Does anyone know of they are connected?
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
thunderbirds ray gun mystery
The other day I noticed that the small silvery ray gun in the Major Matt Mason range is more or less the same as the one used by the Tracy Brothers in the original series of Thunderbirds.
Monday, 30 January 2017
PETER CAPALDI STEPPING DOWN AS DOCTOR WHO
I've just read on Twitter that Peter Capaldi, the best Doctor since the BBC brought the series back IMHO, is leaving the show at the end of 2017.
I have to say, I'm sad about that. Being a fan of the classic series, I liked an older, more believable Doctor, rather than the hip youngsters which appear to be more popular these days (my least favourite incarnation from the classic series was Peter Davison )
But, at least we can still look forward to the new series with Peter starting in a few months time.
I have to say, I'm sad about that. Being a fan of the classic series, I liked an older, more believable Doctor, rather than the hip youngsters which appear to be more popular these days (my least favourite incarnation from the classic series was Peter Davison )
But, at least we can still look forward to the new series with Peter starting in a few months time.
GUESTS AT ALPHA:2014
I note there's an Alpha: 2017 convention in July, this time in the States, Parsippany, New Jersey to be precise. I'd love to attend but there's a UFO one around that time, here in the UK I'm hoping to get to, but I did get a chance to go to Alpha:2014 in Peterborough so I shouldn't complain..
As a reminder to anyone else who went, and a tease for those lucky folk who are going to Alpha:2017, here's a few photos I took of some of the great guests who attended Alpha:2014.
As a reminder to anyone else who went, and a tease for those lucky folk who are going to Alpha:2017, here's a few photos I took of some of the great guests who attended Alpha:2014.
Prentis Hancock who played Paul Morrow
Anton Phillips who played Dr Bob Mathias
Catherine Schell who played Maya
Nick Tate who played pilot Alan Carter.
Suzanne Roquette who played Tanya Alexander.
Pam Rose who played a Command Centre Operative, and Sarah Bullen who played Operative Kate
Stuntman Paul Weston who appeared in several episodes, generally as a Moonbase Alpha Security Guard
Stand - in Suzanne Heimer
Story consultant and scriptwriter Christopher Penfold.
Camera focus puller Robin McDonald
Special effects designer Brian Johnson
Did your toys' boxes last for long as a kid?
I'm unsure if I kept my toy boxes for long or not. My memory is a lump of cheese.
I imagine I kept my Matchbox cars boxes as they were part of the fun of owning them and easy to keep.
It's bubble cards like Major Matt Mason's or Action Man's that I doubt I kept. They will have been binned early on in the play.
Huge boxes like the one the Major Matt Mason space station came in may have been held onto to keep the parts of the station in. That would make sense.
I remember my Project SWORD toy boxes but again I've no idea if they were retained to keep the toys in on my shelf.
What's certain is that everything got thrown out, toys, boxes, cards and all and this process was complete by late 1978. The majority of my toys will have been binned (by my parents I think but maybe it was me) by Christmas 1976, when I turned 16 shortly before I left Secondary school.
It's a shame I didn't think ahead and keep my old toys and their boxes but the boxes may have been chucked straight away anyway.
Did you keep your toy boxes as a kid or did they get binned early on?
I imagine I kept my Matchbox cars boxes as they were part of the fun of owning them and easy to keep.
It's bubble cards like Major Matt Mason's or Action Man's that I doubt I kept. They will have been binned early on in the play.
Huge boxes like the one the Major Matt Mason space station came in may have been held onto to keep the parts of the station in. That would make sense.
I remember my Project SWORD toy boxes but again I've no idea if they were retained to keep the toys in on my shelf.
What's certain is that everything got thrown out, toys, boxes, cards and all and this process was complete by late 1978. The majority of my toys will have been binned (by my parents I think but maybe it was me) by Christmas 1976, when I turned 16 shortly before I left Secondary school.
It's a shame I didn't think ahead and keep my old toys and their boxes but the boxes may have been chucked straight away anyway.
Did you keep your toy boxes as a kid or did they get binned early on?
char spatial by mont blanc; the french space tank website of maddux donner
Check out the rather splendid French language website of reader Maddux Donner, which is all about his love for the French tinplate Space Car Tank and its relatives by Mont Blanc.
