Sands of Time

  

 The great thing about summer is the chance to get out in the garden with a few toys and models. I took the opportunity last year to photograph the Dune Sand Scout with a Micronauts figure, as I didn't bother to collect any of the lacklustre LJN Dune figures. The vehicle is probably scaled for Major Matt Mason and is quite large, but lacks any realy action features apart from an opening canopy. A shame really, as a little more effort lavished on the toy would have made it a real cracker.

It does have the distinction of having actually appeared in the film, as Duke Leto flies over the spicefields, a distressed harvester (played by David Lynch himself) makes and SOS call and the smaller farming vehicles are recalled back into the main factory machine before the worm arrives. The Spice Scout and one of the smaller battery operated vehicles can be seen barrelling up the ramp to comparative safety.

Due to the mediocre reception of the film, the toys saw quite a limited shelf life and most ended up in the bargain bin, but they are quite unique designs and well worth a look.