Saturday, 31 August 2019
AU REVOIR TO SHORE LEAVE
Last day of my vacation, so it's goodbye to Summer Specials and lolly ices. Board the plane and back to base.
IN THE CHARNEL HOUSE OF SCIENCE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!
I'm more or less through digesting my holiday novel, Silence of the Lambs but next on the late summer pile is Chimera by Stephen Gallagher.
I watched this dark TV series back in the eighties and having enjoyed it then it was no big decision to grab this paperback from a Charity shop shelf in Wales on holiday.
Born of the eco-angst typical of the big-hair Chernobyl decade, which justifiably gave us the brilliant Edge of Darkness nuclear power TV drama with the late Bob Peck [the recent Chernobyl series is a modern example] , Chimera taps into that other bete noire of the green movement at the time, genetic engineering.
Remote labs, dodgy experiments, strong women, shady government units: Chimera had them all on TV and I'm hoping for the same growing sense of secret chaos from the novel, which I assume came first.
Have you seen or read Chimera?
What's on your summer piles?
Friday, 30 August 2019
A FEW MORE CUTAWAYS
Four more cutaways from TV 21 and Thunderbirds annuals. I posted these a while back, but as these original cutaways from the sixties are proving reasonably popular I thought I 'd give them an airing.
Just in case some of you are unaware The Junglecat is the name the vehicle was given in one of the early 1965 TV21 Stingray strips prior to its appearance on TV in the Thunderbirds episode, Pit of Peril, where it has its more familiar name of Sidewinder.
Just in case some of you are unaware The Junglecat is the name the vehicle was given in one of the early 1965 TV21 Stingray strips prior to its appearance on TV in the Thunderbirds episode, Pit of Peril, where it has its more familiar name of Sidewinder.
FIERCE TOYS: ZOOS, JUNGLES, PHANTOMS AND TARZAN:
I loved Jungle and zoo toy sets when I was a kid. Daktari die-cats and annuals and Woobinda annuals and carded plastic zoo animals were big with little Woodsy.
I always have a look now and then for these type of toys especially old Hong Kong blister cards. I just like to see them.
Here's a couple I've seen of late.
This set has the iconic yaying gorilla that I adored as a young Kong fan.
The only picture I've ever seen of the Tarzan carded set by Lone Star is on the cover of the excellent Plastic Warrior magazine from the UK as featured on their own webpage of back issues [ issue 118, 2007 ]
Having just read my own copy, its a crouching chimp that appeared in the set rather than a gorilla although its hard to see in the picture.
The warrior looks like the one in the Phantom set!
Were they for you?
I always have a look now and then for these type of toys especially old Hong Kong blister cards. I just like to see them.
Here's a couple I've seen of late.
This set has the iconic yaying gorilla that I adored as a young Kong fan.
These funny zoo animals have been seen on Moonbase before.
And check out this neat Jungle Adventure set in a box with those yaying Kongs. Not sure of the make.
An interesting set crossing over into super hero action figure territory is Larami's The Phantom Jungle Play Set, a set I've liked since first coming across it in one of my old toy reference books despite the jungle warrior being out of step with society now.
There can't be many Phantom figures.
This Argentinian Tarzan reminded me of the ridiculously rare Lone Star Tarzan set.
Also the Phantom figure above as its the same pose!
The only picture I've ever seen of the Tarzan carded set by Lone Star is on the cover of the excellent Plastic Warrior magazine from the UK as featured on their own webpage of back issues [ issue 118, 2007 ]
Having just read my own copy, its a crouching chimp that appeared in the set rather than a gorilla although its hard to see in the picture.
The warrior looks like the one in the Phantom set!
Its so rare it even generated a googlewack - just one single result on Google! See below [just seen that I even got the mag's name wrong! Doh!].
Anyone got one of these sets or anything similar?
If you click on the link for Stad's Stuff Plastic Warrior magazine talk about this rare set in more detail including the crouching chimp figure.
A FEW MORE TV21 SUMMER EXTRAS
Of the remaining TV21 Summer extras I haven't mentioned this is a favourite. The 1967 Thunderbirds spring extra which heavily featured the movie. Thunderbirds are Go.
This featured a photo countdown of the Zero X take off, and a cutaway of the Zero X. This cutaway went on the feature in the Project SWORD annual in colour, so I did do an amalgam of the two pages together a long while back for a blog post.
The cover of the previous year's TV21 Thunderbirds Special.
There was also a Lady Penelope Summer Special too.
A bonus, and not TV21 related was the much sought after Lion comic Summer Spectacular Epic which was full of 1966 film features including James Bond and Thunderbirds are Go.
Also worth mentioning is the TV21 card cover magazine of the film, Thunderbirds are Go.
The cover of the previous year's TV21 Thunderbirds Special.
There was also a Lady Penelope Summer Special too.
A bonus, and not TV21 related was the much sought after Lion comic Summer Spectacular Epic which was full of 1966 film features including James Bond and Thunderbirds are Go.
Also worth mentioning is the TV21 card cover magazine of the film, Thunderbirds are Go.