Maddux's site looks at every aspect of the toy together with other Mont Blanc toys.
Sunday, 29 January 2017
FOCUS ON SOME ALIEN MICRO MACHINES.
Here's a few photos of three of the Galoob Alien Micro Machines.which were given to my son, Dan by blog friend Will Schwartz. Unfortunately Gilbert Kane, played by the late John Hurt isn't amongst them.
The first from set 1, is the ill-fated Nostromo Ship, the commercial towing vehicle, that is destroyed in an attempt to klll the alien Xenomorph that got loose in the ship.
The second three photos, again from set 1 is the escape shuttle Narcissus, which crew survivor Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver uses to leave the doomed Nostromo, only to find that the alien has managed to get on board.
Finally, the Derelict Ship from set 3. The derelict's cargo hold contains thousands of alien eggs. Nostromo crewman Gilbert Kane (John Hurt) disturbs one of the eggs and becomes a victim to an alien facehugger.
Birthday Thank You!
Really sorry to everyone who took the time and trouble to send me birthday cards and wishes, I have been working overtime all weekend, with a brief respite in Liverpool to see legendary poet Roger McGough. Consequently, ive been radio silent with almost no internet access to view the blog!
As you can see, I did rather well on the gift front too!
So thank you to Mike, Kev, Ed, Ed, Paul, Paul, Arto, Tony and Brian!
EAGLEMOSS WAR DOCTOR
The Eaglemoss War Doctor figurine as portrayed by the late John Hurt in the Doctor Who stories, The Name of The Doctor, and The Day of The Doctor.
space patrol truck mystery solved!
This red rocket truck was a mystery to us on the blog back in 2013.
Well not any more. Reader Maddux Donner has ID'd it no problem: its from Hot Wheels' Space Command Center from 1994.
Maddux is a big fan of this set and recently made this French language video posted on You Tube, where you can easily see the red truck.
Saturday, 28 January 2017
john hurt has passed away
Sadly there was sad news today as well. John Hurt, one of my favourite actors has died, aged 77.
Of huge importance to sci-fi fans everywhere because if his role as Kane in ALIEN in 1979, John appeared in countless other great films.
His rich voice always lent gravitas to his movies, something I feel he brought to Alien despite his short stint.
John was born down the road from here in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Our sincere condolences to his family,
RIP.
young samson, mighty mightor and he-man
Having been off ill recently I watched a few old Sixties cartoons on You Tube to cheer myself up.
Stuff I loved as a kid like Frankenstein Junior, Shazzan, Marine Boy and Heckle and Jeckle.
There were some cartoons that I'm aware of now [ I collected them as KIDS brand videos in the Nineties] but not sure at all if I watched them as a kid: Herculoids, Young Samson and the one I may have watched, Space Ghost.
Giving these a whirl I noticed a thread emerging, the similarity with He-Man!
To see what I mean have a look at the opening of Young Samson on You Tube. Watch the transformation into the muscled Young Samson and his lion. He-Man and Battle cat or what!
And as for the famous 'I have the Power' sword raising check out Might Mightors' similar move arounfdthe 1.07 minute mark here
As a reminder what the He-Man intro was like have a gander on You Tube too
Are there any links between these cartoons?
Did you watch them as a kid?
to bill from ed murray
Hi Woodster,
Please pass on my Many Happy Returns Of The Day wishes to Bill on the blog.
Thanks.
All the best,
Ed.
Please pass on my Many Happy Returns Of The Day wishes to Bill on the blog.
Thanks.
All the best,
Ed.
Let's Celebrate!
Its
Bill's
Birthday!
Readers'
cosmic Cards
from the
Moonbase Mailbag
to
follow!
But first,
the Cantina Band just for Bill!
But first,
the Cantina Band just for Bill!
Friday, 27 January 2017
UFO MISSILE TANK
The UFO Missile tank is one of those pieces of unlicensed Ufo merchandise that has very limited appeal as the box artwork is the only thing that has any remote relevance to the TV series, although that doesn't stop some dealers asking ridiculous prices for it.
Obviously, its just a generic battery operated tank toy, that shoots missiles and makes an engine sound. The generic toy came in several different colours. The UFO Missile tank came in orange, with a yellow turret and red missiles with an orange radar scanner.
