Thunder Subs

Saw a shedload of Thunderbirds The Movie toys today at a Boot Sale including the die-cast sub pictured below. I've also seen the same design as a cheapo miniature plastic toy made in China. Who designed it? Anyone know the story?

Are Car Boots Dead?

Just been to my fourth large Car Boot sale of the summer as the season turns to Autumn here in Northern England. Having been I pose the question: are car boot sales dead with regards to vintage space toys? I haven't found a single thing all summer and I've walked by hundreds of stalls. Now don't get me wrong, there's lots of vintage toys - dinky and corgi die-cast, plastic vehicles, Airfix soldiers etc - and tons of second-generation Gerry Anderson like 1990's/2000's Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. There was even a loose Matchbox Tracy Island. But as for space toys from the Golden Age of the 1960's and 70's, not a cosmic sausage! Is Ebay to blame for this?

I haven't frequented any toy fairs or antique markets this year but wonder if this apparent dearth of space toys is repeated there as well?

Is this a purely a UK malaise?

PS. mystery modern vehicle seen in a box of modern Thunderbirds toys. Matchbox sized, die-cast. Like a flat space car with stripes. Any clue? Apologies for the artwork!

Is Yoda A Muppet?

Believe it or not I only realised this year that Yoda had the same voice as Miss Piggy! Digging further I discovered that the voice artist for both was the super-talented Frank Oz, who besides his Muppet duties, also voiced the Cookie Monster and Bert from Sesame Street, firm family favourites of ours. Sesame Street was simply beautiful children's TV and I can remember the Muppets being one of those rare TV programmes, which everyone stayed in for on Sunday evenings.

Voices, like fragrances, can travel though time with you. I can can quite clearly hear Frank Oz's dulcet tones in John Landis's American Werewolf in London, one of my all time fave films. Oz plays a flustered US embassy attache, who attempts to calm the 'Kessler boy' in hospital without any success!

Reading about Oz, I read about his friend and Muppets creator, the late great Jim Henson, who were both working together with puppets way back in the early Sixties. This got me thinking as to whether they ever saw any Gerry Anderson puppet shows in the States? Wonder what they thought?

The Real Space Glider

It was recently aired on the news that DARPAs new hypersonic glider failed during a test over the Pacific. Able to fly at 20 times the speed of sound after being launched from a rocket booster into the upper atmosphere, the Falcon HTV is a glimpse of the future of aeronautics. The classic wedge shape is very similar to space gliders and other ships seen in TV21 and other sci-fi genres. A long way from the bulky and boring space shuttle, the Falcon is the latest in a long line of vehicles capable of launch and reaching any point on Earth within an hour, thus giving the US first strike capability. The Dyna Soar was the first publically acknowledged project in this field and the Falcon has clearly come a long way since the early days of aeronautic design.

Project WARD: X-30 Art

Picture: Ebay

We've celebrated the X series of space toys many times on the blog but here's an altogether more artistic homage, an original painting of the X-30 Space Explorer, by [George] Ward, currently for sale on Ebay. I contacted the artist, who kindly gave me permisiion to post the above image. George explained to me how the painting came about:

Hi Paul! yes you can post the painting on your blog- It would be a honor!! the reason I chose this toy to paint is that it reminds me of how early space missions were mostly one lone pilot- the Mercury, Gemini programs that set the stage for the Apollo and the moon landing, had brave Astronauts doing solo flights! it just shows the greatness of the human spirit, man and machine vs. the unknown and all the promise that the 'space-age' had to offer! thank for the complement and have a great day! George Bryan Ward.

If Only: a Custom Tarheel SWORD Hawk

This 'If Only' isn't that too far fetched: a custom Tarheel Project SWORD Hawk. Tarheel did make SWORD and they did issue the larger Hawk, about the same scale as the Scouts, in the form of a NOVA rocket [pictured]. So, I give you the Tarheel SWORD Hawk, a true SWORD-SpaceX custom hybrid. Are there anymore SpaceX-like toys at the larger SWORD scale?

Andy B's Milk Men

Dear Woodsy,

Been meaning to send this for ages, in case it's of use. I know someone put a picture of these on the forum, but I have since found better images. Can't remember where I found the images, sorry [let me know if they're yours and I'll credit them, Woodsy].

