Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Truncheon Meat

After a nice meat pasty for lunch, we visited Ripon Police Museum today, where Junior got a metal Special Police pin badge. It took me right back to when I loved buying badges wherever I was taken by my Parents and older Sisters as a kid. Tin Sheriff's stars were a real favourite, to go with cap-firing colt 45's.

Junior wanted a plastic truncheon too. Had it been 1971 it wouldn't have been an issue. I would have wanted one too and got one to pound my older Brothers with. Alas Time moves on and truncheons and little Junior sisters don't mix! A recipe for disaster.

Like all good museums you could get toy versions of everything and besides the badge and truncheon there were plastic helmets and working handcuffs.

I adored stuff like this as a kid, especially plastic swords and armour. Seeing them in Museum shops still gives me a huge thrill.

Did you have a plastic truncheon or tin badge or handcuffs readers?

Matchbox Graffic Traffic Introduction

Woodsy recently mentioned that he and his grandson have been touching up some old, scrap die-casts. Using felt-tip pens and stickers they have been having fun bringing new life to old and tired toys.

This reminded me of a range of models that Matchbox had produced back in the early 1990s, called Graffic Traffic. Matchbox basically offered children the chance to do what Woodsy and his grandson are doing, but using brand new models.

Graffic Traffic sets included one or more models, painted plain white, along with three waterproof marker pens, and a sheet of self-adhesive stickers. The first sets appeared in 1991, the range being expanded over the next few years. On the back of the card or box were the instructions, in several languages:

Wipe car with a clean cloth before decorating

Design and paint your own crazy car

Then stick on the decals you choose to complete your car

I thought this series would make an interesting short article. Then I discovered just how extensive the range was. It included vehicles from the basic 1-75 line, the larger Superkings, Convoy series heavy trucks, Sky-Busters aircraft, and even buildings. Change of plan - several articles would be needed to cover Graffic Traffic in any detail.

Apart from the basic Graffic Traffic sets (known as Graffix in Germany), there were also a number of other sets along the same lines. Graffic City (with buildings), Monster Trucks, Magic Graffic (colour changing models), Graffic Traffic Neon, Super Graffic Traffic Metal Flake (with glitter), and chrome finished Hot Metals.

Here is the 1992 Matchbox Pocket Catalogue, which devotes two pages to the new range.

Matchbox_1992.pdf (mdiecast.com)

I do not recall ever seeing any of these models in the shops, although I began collecting die-casts in the mid-1990s. In fact, I do not think I have even seen any at model fairs. I will certainly be looking out for them from now on.

Paul Adams NZ

Photographs from Worthpoint.

1978 Atlantic Toys Robot

Blog friend Electricwave has sent in this snap of his Atlantic robot found when his Mum moved house in 1978.

Have you any Atlantic toys readers?

MARK BERGIN TOYS

Years ago I came across Mark Bergin's amazing toy site and blogged it at the time. Things have moved on and he's now on Pinterest.

If you like tin then prepare to go to heaven!

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/markbergintoysmbtoys/_created/

Monday, 30 May 2022

TOADSPORTER!

But where are they off to?

Jointly Joyfully: BATTLE FALCON SPACE PHOENIX COSMOS CONDOR

This jointly joyful set from Taiwan seems to emulate Multimac to my eyes. What do you think?

Sunday, 29 May 2022

VERY ANDERSON!

I've realised that an acquaintance I've been aware of for ages looked familiar and this week I worked out for the first time why.

This person looks exactly like Captain Scarlet!

There's the big head, the small mouth, the five-O-clock shadow, the wooden expressionless face and the wobbly movements!

It's him!

Do you now anyone that looks like a Gerry Anderson puppet?

THE LAST VINTAGE VAULT TONIGHT

Finally, tonight in the UK at 9pm, the Horror Channel will show Fred F. Sears' saucer-invading caper Earth Vs The Flying Saucers.

Its followed by the subterranean monster thriller The Mole People!

Will you be watching?

I had the Mole People film story comic as a kid and adored it, along with The Horror of Party Beach! Those were the days! Did you have these?

OPTIMUS KEN

 He's ready for fashion!


Pic supplied by MJ, Southcoast Base.

The Guardian Beauty

Gracing eBay, this armoured fembot caught my eye, the Guardian Beauty. 

Made in China, it appears to have been a heady cocktail of a large plastic Robot and Barbie. 

A RoboBarbie no less! What do you think?

Saturday, 28 May 2022

Coming Clean

The Hot Wheels collection inches closer to closure this week with the arrival of two more choice pieces - The Revvers 'Haulin Horses' and the Redline 'Mantis'
The Revver was in quite good order, with only the rubber elements on the wheels needing attention, as like most models, the rubber has perished over time. Luckily a small O ring fitted nicely on the motor wheel and two each on the back wheels, bringing Haulin Horse nicely up to scratch.
The Mantis is still in need of work, but is looking considerably better than when it arrived in a coat of red enamel.
Some patient work with T-Cut scratch remover took off the top coat, leaving the spectraflame aqua paint still looking quite nice for its age.
A bit of oxidisation and some scuffs, but good enough to not warrant a full respray.

