Paul, attached a couple of piccys that brought back memories, a Finnish version of the French "Pif Gadget" magazine for young people, featuring a variety of serialized comics, quizzes, games and whatnot. Every issue came wrapped in plastic, including a cheapo, easy-to-build gadget. They varied from soda-powered submarines to simple gadgets for magic tricks, among them some space-related ones like space telescope & carousel, moon globe, and this rolling Moon Jeep with a canine astronaut. I remember this particular issue, possibly even buying it, back in '77. The gadgets were included only for three years 1977-79 and then replaced by simpler cardboard airplanes etc. These early issues a very hard to come by unopened, with all the parts still attached to their sprues.
Did you have anything like this in the UK? In its day it felt quit trashy (still does), but today even the simplest of designs has its nostalgic silver lining.
Sorry about the reflections caused by the flash on the plastic. I do not have a loose copy to show you the cover with the Jeep on a lunar landscape, but you can get the idea from the back cover photo.
Arto
Arto, you come up with such strange and wonderful things! This one made me smile so much.
ReplyDeleteI can see the trashy aspect you mention, but I suspect I'd feel a little nostalgic too. I no expert, so don't take this as meaning a lot, but I don't think there was anything quite like this in the UK back then. UK comics and mags tended to have gifts only during the first three issues (to grab readers), and sometimes one or two later (to boost waning attention?).
Nowadays, lots of glossy comic-mags have gifts every issue. And yes, they are often trashy (with a few gems thrown in occasionally!). But I suspect it is not the same as you have shown here. And I doubt much of it will stir any kind of nostalgia 20 years from now.
Thanks for another wonderful posting, Arto (smiles).
Cheers Toadie!
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