The spacemen illustrated here were probably the first space models I had come across, certainly the first space free gifts I had seen, as a youngster. A boy living up the road had them, and I never managed to get any. Perhaps as a result, they continue to fascinate me.

One site says these were released by a company called Charben (in the US?), and also attributes them to Kelloggs. My memory may be poor, but I think they were actually given away by a Nabisco cereal, probably Shreddies, around 1963?

The back of the cereal packet had a lunar landscape on, I think designed to be cut out.

I don't know why one figure lacks hands, but I think the sculptor well anticipated how bulky space suits would be.

It would be good to know more about these figures.

All the best,

Andy B.

Isla Secreta Thunderbirds by Trol

New to the blog, I just love this toy, the Ilha Secreta Thunderbirds or Thunderbirds Secret Island. Made by Trol of Brazil in 1968, it really does look great in these pictures, which feature once again on the neat Brinquedos Raros. It reminds me a little of the island base issued to shops for displaying JR21 Thunderbirds toys, which we blogged last year, although I think this Trol island is a much smaller scale than JR21. Here are more views of the box and the toy base, which I assume is plastic. Lovely.

If only we could find pictures of the Century 21 Toys SWORD Moon Base! In the meantime, has anyone got one of these Trol Islands?

SWORD Robot Update

As promised here's the super cool Estrela robot as seen on the equally cool Brinquedos Raros. We've seen this bot before but the side-view of the box is new to the blog, which you can see a little clearer below.

Besides the MEV2 there's a Booster Rocket top left and also a red LEM. As we've discussed before back in April last year, the Booster appeared on the box top and together with the MEV2 on the robot chest TV scroll as well. It's likely that these images were copies of Ed Valigursky's original artwork, a tradition which, as we know, also included Century 21 Toys and their own Booster Rocket box art.

Has anybody got one of these Estrela robots?

May I present the Sword Rifle!

Earlier in the summer I came across this beautiful toy by Estrela of Brazil on an excellent website called Brinquedos Raros. The title of the rifle translates roughly to Machine Gun Spatial Patrol of Space. Of great interest to us in SWORDland is the fabulous artwork! You will immediately notice that the box lid is graced with no less than the Booster Rocket and a red Moon Base LEM. A Lost in Space robot joins the fun too together with astronauts and moon man, which look vaguely familar but I just can't place them.

The rifle is no less interesting. On the butt we can clearly see a MEV2 a la SpaceX! It's a veritable SWORD-SpaceX rifle!

All of these SWORD-SpaceX images are likely to have been lifted from Ed Valigursky's artwork from the important Man and Space book. The website dates the toy exactly to 06-03-1969.

We have seen Estrela featuring MEV2 before on it's toys in the form of a robot. More to follow on this!

THX-1138: Feel the Force

Since Star Wars is the Thunderbirds of my adulthood, I like to extend my experience of the George Lucas canon wherever I can. To that end I today watched for the first time his movie THX-1138 made when I was a mere 9 years old in 1970. I had read a little about it beforehand but not too much. I enjoy looking up movie background online as it happens onscreen.

Within a few minutes of THX-1138 starting I knew I was watching a forerunner of Star Wars. By the end I was smitten. Lucas's proto-vision of a New Hope is there for all to see [Star Wars in italics]: Android Policeman - Stormtroopers, the mind-deadening monotony of the dystopia - Empire, the OMM-Force, the awakening of THX - Luke, the complex relationship THX has with roommate LUH - Leia, the dead-faced Androids - Darth Vader, the Monks - Emporer, the gold Androids - C3P0, the clinical often-white surroundings and the use of muttered technobabble and jargonese.

An online forum alerted also alerted me to three other similarities, which were clear when I watched them: the tiny shelldwellers could be forerunners of the Jawas, the first use of the word Wookie [aided greatly by having the subtitles on - it appeared onscreen], the tunnel pursuit  of THX by speederbikes, which hints at the later Daeth Star trench chase and probably most emphatic of all the imagery, the final scene were THX stands tall against the backdrop of a bright red sun, so redolent of Luke staring up at the twin Suns off Tatooine.

But above all of these it is the soundscape which predicts Star Wars. THX-1138 positively rattles with Artoo bleeps, droid grunts, Tie Fighter screeches, electronic lance zaps, teletexts, radio fuzz, tannoy voices echoing down corridors, alerts, warnings, sirens and shakey intercoms. The DVD I had allowed me to watch the film with just the soundtrack on minus the actor's voices - a soundscape with it's own name, The Theatre of Noise.

