What are you watching on TV this Saturday? A film, a comedy, a soap?
Maybe your'e watching something on your iPad or Laptop?
Is there something special on for Easter?
Just maybe your'e listening to the radio instead!
Saturday, 31 March 2018
MOONSHIP AND JET RACER LAND IN THE GARDEN
Captain Bunny has just been given an Easter egg at the Academy party before he leaves for some well-earned R'n'R off-base.
What should he do with his time off?
THE TOXIC CRUSADER MELTS HIS CHOCOLATE EGG
When I was heavilly into getting as many old toys into my old stock room as possible years ago I often took in bundles of plastic action figures and vehicles. They all found a temporary home on my cellar shelves.
Besides the big hitters like He-Man and Ninja Turtles, there was a whole gamut of characters in the 80's and 90's whose TV shows I never saw: Voltron, VR Troopers, MASK, Mighty Max, James Bond Junior, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Air Raiders, Street Sharks, Bionic Six and Bucky 'O' Hare.
I also got a line called Toxic Crusaders in now and then. They were garish yellow and green hunks of plastic straight from the town's toxic dump! I'd never seen the TV show - if indeed there was one - or the kids' movie.
I was surprised to see Toxic Crusader toys to be honest. I'd heard of a horror film called The Toxic Avenger, which was rated 18, which can't have suitable for children. Yet it was a craze.
The whole Toxic craze was part of a movie sub-genre popular back in the 80's called Body Melt, which was basically about what it says. Notable melters included Street Trash, Nuke 'Em High, the Incredible Melting Man, the Blob re-make, the Toxic Avenger and the flick that gave us the name, Body Melt.
Being a fan of old horror I managed to plug a gap the other night and caught the Toxic Avenger for the first time. Most definately not for kids the Avenger himself was indeed the same as the plastic toy character I used to get in stock now and then, the Toxic Crusader. I was amazed.
The film company, those masters of schlock, Troma, must have made a kids' version of the film and cut a deal to licence the figures! Messy!
Did you have any Toxic Crusaders toys? Any pictures of them?
THE SPINDRIFT AT NIGHT
Hi,
Started reading the Land of the Giants TV tie in novels. In the first one, Spindrift is prepped for launch at night. Decided to see if I could recreate that. This is what I managed.
Take care,
Kevin D
UK
Friday, 30 March 2018
GOOD THINGS ON LEWIS'S WORKBENCH
Works in progress from reader and master modeller Lewis in Australia.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS IN THE MORNING?
Its that eggy time of year where hope springs eternal and yeastery eastery bunny folk dip their bread into the bright yolk of better times ahead.
So how do you like your breakfast eggs readers?
Poached? Boiled? Fried? Scrambled? Tex-Mex? Devilled? Benedict? Florentine?
Have you any interesting egg cups and saucers? Maybe even Gerry Anderson ones?
What's it going to be at your house this Easter?
So how do you like your breakfast eggs readers?
Poached? Boiled? Fried? Scrambled? Tex-Mex? Devilled? Benedict? Florentine?
Have you any interesting egg cups and saucers? Maybe even Gerry Anderson ones?
What's it going to be at your house this Easter?
Eggs is Eggs: P.G. Tips Collectables on Good Friday
Hello Woodsy
Amongst other things I found this set of egg cups from 1973. You would be of an age that remembers the chimp TV commercials with these characters.
Regards,
Terranova47
NYC
USA
Thursday, 29 March 2018
THE PENN PLAX LEM
Always on the look out for new LEMS here's one from the archives of the blog along with a new sighting.
Its the Penn Plax Sealab Explorer from 1971 seen in red and white below.
Yes, the Sealab Explorer is an underwater LEM! Penn Plax were and are the kings of plastic fish tank ornamentation.
Here's another more recent sighting of a red and metallic green one on the Minipetsupplies site.
The Penn Plax LEM reminds me a lot of my Tri-ang SpaceX LEM toy.
Here's a picture of one courtesy of Bill B.
Has anyone got the Penn Plax LEM for some more close-up photo's?
ON-BOARD TOY CAR CAMERA JAPANESE STYLE
Check out this link of a track racing Mini-4WD with an on-board camera sent in by Ranalcus!
LORD VADER'S TERRAIN TIGER
One of my favourite craft from the Star Wars universe is the sleek winged shuttle of Lord Vader. There's just something about [Mary] its gull skeleton looks that appeals to me especially in its stationary mode with the wings up.
pic: wookiepedia
The main body also recalls the snake head-like shape of the SpaceX T-5 Tractor aka Golden Astronaut Terrain Tiger albeit more streamlined.
