BIG FRANKIE'S PANTS FALL DOWN!

My fave vintage monster toy of all time,

Blushing Frankenstein aka Mod Monster!

A classic! I even took it to my first school as a kid in the Sixties on 'bring a toy to School' day!

What's your fave monster toy?

CENTURY 21 ZERO-X TOY AND BOX REPAIRS 3: FINAL PART

Final part of my home movie covering basic repairs to my Zero X toy and box. At the end of this session, after much vintage toy shaking, I basically lose the will to live and give up! Enjoy!

It's Halo-een!

Sorry, couldn't resist. I've been laughing at Microsofts decision to name its talking assistant software on the Windows phone platform after the sassy, scantily clad AI from the Halo franchise; Cortana.

Photo caption: "JUST GIVE US THE CANDY, NOT EXCUSES"

IDEAL MONSTER LAB! IT'S BIG!

This is the Monster Lab by IDEAL from the 1960's. I didn't have one as a kid - not sure if they were available in the UK? - but I treated myself to one about ten years ago. Its housed in a huge colour box, second only in size to my Topper Johnny Seven One Man Army box!

Anyways, I've never managed to get mine to work but I found this short clip on the Tube. You'll see that Big Frankie glides around the Lab, sparks of electricity flash and his iron mask flies off revealing a hideous face! Bit like me in the morning!

Anyone else got any monster toys readers?

MAD MONSTER PARTY! YEAH!

MAD MONSTER PARTY 1967

SUPERSCARIONATION!

Wonder if Gerry Anderson wanted to make a movie like this?

YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING THIS HALLOWEEN!

ABC You'll Die Laughing

English gum cards

1960's

Did you get these as a kid like me readers?

source: dixonverse.net

KEVIN'S SUTCLIFFE SEA WOLF TOY

Hi Woodsy

I seem to have developed a nautical theme here which was totally unintentional. Here are some pictures of my latest acquisition, the clockwork Sea Wolf submarine made by Sutcliffe. I had one of these as a kid and recently got this one for purely nostalgic reasons. It is a metal toy with minimal detail but it looks neat. 

The clockwork motor still works and the sub dives by virtue of its forward motion and downwards pointing hydroplanes. When it slows down, its buoyancy brings it back up again. The key fits into a winder hidden beneath the rubber bung on the conning tower. Neat huh?

Here is a short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBJlL81lA6o

Take care,

Kevin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN READERS!

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN

2014

READERS!

WOODSY, SCOOP AND BILL

HAUNTING A MOONBASE NEAR YOU!

toys: soft plastic laughing skull 1960's, blushing mod monster frankenstein 1960's, singing dracula 1990's

MOONBASE CINEMA: CENTURY 21 ZERO X BOX AND TOY REPAIRS 2

A second short video of me making simple repairs to my Century 21 Zero X toy, star of the Gerry Anderson film Thunderbirds Are Go. In this second part I finish the repairs of my box and start on basic upkeep of the toy itself!

Excuse my wobbly voice. No idea what's happened there! I don't usually sound like a live in a fish tank!

The final part to follow tomorrow if you can still stand watching!

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE'LL SHOWCASE SOME OF KEVIN D'S NEW AND FAB SCRATCH BUILDS AND TOYS. 

KEVIN HEAVEN!

ENJOY!

ANIGRAND SPACE GLIDER

I love the Anigrand model of the M2F3, what we know as the Project SWORD Space Glider. I came across these cool model built-ups on a Japanese modellers' site called Dameya@1/144. To see the models being built check the website.

LEE SULLIVAN AND MIKE NOBLE ZERO-X PRINT

Further to Scoop's post about artist Lee Sullivan, check out this beautiful painting of Zero-X Lee has done along with the legend himself, Mike Noble. It sort of reminds me of what a US Tarheel box might have looked like for a Zero-X toy! To see this picture properly and more then check out Lee's website.

MOONBASE CINEMA: CENTURY 21 ZERO X BOX AND TOY REPAIRS 1

A short video of me making small repairs to my Century 21 Zero X toy. This amazing toy is part of the Project SWORD toy range and starred in the Gerry Anderson film Thunderbirds Are Go. In this first part I repair my torn box. 
More to follow if you can stand to watch!

LEE SULLIVAN ON BOARD FIRESTORM

I was pleased to hear that artist Lee Sullivan has joined the Firestorm design team and is producing a limited edition comic strip edition as part of a backers reward.

Read more about  it here  http://downthetubes.net/?p=17885

This shows  Lee's design work  for 'Ocean Storm' for the Firestorm project.

Lee, as many of you will know did the excellent front cover artwork for the Eaglemoss Gerry Anderson Comic Collection which sadly stalled at volume 5.

I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Lee, along with legendary TV21 artist Mike Noble at Andercon this year. Best of luck with your new project, Lee.

CENTURY 21 TOYS PICTURES ASTON MARTIN DB 5

Here we have the sleek and beautiful plastic Aston Martin DB-5 by Century 21. In immaculate condition it comes with a red racing stripe and friction drive. With its obvious 007 heritage it really is a cool toy. The scalextric-like box shows a red Aston numbered 1. The actual toy is white and numbered 4 so it does beg the question whether there are other colour variations out there?

I wonder if the Scalextricness of this car (compare with a real Scalextric DB5 below - the white DB5 - the real Bond car was silver - was only ever sold as part of the Scalextric 007 set) ran further than its looks and along with the JR21 Typhoon Motorbike posted here were there more formal links between the two companies? What's for sure is that this is just one of a bigger fleet of Century 21 toy cars.

MYSTERY TOY QUIZ

Name this old plastic mystery space toy readers. 

One go per reader please. 

You know you know it!

Joint Rocket Launch

Still another Doncaster toy fair purchase, a Matchbox Rocket Transporter. Or more accurately, the rocket was bought, I pinched the truck from Woodsy's scrap box. The truck is probably the version which comes with a plane load, but its essentially the same model used throughout. I picked up the rocket for 50p, which was good, along with the tug, the Starfighter and a Corgi Rockets Carabo. Always good to find a space related toy at a fair!

ORION BOOSTER

Looking at this reminded me of the rear engines of the SWORD Booster Rocket. What do you think?

Vectis

I Saw Three Ships

So I bought em! Another purchase from Doncaster, a set of small ships, which the seller told me came from the Matchbox Sea Kings Harbour playset. I find this difficult to believe as the average Sea King is about 8 inches long, and the largest boat here is just under 3. The two coloured ships are similar scale, but from Germany and courtesy of the bountifully generous Herr Woods. Finally, a Corgi Juniors diecast Tug Boat.

JR 21 FAB 1 REVISITED

A final  look at some photos I've taken previously of my JR 21  Thunderbird fleet. This time it's the turn of FAB 1 which came out as both a friction drive and a remote control  version.