My green and beige generic example, which I picked up at a Doncaster toy fair a few years back, cost me the princely sum of £1.50. On the box it's described as a Rocket Firing Tank. Everything worked, and it had four missiles, but the all important radar scanner was missing. However, that didn't prove a problem thanks to our own Bill Bulloch who supplied me with a spare one he had.
As a toy it looks pretty good and I suppose if you really stretched your imagination you could pretend it was one of the Moonbase Missile Launchers.
Here's a photo of the UFO Missile Tank box art showing a Moonbase Interceptor, Lunar Shuttle and a Shadair plane.There's also what looks like a Project SWORD Moon Crawler in the lower left hand corner.
This is the box that came with my generic example. Not quite as exciting I admit, but a lot cheaper.
A photo of another generic tank showing another colour scheme, with it's box showing some nice space artwork.
A Moonbase Missile Launcher.
you wanna dress up as an ice warrior?
On a recent trip to Thirsk I stumbled into a discount shop. Inside was an unusual cheapo toy, unusual for me at any rate as I hardly ever notice Dr.Who stuff.
It was a modern rubbery Ice Warrior dress-up kit. I've no idea how authentic this looks or whether it links to a recent storyline but here you go:
If you like Dr.Who toys you might like the lighthearted banter of Ashens, a favourite vlogger of mine on You Tube who regularly reviews amongst other things cheapo toys from discounters.
Here's Ashens discussing Dr.Who action figures on his trademark sofa. Enjoy!
Thursday, 26 January 2017
did project sword and Spacex toys have a successor?
Was their a natural heir to Project SWORD and SpaceX toys?
Was it the BHS Explorer 12 Range? Matchbox MAC? Multimac? Starcom or Manta Force? Others?
Or did the mixture of real NASA designs and the visions of space artists of the Sixties lead inevitably to the vast range of vehicles seen in The Star Wars toy universe?
What do you think?
Was it the BHS Explorer 12 Range? Matchbox MAC? Multimac? Starcom or Manta Force? Others?
Or did the mixture of real NASA designs and the visions of space artists of the Sixties lead inevitably to the vast range of vehicles seen in The Star Wars toy universe?
What do you think?
FOCUS ON SOME KONAMI SHADO EARTHBASED MODELS
Continuing on from my previous post on Konami Moonbase models, here's a few photos of some of the Earth based SHADO vehicles produced by Konami from the TV series UFO, beginning with SKY 1, the supersonic twin-engined jet fighter that makes up the bow section of the SKYDIVER submarine.
The submarine SKYDIVER, one of several patrolling the world's oceans ( at least four are referred to in the series) If a Ufo gets through the Moonbase defences and reaches Earth's atmosphere, the nearest Skydiver is alerted, and ordered to seek and destroy!
One of the three SHADO Mobiles, which are taken to Ufo incidents in articulated lorry trailers or transport aircraft. These armoured tracked vehicles are to used investigate UFO landings.
The Shadair Transporter. This heavy duty aircraft is used to transport the Mobiles to any part of the world. (Another model I don't have, as yet)
And finally, the UFO. Since SHADO have never captured one intact, little is known about the Aliens' spacecraft, apart from the fact it is capable of light speed in space, but is much slower in the Earth's atmosphere and prone to deterioration. It is equipped with a laser weapon, and is capable of self- destruction.
The submarine SKYDIVER, one of several patrolling the world's oceans ( at least four are referred to in the series) If a Ufo gets through the Moonbase defences and reaches Earth's atmosphere, the nearest Skydiver is alerted, and ordered to seek and destroy!
One of the three SHADO Mobiles, which are taken to Ufo incidents in articulated lorry trailers or transport aircraft. These armoured tracked vehicles are to used investigate UFO landings.
The Shadair Transporter. This heavy duty aircraft is used to transport the Mobiles to any part of the world. (Another model I don't have, as yet)
And finally, the UFO. Since SHADO have never captured one intact, little is known about the Aliens' spacecraft, apart from the fact it is capable of light speed in space, but is much slower in the Earth's atmosphere and prone to deterioration. It is equipped with a laser weapon, and is capable of self- destruction.
