MATCHBOX TRACY ISLAND PHOTOS

 A few old photos of the Matchbox Thunderbird vehicles on Tracy Island.

The Las Vegas Dice Clock

Hi Woodsy

I just saw your post about the gondola music box. I do not recall my family having anything along these lines when I was little, but here is another souvenir item from a bit later.

My late Mother found a Las Vegas dice clock, similar to this example from Pinterest, at a flea market/car boot sale here in Auckland, back in the 1990s. The body was heavy orange plastic, which curved back to provide a stand.

The movement was a simple battery-powered type. The really great thing about it was that the numbers were all dice, glued to the clock face.

I do not recall ours having the radiating lines from the centre, but I can not find it to take a photo, hence this shot from the inter-net. Type in Las Vegas Dice Clock, and a huge number of different designs appear, in various colours.

Ours did need to have its movement replaced after a few years. But I just loved it - my favourite clock ever. Just so much fun, even if they were probably produced by the million for the Las Vegas souvenir market.

Anyone else got something like this?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

TIMBER!

Moonbase personnel and Junior had an exciting morning yesterday watching tree surgeons fell our three fifty foot poplars. They had to come down as Moonbase has subsided a little where they've drank the soil dry.

Junior had his Golden Nuggets stationed at a special table so he could watch the tree surgeon climb the trees and start chainsawing. He was in awe and thought the tree guy was spiderman!

Seeing the excitement on Junior's face got me thinking about Action Man for some reason. Had there ever been an Action Man tree surgeon set? I don't recall one. I do remember creating my own around 1986 for my toddler daughter to play with using some action dolls and belts. Barbie was a natural at climbing the settee. Ken just stared!

Looking through the interweb I found one action doll lumberjack. Big Josh from the Big Jim line. For some reason he's just dressed in flimsy denim summer wear. I think he's camping rather than lumberjacking as he's only got a hand-axe. You can see Josh top right in this Big Jim catalogue ad. Rugged seemed to be the look Mattel were going for with Big Jim and his pals.

Oddly enough, the plastic log Josh is splitting in half was one I found loose years ago at a German car boot sale. I think Big Jim was quite big there. Took me ages to ID the log, along with some other camping stuff I got.

Have you ever had any lumberjack or tree surgeon toys and games readers?

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SIXTEEN 12 RETRO EAGLE

Another set of previously published Sixteen 12 Eagle photos I took a while back, and this time it’s Sixteen 12’s fifth 12” Eagle release which appeared in May, 2019.

The Retro Eagle Transporter is a celebratory tribute to the fondly remembered green and chrome Dinky Eagle Transporter which appeared during the mid-seventies. 

Of course it'll never stop people asking why Dinky chose green, in the same way it'll never stop people coming up with anecdotal theories as to why! 

It even has a display plinth and acetate cover similar to the original Dinky. Obviously, it’s just a regular 16/12 White Eagle painted in the familiar Dinky colours of metallic green and gloss red, with some lovely chrome engine bells. 

The fact that unlike the original Dinky Eagle, the pod doors don’t fold open is mildly disappointing, but I’ll get over that! 

Although, I for one thought it looked great, and a nice, if offbeat addition to the set, it has to be said a few collectors didn’t see the point. But, thankfully the majority liked it, and the limited run of just 500 sold out pretty quickly.

AQUACAR

 Some old photos of my Aqua car toy I took on Southport beach. Like Woodsy"s previous post on the Amphibious Car toy, a toy like this was painted red and appeared in Thunderbirds.

Here it is making a brief appearance in the episode, The Mighty Atom. 

JUST ONE GONDOLA

 

I'm pretty sure my parents had a gondola like this.

A wooden boat that doubled as a music box and a cigarette dispenser. 

It may have even been a souvenir from the Med.

Did your folks have fancy goods like this readers?

LITTLE AND LARGE COCKNEY CABS

Hello Woodsy

Further to the Hot Wheels: Little and Large post, Mattel issued little versions of early Hot Wheels cars some years ago.

Here is one of my original Cockney Cabs from the 70's with the small version. The Cockney Cabs II range is also pictured for scale.

Terranova47

USA

REMEMBER THE FLYING BATCAVE?

 A few photos I took way back in 2016 of the Eaglemoss Flying Batcave; part of the Batman Automobilia collection.

The Flying Batcave first appeared in Detective comics #186(August 1952), and made a second appearance in Detective Comics # 317 (July 1963) 

The cockpit is fitted with pilot seats which convert into 'Whirly Bats'. Behind those is the large 'Observascope', along with a giant magnifying glass.

The Flying Batcave is not unlike the TARDIS, in that inside is impossibly packed with an array of gadgetry to help the dynamic duo fight crime above Gotham City.

Housed inside the strange looking craft is a compartment filled with observation screens to monitor the Gotham streets, below.

There's even a garage with a mini version of the Batmobile; a trophy room; sleeping quarters, and a galley.

Incredibly, it's also fitted with a giant grab-claw and electromagnet, as well as a miniature submersible!

And just for good measure, there are illuminated bat signals either side of the hull, and it can create a cloud around itself to sneak up on the villains!

Holy Incredulous!

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2016/06/eaglemoss-flying-batcave.html

THE KANTO CHOO CHOO OVERLAND EXPRESS

This is the Choo-Choo Overland Express, #5322, Kanto Toys, Japan. One of the more common of the late-model tin locomotives to come out of Japan, often confused with another “Overland Express” by the same company, but so pretty!

Rob Craig
USA

SCREENGRAB!

 Its always nice to know when someone special has checked out the blog and likes my Space: 1999 Eagle photos.

EAGLEMOSS SIDE BOOSTER EAGLE

 As I previously covered the Sixteen 12 ‘New Adam, New Eve’ episode set, which features the additional side boosters, last Monday on the blog, I thought I ‘d review the new Eaglemoss Eagle with its own side boosters.

I’ve already reviewed the first of the Eaglemoss Eagles, and I had to say the quality control was lacking in certain areas. I did manage to get it replaced, but even the replacement has its issues!

Now, I had a dilemma: Do I take a punt on the second release?

Obviously, these models are more affordable alternatives to the Sixteen 12 versions, and as Eaglemoss is constantly having flash sales, finding it at less than half its usual price was certainly an incentive.

So, what’s the verdict on their side booster version?

Out of the box at first glance it looks fine. It’s still sports its overall light grey colour, as opposed to white. Close examination, and I mean close shows that the shoulder pods are ever so slightly out of alignment, but certainly not a deal breaker. The engine bells are dark gunmetal, and like the previous version, has no internal baffles.

There’s plenty of intricate detailing, and overall on its stand, it’s a pretty good display item.

Like the transport pod, the side boosters are fixed into position. They do look quite delicate, but fairly accurate to me, considering their small size.

Here are some comparison photos between the Sixteen 12 and the Eaglemoss.

Overall, I must admit I’m happier with this model. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t have anything like the quality control issues my original Eaglemoss Eagle Transporter had.

What I’m hoping for now is that Eaglemoss come up with a good flash sale deal on their third release, the Laboratory Eagle!