The musical score is also excellent composed by Argentinian Lalo Schifrin, who's work I already loved through his score for Enter The Dragon. Schifrin's THX also reminded me of the melancholic feel to the music in Kung Fu The TV series, brilliantly scored by the late Jim Helms [I remember buying the LP at our local garage!].

The THX 'in-jokes' throughout Lucas's later Star Wars movies, although well-known to die-hard fans, are new to me and will be fun to watch out for when I catch his flicks again. For now though I'm pretty confident that I've seen an iconic movie and  the basis for a whole glut of later dystopias seen in films like West World, Future World, Aliens and the Matrix to name but a few.

Be efficient. Be Happy.

Valigursky Ship 2

I do love these hovertanks by Ed Valigursky from the cover of Clans of the Alphane Moon by Philip K. Dick 1964 [Ace books F-309]. As usual he gave us bright colours and clean lines on his fabulous vehicles. Coincidentally, two years later TV Century 21's Eric Eden gave us the first views of his own Hovertank in the 1966 TV21 Summer Extra comic, later to become part of the SWORD fleet.

[picture: Illustration Exchange]

Meissen Around

Picked up this little plastic Copter for a few cents in an old shop in the porcelain town of Meissen. I'm assuming it's a Kinder toy but I'm unsure.

After a climb up the steps in Meissen you reach the beautiful Cathedral square. At the top, besides the baroque splendour all around, we were treated to the massed motorbikes, many of which were classics, of the Easy [or Early?] Riders of Antwerp!

Slime Time

We're all familiar with the brilliant SpaceX Lunar Transporter LT10 and the larger Midori kit version pictured above. The same ship appeared in the Japanese movie The Green Slime in 1969 along with a whole flotilla of cool spacecraft. Have a gander below. And remember, you've been slimed!

Empire Biulding 2

Further to WOTE's fab Empire Biulding post, Andy B has sent me a pic from cyberspace and some info about Cherilea Daleks. Andy says The daleks were available in a variety of colours, including gold. Usually from Woolworths, probably available around 1965. The pink globe is a Mechanoid.

There was something very pleasing as a kid pulling small toys like these apart. Clever toy makers knew this. Britains cowboys and soldiers were favourites of mine with their little detachable hands and heads and fabulously fiddley tiny revolvers! Later when I started selling at toy fairs and still 'learning' about vintage toys, I mis-labelled some Mechanoids [which I'd never seen before either] as 'Swoppets' [a Britains range!] on my stall and only later realised how much I'd lost on that sale as Mechanoids are highly sought after! Drat! Double drat!

If Only: a Custom Tarheel Roll Out Set

As a collector I often ruminate over as yet untapped seams of box variations. Inevitably this leads to a great deal of ruminating and the need to 'create' my own! Here's one I regularly consider, a Tarheel version of the Cape Kennedy Set. If only! Which SWORD or SpaceX would you re-box?

Late August Caption Comp

What are these two underpaid and overworked Moon Ranger pilots saying to each other on their intercom?

Cakes and Favours

Recently I picked up this set of cake decorations in the form of our friends Apollo Moon Exploring. The seller was a cake decorater. When I got the items I saw that they all had 'Made in China' stickers on their undersides as you can see below. The items looked brand new and the stickers added to this newness. Is it possible that they are still being made in China?

Extending the decorative function of these toys, I was fascinated to see these carded '6 Party Favors' pictured below appear on Ebay this month. Quite clearly the rockets and capsules from Apollo Moon Exploring, these were packaged and sold under the name Unique for 99c. Are there any more combinations out there?

One further incarnation of Apollo Moon are these carded sets of LP spacemen re-branded as Flash Gordon 8 Space Warriors, If your'e feeling flush you can bag a set on Ebay - 3 sets available by the looks of things. Marketed by King Features Syndicate. Anyone know? And just what is that tall purple thing pictured to the right of the card?

Happy Late Summer!

Just wanted to wish all the blog's readers a happy sunny late Summer [or decent Winter in Oz/NZ] and if your'e in the UK a fine bright August Bank Holiday weekend. Thanks for all your continued support. Keep on Swordin'

Woodsy

It's Mint Man!

