COSFORD MODELS: THE 44" EAGLE

Some photos of the original 44" Eagle, owned by David Sisson, taken at Cosford.

It's a great looking model and I could have spent all day taking pics of it. ( much to David's bemusement!)

According to David, there's over a hundred feet of brass tubing holding things together which makes it very strong and quite heavy.

Note the altered pipework behind the aluminium thrusters which were seen in the second season. This was to strengthen things when it was decided to have a  rocket jet effect  coming out of the thruster bells, using a freon, or nitrogen gas.

The perspex beak with two little astronauts, taken from a Gemini model kit, just about visible behind the clear screens.

Original and best!

Superhighway

After Googles recent announcement about its launch of the self drive car, I was put in mind of my collection of Kinder Surprise futuristic vehicles. For such tiny, inexpensive toys, they pack a lot of detail.

Kevin D's Anderson Scratchbuilds

Hi, been photographing some of my scratchbuilds again, trying as ever, to get better shots of them. Take care,

Kevin

COSFORD PUPPETS

Here's some more puppet pictures taken at this years Cosford event.

This is a replica of friend Zarin and the original restored head (on a replica body) of Jimmy Gibson. The original  Mark Knofler puppet  at the back is from the Dire Straits 'Calling Elvis' video.

There was plenty of original puppets in amongst the odd replica. This is one of my favourites, the original Steve Zodiac. 

This is the original Captain Grey. 

The original Lieutenant Green. 

And the original Destiny.

One difference between Andercon and Cosford was the amount of original puppets there was at Cosford.

While Andercon had plenty of excellent replicas as this photo shows, I don't recall seeing any original puppets.

Cosford did have quite a few original puppets I hadn't seen before. Organiser Chris King has to be congratulated on tracking down owners and getting them on display.

,

They really are in excellent condition. I certainly can't tell what restoration has taken place.

One exclusive for the event was these three Joe 90 puppets showing their different expressions. 

Personally, I can't tell much difference but I'd imagine the subtleties of the expressions worked better  during the episodes.

S.I.G. 

MORE RON TURNER PLEASE

Hi Woodsy,

Wondered if these Ron Turner "Space Ace" opening pages might fit the bill. As ever, great space ships. For me, Space Ace represents (together with the Daleks strip from TV21) the best of Turner's work. Wish someone would reprint them in a volume (the only reprints I have come across are prohibitively expensive).

Enjoy,
Andy B.

Freebie Jeebies

kozzi1301

Just had a bowl of shredded wheat for lunch and I must admit it was excellent! Filled the gap perfectly, which is odd as I usually hanker for something meaty like a pie. Does anyone else eat cereals for lunch readers?

One thing I did miss was a toy dropping into my cereal bowl. I used to love them as a kid. I called them free gifts back then but today they seem to be referred to as premiums. My favourites, the ones I can remember, were badges. I was a badge nut in the Sixties. The Joe 90 badges have stuck in my memory.: Sam, Mac, Joe himself. They were excellent. Here's a pic I found of me all badged up with my mate Robin Adderley circa 1970. My hat was either a Donny Osmond or Bay City Rollers one!

Some of my favourite freebies weren't from cereals. They came from petrol stations where my Dad filled up. Two I loved were the plastic World Cup heads - Bobby Moore and his football pals and any of the carded coin sets like Space and Motor Cars. Was there a Thunderbirds coin set in the Sixties? Not sure. Anyone?

What were or are your fave freebies readers?

HOVERING THUNDERBIRD 2 TOY FROM JAPAN

I've received this clip as part of my subscription to this Japanese You Tuber. Its a hovering, circling Thunderbird 2. Anyone know of this toy?

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO & THUNDERBIRD 6 ON BLU-RAY

I recently got the Blu-ray version of Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6.

I have to say I'm impressed at the pin sharp image of Zero X being assembled. The detail is incredible, far more than you see on the DVD. 

Although, I'm not likely to update all my DVD collection, (So far, I've only got the first series of Space 1999 on Blu-ray)  there are one or two of my favourite films that  I'm keen on seeing upgraded, 2001: A Space Odyssey for one, and curiously, Dalek:s Invasion Earth 2015AD - that looks great in Blu-ray.

When it was announced that Thunderbirds Are Go was to get the Blu-ray treatment I just couldn't resist. Zero X in high definition - Fabulous!

  

There are some  new bonus features  on the disc too. Isolated music tracks, a couple of  featurettes  from Anderson Entertainment and  recently discovered test shoots of the Cliff and The Shadows. There are some  MGM featurettes that I've not seen before, dated 2004, so they may be cleaned up versions from the American DVD release. 

It comes with a nice little  six page booklet filled with some thumbnail photos and a short essay on the workings of the studio.

  

Can Vintage Toys be Found at Car Boot Sales?

Just curious. Has anyone ever found any decent vintage toys at a flea market or car boot sale? Any space toys? Indeed, any SWORD or SpaceX?

The summer sales beckon so here's hoping!

MORE BACK TO WORK

As I just haven't had the time to do a proper post I thought I'd give you all another glimpse of the man cave mess.

Now who can spot what?