Is anyone graphically savvy enough to merge the two to create the Lord Vader Tractor with gull wings?
Your efforts would be welcomed and posted here!
NASA'S LUNAR ORBITER ANIMATION
There's lots of our fave Space vehicles in this NASA clip from 1966 on You Tube.
An animated Lunar Orbiter, real Lifting Bodies and the launch of Saturn V!
14 minutes of space-race action!
Wednesday, 28 March 2018
The Poppies Are In The Field
Having been a fully paid-up hippy in the Seventies - I would have argued with you all day and all night who was the best rock vocalist in the world - I never really embraced Punk and New Wave in the proper fashion.
However I was musically broad-minded and realised that the times they were a changin. Besides, I loved guitar-based music and listened to rock albums 24/7.
It wasn't long before I was being lent LP's of this trendy new genre and coming across the likes of Teardrop Explodes at the close of the Seventies.
I mention Teardrop as I'm at this very minute listening to their album Kilimanjaro as we speak courtesy of You Tube.
I remember so many of the tunes and riffs as clearly as if I was in a field of poppies. It is an exceptionally beat-full collection and worthy of much toe-tapping even now. Back then it was typical of the modern young sound at parties to which nest-topped kids gyrated and pogoed as the canons of Led Zepp and Sabbath gave way to harpy teenage guitars without solos.
The stand-out track of Kilimanjaro for me was and is The Poppies are In The Fields. With its catchy chorus line proclaimed by deep-voiced Julian Cope, its twanging rickenbackers and driving poppy riff its an indie classic - or is it New Wave? Dunno.
As an avid collector of things I definitely collected songs in my head, those which formed the soundtrack to my youth. The Teardrop Explodes' album Kilimanjaro is there alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd and Judie Tzuke as the heliopause of the Seventies whirled in my memory like a teardrop of patchouli oil exploding in a tub of hair gel.
Did you listen to rock and punk/ new wave/ indie at the same time readers?
IS IT EASTER YET MUM?
Easter is fast approaching and like a lot of folk I shall be having a fortnight off. I can't chuffin wait!
These days time off is exciting for me simply because I won't be at work. That's enough in itself.
But what about when I was a kid?
I've been trying to think back as to what I thought about Easter back in the Sixties. I imagine I was even more excited at the prospect of two weeks off school. I'm pretty sure I would have been ecstatic!
So what was the build-up to Easter like back then? Being from a RC family Lent was celebrated but I can hardly recall anything about it now.
I know Good Friday involved something fishy.
I also think I remember that TV went into a bit of a holiday mode over the four main Easter days showing lots of family films and old series like Flash Gordon. Does that ring a bell?
I know Good Friday involved something fishy.
I also think I remember that TV went into a bit of a holiday mode over the four main Easter days showing lots of family films and old series like Flash Gordon. Does that ring a bell?
I do remember Easter Monday and I'm pleased to say it involved some toys. Easter toys! But more on that nearer the day.
What was your Lent/ pre-Easter like readers. Was it important to you and did you get any early presents?
WHAT IS THE JETGARRY?
I saw this toy vehicle on Yahoo Japan.
It looks like a transporter straight out of Thunderbirds!
Anyone know anything about the Jetgarry?
Tuesday, 27 March 2018
THE TRUMPTON RIOTS
Tony K has reminded me of those cheeky Liverpudlian Trumpton fans, Half Man Half Biscuit.
Here's their post-punk take on civil unrest Gordon Murray-style in Trumpton Riots from 1986 - courtesy of You Tube!
Anyone got the EP?
For more Half Man Half Biscuit's Eighties irreverence and obvious passion for Gordon Murray's genius here's their X-rated version of Time Flies By When I'm the Driver of a Train.
https://youtu.be/bpx7uM-5Y3Q
Codeg Camberwick Green Village Set
Here's something lovely for a window box.
I saw this on an old auction listing and saved the snap.
Its the Codeg Camberwick Green Village Set.
There's a beautiful little Bakery, Fish Shop, Post Office, Bank, 8 Village People, Lamp Post, Bench and Tree.
I assume they're all plastic. Maybe they could be used for a train layout too?
What do you think?
TIME FLIES BY WHEN I'M THE DRIVER OF A TRAIN
There seem to be very few Chigley toys and bits of merchandise.
