1973. This has to be the most interesting of all catalogs. Sky-busters appeared after the Lesney factory had suffered a fire. Some of the colors do not match those of the actual toy planes that were available in stores, hence the toy models shown are experimental and were never sold. The series was available that spring.
1974
1975. The 747 changes from BOAC to British airways colors.
1976. Two fictional racing planes appear: the SB-17 Ram Rod and the SB-18 Wild Wind. The latter is based on a 1930s Polish design (PZL P.11C).
1978. Wheel struts are no longer made of wire; they are now thicker (this innovation might have been introduced the previous year). New castings introduced: the SB-19 Piper "Commanche" (misspelled), the SB-20 Helicopter (three color schemes), the SB-21 English Electric Lightning, the SB-22 Panavia Tornado MRCA, and the SB-23 Concorde, which is actually called such (not "Supersonic Airliner"). The SB-3 A-300Bs have tampo-printed details: the Air France plane has acquired a cheat line, and is joined by a Lufthansa version. Different liveries are available on the DC-10s and 747s also; note the last mentioned is available with dark blue or silver wings in the same model year.
1979-1980 featured a single catalog for two years. The Sky-busters underwent some color changes: the F4U Corsair is now orange; the F-104 has an orange-red fuselage; the Stuka is now camouflage; the SB-25 Helicopter in yellow has skids and a two-blade rotor; and the Lightning is silver. The Singapore Airlines Concorde is a great addition. SB-24 F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of many toys of this popular subject, in a color scheme similar to the larger Tootsietoy of the same time era. The Pitts Special makes its first appearance. I don't think any other firm bothered to make a diecast toy of this very interesting plane. Note that it has no number yet, as does the subject at the other extreme, the Space Shuttle.