Thursday, 29 August 2019
TUFF TRAY PLAY
Currently childminding so I thought I'd share my grandson Moonbase Junior's new farmyard.
Its in a large plastic tray called a tuff tray. You can put anything in it for childrens' play: sand, oats, pasta, water, plastic figures, grass. Its all contained rather neatly.
For added convenience, placing it on a low table creates the perfect height for toddlers.
I never had a wet tray like this. I did everything on the carpet!
Did you? What do you think of the tuff tray?
THUNDERBIRDS ANNUAL CUTAWAYS
While I'm in the mood for cutaways, here's a few more I posted a long while back on the blog, this time from the 1966 Thunderbird Annual, showing the Thunderbird craft.
STAND BY FOR STINGRAY CUTAWAYS
As I'm still holidaying by the seaside, I'm always nostalgically reminded of Stingray (the G.A. TV series, not the fish), so as I still lament the passing of TV21 Summer Specials, here's a couple of Stingray related cutaways from the actual TV Century 21 magazine and the annuals from the time.
One of my favourite cutaways from the 1965 TV Century 21 annual, which was first seen in TV Century 21 issue 4, albeit in black and white.
Titan's Terror Fish made a black and white appearance in issue 41, but was repeated in colour in the 1966 Stingray Annual.
Just for good measure, here's the Fireball XL5 cutaway that featured in the 1966 TV Century 21 Annual.
Just for good measure, here's the Fireball XL5 cutaway that featured in the 1966 TV Century 21 Annual.
THE SILENCE OF THE TIE-INS
I love to buy cheap second-hand thriller and horror paperbacks. I used to buy loads of general movie and TV tie-ins for my vintage toy and memorabilia business in the 90's and noughties.
Like many other TV and movie tie-ins I've read myself I'm really enjoying reading Silence of the Lambs at the mo.
Besides the story itself, much of the fun for me comes in spotting differences in what is written and what I recall from a film. I particularly like new elements.
To be fair there isn't a lot of contrast between the book and the film of the Lambs. Hannibal Lector is as equally captivating in both and Dr. Chilton is just as obnoxious. I'm not done though yet, a third still to go. I'll just get some chianti and some fava beans!
Have you read the Silence of the Lambs or any other movie tie-in novel?
Like many other TV and movie tie-ins I've read myself I'm really enjoying reading Silence of the Lambs at the mo.
Besides the story itself, much of the fun for me comes in spotting differences in what is written and what I recall from a film. I particularly like new elements.
To be fair there isn't a lot of contrast between the book and the film of the Lambs. Hannibal Lector is as equally captivating in both and Dr. Chilton is just as obnoxious. I'm not done though yet, a third still to go. I'll just get some chianti and some fava beans!
Have you read the Silence of the Lambs or any other movie tie-in novel?
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
C H E R N O B Y L TV
Just finished watching the TV series Chernobyl on Now TV.
I must say it was grim but utterly compelling viewing.
Have you seen this shocking nuclear drama?
I must say it was grim but utterly compelling viewing.
Have you seen this shocking nuclear drama?
MYSTERY SPACE LOT BOX
Just oggling over old Tri-ang SpaceX lots online.
Here's an old bundle from way back on Worthpoint.
What's the box at the back?
Is that LP?
ZOOM:THE OUTER SPACE LOLLY
As reader Andy B mentioned Lyons Maid ZOOM I thought a reminder of what you could have sent away for if you collected just two ZOOM wrappers and a whopping 4/6 d (just over twenty two pence). These Kitmaster kits go for a small fortune thesedays.
There was also cards to collect as well, happy days.
As I mentioned in my previous post, Lyons Maid, SEAJET offered an Airfix Stingray kit mailaway. I remember getting that and putting it together, a great looking kit, but again nowadays another costly collectable.
SHIELA STEAFEL R.I.P.
Sad to read that South African born British Actress, Sheila Steafel has died. Although she will be well remembered by cult TV fans for her role in the children's TV series, The Ghosts of Motley Hall, classic British sci-fi film fans will know her for a brief appearance as a newspaper reporter in the Hammer film, Quatermass and The Pit, and as the young woman in the AARU film, Daleks Invasion Earth: 2150AD.
Our sincere condolences to her friends and family.
Sheila in Quatermass and The Pit, and below, Sheila with Eileen Way in Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD.
Our sincere condolences to her friends and family.
Tuesday, 27 August 2019
TV Century 21 Summer Specials: Dateline 1965
TV Century 21 Summer Extras from 1965. I believe the Stingray Special was first, followed by two other TV Century 21 specials.
The Stingray Special dealing exclusively with the supersub.
The first 1965 TV century 21 Extra.
The TV Century 21 International Extra, not to be confused with the Stingray Special.
SEAJET MEMORIES
Currently holidaying in the sun, and thinking I could really do with a Seajet. Wish they still produced them then I could save the wrappers and send away for an Airfix Stingray.
HOPPED A CLANGER
Hi,
With regard to asking if anyone has any Space Birds, does this count?
Cluck, cluck,
Kevin D