It seems to be the least successful of the three shows.
To redress the balance on MC here's the iconic train song punctuated with that wonderful cotton wool steam!
Did you like Chigley?
TRUMPTON TALKING FIRE ENGINE
Flexing the plasticene a little further here's another bit of Trumpton merchandise [Trumptonalia!] and just the way I like my toys, large chunks of plastic.
Its the Trumpton Talking Fire Brigade by Bradgate [of Little Big Man fame I think].
There's a short clip on YT as well were you can hear the button-activated talking, the classic roll-call of the firemen. Its on one of those iconic watery-sounding mini-records buried somewhere deep in its workings driven by a think rubber band,
Have you got one?
A T O M I C R O C K E T S: T O P S I T E
This is an amazing site I've seen before but just in case you haven't check out Atomic Rockets chapter on Ground Cars and Flitters. Its amazing!
Each chapter on different space vehicles is like seminar in design and mechanics. Really great stuff!
Monday, 26 March 2018
TONY K'S MARX TWISTABLE CAMBERWICK GREEN FIGURES
Hiya Woodsy
Great to see Gordon Murray's wonderful work get a mention on the blog!
So many of us have lasting memories of his productions.
Please find attached pics of a complete set of 1967 Marx Twistable Camberwick Green figures.
Originally they would've been sold individually, in clear plastic bags stapled with header cards.
The figures turn up on eBay, but are difficult to find in good condition.
Apart from the occasional broken wire, they're often missing accessories,
such as chimney brush, fishing rod, etc.
It's taken a couple of years of upgrading to piece together this particular set.
Rivals, Cowen de Groot also produced their own versions of these characters,
as well a six figure boxed set called 'Camberwick Green Village Folk'.
All the best
Tony K :)
Andy B's Camberwick Green Origin Idea
Hi Woodsy,
Following your post about Camberwick Green etc. I do wonder if they were inspired by S.G. Hulme Beaman's Toytown, (Larry the Lamb etc.) which was on the radio from the 1920s, and was later a TV series.
I enclose a picture from an old Toytown book. Hulme Beaman wrote and illustrated the original stories.
All the best,
Andy B.
Kev's Doctor Mopp's Toy Car from Camberwick Green
Hi,
Just saw the post on Camberwick Green toy vehicles. I've got the toy vintage car that they used as Doctor Mopp's car. It is the one I had as a child that has somehow survived.
Here it is in the background with my Windy Miller scratchbuild.
Kevin
Camberwick Green Tipper Truck
I loved Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley when I was knee high.
Gordon Murray's fabulous puppet trilogy.
Gordon Murray's fabulous puppet trilogy.
Trouble is I can't remember which is which. Its a bit like Sago, Tapioca and Semolina for me!
As a reminder here's the iconic clown turning end credits of Camberwick Green on You Tube:
I don't think I had any toys. Maybe a Windy Miller soap.
Being a huge fan of plastic TV vehicles as well I was thrilled to see this superb Camberwick Green Farmer bell Tipper truck on Ebay. It was made by Marx. I saved the photos for my archive.
I'm pretty sure I never had a toy like this although I did have a truck full of plastoc milk bottles, which I've yet to visualise properly.
This Marx truck looks great though.
Did you have any toys or merchandising from Camberwick Green, Trumpton or Chigley?
Did you like the shows?
I wonder if Gerry Anderson ever met Gordon Murray?
I wonder if Gerry Anderson ever met Gordon Murray?
MOVIE DINOSAURS AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH
Seeing Andy's Victorian dinosaur reminded me of this cool sail-back monster in the old 50's movie Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
I've read that the actual lizard was a rhinocerus iguana as seen below. It had its sail glued on, poor sod.
There are other dinosaurs in the film, notably this red beast at the film's volcanic finale. I remember it making a startling trumpet like sound. How did they do that? A tuba?
The beast itself was actually a Tegu lizard like this but painted red.
Ultimately the red beast perishes under the lava of the Atlantean eruption at the film's close [I do hope the lizard didn't actually perish].
IMdB informs us that the lava in this scene was most likely oatmeal.
It suggests that it was used in the Time Machine's movie eruption as well.
I've no idea how they turned oatmeal into lava other than perhaps colouring it red. Do you?
For more information about the cinematography and matte effects in both Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Time Machine then check out the amazingly comprehensive Matte Shot blog. Just click on the films' names above.
Which movie dinosaurs do you like?