonar officer.

[paul463]

The blue leg tassels would also point to this.