Victorian Ron Embleton

I saw this block print of Victorian kids in a junk shop recently. It might be called Eggy Peggy.

I instantly recognized it as Ron Embleton's work. His signature's there too. I think this is one of a suite of similar paintings Ron did.

Having grown up with TV21 and The Book of Battles I know and love his unique wonderful style. 

Do you like it? 

Years ago for our first blog anniversary finale, when Century 21/ JR21 Toys box art was hot on MC, I published a post about whether Ron did the illustration for the sublime Atomic Submarine Aircraft Carrier toy. His brother Gerry Embleton kindly gave his two penneth as well. You can read it on the below.

There's conjecture about the Dinky TB2 box art and Project SWORD's Hover Tank too.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/10/bloggiversary-finale-box-art-of.html?m=1

Milk Jelly and Friends

 The Missus mentioned Milk Jelly this morning.

Wow!

I so remember it. Jelly made with milk. Blimey, was that delicious when I was a kid. I may just have to make some again! Remember it? 

It got me thinking about other past sweets, puddings and afters.

Instant Whip - my favourite milk pud as a kid, the best being butterscotch. I guess it's a lost brand now.

Birds Dream Topping - Lordy, how I adored this fluffy white nectar. I bet you can still get it.

Angel Delight - a lesser Instant Whip to my taste, too much air but delish nonetheless. I'm pretty sure this is still around.

Have you any forgotten puds and afters?

Ed's New Space Glider

Woodsy

During the past few weeks, a couple of instances of synchronicity occurred. 

One of those was when you posted about space gliders and although I didn't have any large ones like the ones you posted, I did have a couple small ones of the Tri-ang/LP variety. 

I remember thinking how cool it would be to add one of the larger kind to the Project SWORD fleet.

 Welll, within a day this glider appeared on fleaBay for a reasonable amount and I snatched it up. It's made by Day f Ran (a totally new company to me) and while not specifically Project SWORD branded is a fairly direct copy of the Tarheel glider.

 Mine is fully functional: it has an annoying high-pitched squeal that supposedly mimics a jet engine sound, the light turns on and flashes, and its bump-&-go action works well.

From Vegas Base

Ed

Anyone else got one?

 

Boostered! Atomic Rockets Run-Down

Here's a fabulous run down of Mars rocketships including our very own Project SWORD Booster Rocket on Moonbase Central!

Realistic Designs R-Z - Atomic Rockets

https://share.google/litPvv0AvSk6EJERO 

Blast-Off Space Rocket: Pumped Up!

 

There's a lot going on on the card art of this air and water rocket and that's just the bit we can see.

There's a powerful looking space plane bottom right, which looks great, but it's the two firing units further up that intrigue me. What are they? Nacelles? They look like they're contained within a gantry of sorts.

And I wonder what that craft is behind the toy. There's a hint of Thunderbird 2!

Do you like it? Anyone got one? 

*

Postscript,

Mystery mostly solved!

Thanks to eagle-eyed Looey and Arto (thanks!) we now know the main image of the structures was by Patrick Woodroffe, as it appeared in his 1976 book, Mythopoeikaon (which I've got! Doh!)

It also graced the covers of Space Wars Worlds and Weapons.

And

*

That just leaves to space rocket bottom right to ID now.

Piz Gloria: Double O Heaven

Piz Gloria is the revolving restaurant as seen in James Bond's On her Majesty's Secret Service with George Lazenby.

I visited it on the Swiss peak of Schilthorn a few years back. 

The journey to Piz Gloria begins with the unbelievably sheer Stechelberg - Birg cable car, a nightmare if you've height fright like me. Unlike the Missus, I kept my eyes shut! 

https://youtu.be/Rrq0viEiVFw?is=H3xxG_NWuKYoCsHb 

The restaurant is perched on the mountain top and is a must-see for 007 fans in the Swiss Alps. It really is the cherry on the cake.

I don't own any OHMSS toys, like the Corgi Rockets set, so I put together a few other Rockets with a Faller Alpine cafe by way of a albeit rickety tribute to the amazing summit restaurant that is Piz Gloria.

Have you been?

Have you any On Her Majesty's Secret Service collectables? 

Sky Ranger Airship: We're Going to be Golden

 I dunno, I kinda like this golden Sky Ranger. OK, it's not subtle and beautiful it ain't but there's enough space styling to give it a look.

Or do you think it's ugly? 

It's actually called an Airship. 

There detailing in the blister would sit well with LP or Project SWORD.

It reminds me of the Moonbus canopy.

Do you like this golden oldie? 

Cable Car Capers: the Rigi 900 and Co.

I recently saw a loose cable car set at a flea market. I've seen similar many times over the years and found them gracing model shop window displays too. 

They do look great.

The set I see the most is the Lehmann Rigi boxed toy like this I saw on Last Dodo. The simple box is quite lovely.

I think Blue Box made a version of this too.

I have visions of shoving Matt Mason in one. For some reason it reminds me of the Major. 

Whichever brand, folks love their toy cable cars, as you can see from the many videos on You Tube, where a Rigi set can be found traversing gardens and as shown in these two, a fab Christmas scene and an interesting old toy room.

https://youtu.be/zJx7zVDHe84?is=jqWfl7ZXhttps://youtu.be/35LJobilXgk?feature=sharedB7LjgvoZ 

https://youtu.be/35LJobilXgk?feature=shared

Checking for modern versions I found a fantastic looking set online by Jägerndorfer. I adore the big square box ( it reminds me of Aurora models) and the cable station building is out of this world!

There are multiple variants of this lay out available including a whole flotilla of cars going up and down.

See what you think readers.

Did you have a cable car toy? Do you still?

Do you like riding them? Where have you been?