Radio Silent

I'm on holiday at the mo so maybe quieter than usual 🚀

P A R S E C S: more than a Kessel Run

If you like photonics, 

PARSECS - 1960 | Secret Projects Forum https://share.google/LYupTJJUkpzgcqz3i 

PARSECS – Station E05 https://share.google/lZ327871mjTn7dsXm

Starlink in Eryri

 Staying in North Wales' beautiful Eryri (Snowdonia) for a few days has afforded us nights with incredibly dark skies. 

Our daughter saw the biggest shooting star ever and my son in law saw loads of satellites all from the comfort of a hot tub! 

I was chuffed when he pointed out two satellite's to me, both white dots of light several metres apart moving in tandem across the night.

Like a train he said. It's Starlink.

I'd never seen it before and was amazed and  was gobsmacked as to how much stuff is up there in general.

I had to look it up to see what Starlink looks like.

They're sort of flat upright panels, a bit like windows in a line.

I wonder if there's a toy version?

Have you seen Starlink readers? Anything else floating round? 

Wotan wades in:

Last year, on holiday in Cyprus, I was at on the balcony enjoying the night air, when I saw a star-like light ascending. Almost immediately behind came another, then another - all in all there must have been a regular spaced line of about 20 satellites, all moving in perfect formation! Took about four or five minutes for them all to cycle overhead. A few years ago, I had been sat in the same spot and a fabulous green meteor streaked across the heavens, leaving a luminous trail. Its something I never see at home, due to light pollution from the main road.

A Labour of Moguras

Woodsy,

Here are pix of all seven Mogura Drill Tank models from Japan that I’ve managed to collect over the years. Starting with The Mole, the Beast that started it all!

Rob C

USA

*

1/ Imai - The Mole

2/ Fujimi - Magma Riser (large)

3/ Bandai - Magma Riser (small)

4/ Midori - King Moguras

5/ Midori - Moguras Junior

6/ Otaki - Jet Drill Moon Tank

7/ Nitto - Jet Raizer

BoostED

Woodsy,

Here's a little something extra for Moon Base. I had to use Photoshop to add the shuttle at the tip of the rocket because my Booster Rocket didn't come with it.

From Vegas Base

Ed

More Rockets and Space

Hi Woodsy

You recently posted a picture showing the cover of the Rockets and Space Coloring Book. I thought you might like a few extra details.

It was published in 1960 by Treasure Books of New York, with a US cover price of 29 cents. There were both US and Canadian editions.

No artist appears to be credited. Illustrations are of real existing spacecraft and missiles, and planned designs for the future.

The book comprised full-page line drawings, with captions. Note that this one says ‘The Mercury capsule will probably carry America’s first astronaut into orbit around the earth.’.

Which turned out to be correct, as Mercury made its first manned sub-orbital flight on 5th May 1961; and its first orbital flight on 20th February 1962. The last Mercury mission was in May 1963.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2026/08/rockets-and-space-coloring-book.html#comment-form

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Grime Lord: Looey's Dr.Who Dust Cover

It's Garden Show time here at Oz Base and the Missus suddenly hit me with a big printing job for the handouts.

My ageing laser printer couldn't cope with multiple prints at such short notice so I fired up a brand new printer I'd bought specifically to print DVD discs.

Having to put it somewhere in my crowded studio, I devised a sliding shelf in the foot well of my desk.

A shiny new printer is a magnet for dust, so it really needed a dust cover. I remembered years ago how one of the fabric stores had advertised Star Trek Wrath of Khan printed fabric. I knew that would be unavailable now, but the Missus and I went in, each of us looking for bits for our current projects.

She held up an almost used up bolt of fabric and said "Isn't this funny?"

It was perfect!

( see how I just used an AI writing style?)

It actually had a 1996 copyright on it, so maybe it has been hanging around for a bit!

By that evening, I'd whipped out the sewing machine and my dust shield was operational!

Does this stir any memories of printed fabrics for you, Moonbasers?

Looey Oz Base

Sindy, Incidentally

 We all need stuff to occupy us in retirement. One of my distractions is repairing toys, even if they don't want to be!

Deploying my usual 'use what's lying around' philosophy, here's two doll-related repairs I've done this summer. Not perfect but they'll dolly well do.

First up we have this quaint lady. Sadly she was missing her right foot stroke shoe after too much dancing with Action Man.

The Missus' stock of Fimo came to the rescue and old dolly can dance again!

Next up, Sindy's Range Rover.

I picked an incomplete one up probably twenty years ago at a boot sale.

It's huge!

Here's a complete one with its box off the net.

Alas, mine was missing those important rear black struts supporting the roof.

Keeping things simple I cut a 12 inch ruler into two parts and once snug, I glued them in position at the bottom. The tops were left free so the roof can be removed. 

Painted black they're not that bad.

Sindy can rove the range once more!

Do you like 'repairing' toys or maybe something else readers?