Reader Arto and avid space collector sent me these great pics of part of his collection. I'll let Arto explain:  To continue with my favourite subject, heres a piccy of my two Rocket Banks. The red and yellow one is a U.S. Fosta (Foster Grant Co.), the grey one is a Tudor Rose Made in England. They both measure 24 cm, and are very likely from the same mould. There exists also a more colourful variant of the Tudor Rose version, perhaps several.

The next two pictures [below] are of a surprise find, also Made in England by Kelrack Ltd. in the beginning of 80's. Originally called Mint Man, this toy with robot likeness is really a puzzle which you have to solve in order to get the mints sealed in a bag behind the teeth. Educational, funny, and very motivating! What's more interesting, the Mint Man has made it into an all-Finnish version called Minttu-Pekka (akin to Mint-Peter), with instructions & ingredient info embossed on the back. The puzzle measures 9 x 7 x 2 cm, and bears a copyright year 1982.

Pertaining to Wote's Tri-ang zone thread, the last picture is of my find from Gothenburg in last April, a Tri-ang catalogue 33 (1934/35). Just could not resist the cheerfulness of the catalogue, not to speak of its rarity. The stamp on the cover reveals that the Danish agent, situated in Copenhagen, also supplied to Sweden and Finland as well!

Empire Building

With Dr Who popping back into the schedules again, and the lovely Alex Kingston gracing the screens, its clear that xmas isnt far off. Meanwhile, new toys appear on the shelves and among them I spotted a new line of 'lego-like' Dr Who sets and a brace of collectable figures. The collectable part comes from the fact that figures are a series of 10 randomly assorted into a sealed opaque bag. At £1.95 a throw, its an expensive business to collect them all, but luckily for me, Asda had thebox on display and I was able to have a good rummage and feel the shapes through the thick plastic bag! The majority of the figures are the humanoid variety, a couple of doctors, assistants, cyberman, silurian and those ridiculous angels. But two of them are the new Daleks, a blue strategist and red drone. A good squeeze and I found the last two daleks in a box of about fifteen packs. The rest of the figures are stupidly cartoonish and deformed, but the daleks are really good representations of the new enemy. Good quality plastic build and a fair number of interchangeable parts, mean that at 2 quid, its worth having a look for them. After the Dr Who magazines giveaway of a dalek army, these are a great way to add to a dalek invasion force.

Kuvataide Astronaut Game

Reader Arto and fellow collector sent me these cool pics of his recent find. Arto takes up the story: these are pics of a surprise find of last week, an Astronaut board game which just does it for me! I adore the cover illustration with a Jupiter-C rocket on its launching pad, presumably a Revell miniature blown up into a giant 39 x 28 cm box cover size, and enlaced with a 50's B-horror-movie typeface logo. Just love the artifice combined - an Astronaut game from the Black Lagoon!

Unlike many other board games published by the prolific Finnish manufacturer Kuvataide, this one was not made in Finland but - perhaps with the exception of the instruction sheet - printed in Denmark as stated. So even if the Danish original may date from the late 50's (ca. 1958-59), I would put this Finnish version around early 60's. Oddly enough, I have not found any Danish examples yet, or any others for that matter.

Rover's Return?

Above is the ARGO Lunar Vehicle as it appears on their website. Recently Argo were "named as part of a consortium designing lunar rovers for the Canadian Space Agency". They also have a Lunar Rover.

Above is Moonstream as designed by student Anthony Sims.

For my money, these concepts have not moved on that far from the Sixties designs, which inspired moon vehicles in SWORD and SpaceX. What do you think?

No More Heroes

Star Brothers

Major General Leonov

Continuing a long-running interest in the Soviet space programme on this blog, reader Andy B has sent me these great paintings from a Russian art book called "The Soviet Character", which for me, do capture the enthusiasm we once all felt for the Space Race.

My gut feeling about interest in Space travel amongst the general public of the UK is that it has waned and continues to wane. I suppose this is to be expected since NASA's space programme has dwindled and seldoms features in the British media. There are also very few space toys in the shops. This is despite a number of excellent TV series on the cosmos such as Professor Brian Cox's. I suspect that it will take something jaw-droppingly dramatic to rekindle public zeal for space flight over and above any brave efforts that commercial outfits like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic and new space nations like China and India may be making.

What do you think? Is it the same in Europe, US and Canada?