 

THE BLACK WAMPA

I'd never heard of a black Wampa toy figure until I read this old article this year.

I've owned a few normal Palitoy Wampas and sold them on my old toy stall but I've never seen this Mexican Lily Ledy variant.

Having read the disjointed article I'm still not sure if its real or not!

Is it news to you readers?

https://thevintagetoyadvertiser.org/category/black-wampa/

THE PROPER MOON BUS: NASA'S FLXBLE STARLINER

This is brilliant! What a coach!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pMAgz1fj74

Have any of you travelled on a NASA coach readers?

RAY LIOTTA RIP

I was saddened to learn of  Ray Liotta's death at the age of 67. Far too young these days.

For me Ray will forever be Henry Hill, the young mobster in the Scorsese scorcher Goodfellas made in 1990. Ray's portrayal of a young Italian-American mafioso in the Fifties was and is simply electric and his amazing acting holds together the sweeping saga of De Niro, Pesci and Bracco as Henry Hill weaves his way through the storyline.

Easily the best Mafia movie since the Godfather and that's largely down to Ray Liotta's fabulous talent.

Sleep well Ray.

RIP.

THE BIULDERS ARE COMING!

Its the start of the half term Jubilee week's holiday here in the UK and the sun is shining. The blue skies of early summer are overhead and long hazy days are in the air. Fabulous car boot weather for rummaging for Hot Wheels and Action Man.

No car boots for us today. We're looking at sofas [do you say sofa, settee or couch?] and having a late breakfast somewhere. Then back to Moonbase to continue boxing up our entire existence in lieu of builders descending in early June.

Not much time for collecting toys at the moment although I'm looking forward to re-stocking my two toy cabinets again in July with my collection that's currently boxed up and sad.

Have you had builders in the home? How did it go?

Tarheel SST Concorde

Arto spotted this cool SST toy.

Appearing only once before on MC it's a fine airliner and by Tarheel too!

There is another plane with a similar kind of name on our Tarheel checklist


Have you anything like this?

Friday, 27 May 2022

ITS BUGGIN' ME: THE RENWAL INSECT SCIENCE KIT

thought this interesting set in this post deserved a closer look.


The kit was made at a time when the educational value of plastic modelling was being heavily promoted by model companies. Doubtless in an effort to convince parents that modelling was not a waste of time and pocket money.

Renwal was a US company, based in Mineola, New York. This set contained six plastic model insects, mounted on a display stand that stood an impressive 16 inches high. There was a large cut-away model of a Field Cricket, showing the internal organs of the creature, and smaller models of the Blue Bottle Fly, Malaria Mosquito, Red Admiral Butterfly, Giant Water Bug, and Polistes Wasp.

 The set came with an illustrated Handbook on insects. The set was Created in Consultation with, John C. Pallister, Entomologist, Dept. of Insects and Spiders, The American Museum of Natural History, New York City. The kit was moulded in several colours, including brown, turquoise, and clear plastic for the insect wings. Kit number 801:298; the suffix means it had a US retail price of $2.98. Scalemates give the release date as 1960.

Other firms have also done insect kits. Due to the small size of insects, most of these have been several times life size. Given the rarity of these kits, and the lack of re-issues, I would assume they were not big sellers.

Here is a detailed look at an assembled set, and its box. From a site called Time Passages Nostalgia.


An entry on Old Model Kits.


The entry on this kit from the Scalemates site.


From Sturgis Antiques and Collectables, a look at the kit parts in their box.


From Max at maxsmodels, a history of the Renwal company.


Two photos, both from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Thursday, 26 May 2022

STRUCK BY JOHNNY LIGHTNING

I really am.

I never had any as a kid and only really discovered how cool they are this month!

Like classic Hot Wheels redlines, the greatest Johnnies from Topper are from the late Sixties/ early Seventies and perhaps THE greatest Lightning design is the Stiletto.

What do you think?


I am sorely tempted to start collecting Johnny Lightnings but heavy weather is brewing in my piggy bank. 

Have you got any?

WERE YOU EVER A CLERK?

Have you ever been a clerk in an office?

You know, like Bob Cratchit.

I have.

It was 1978. I wuz 17. I'd just dropped out of college and I got a job with General Accident as a clerk in the claims department. I had hair down to my elbows and was fundamentally opposed to work but I needed the money for a Kawasaki 250 in order to impress a girl. The things we do for love!

I had one cheap suit, which I wore to death. I think my shoes were blue or maybe even desert boots. I had the book Lord of the Rings hidden in my desk's top drawer and read it in there whenever I could pretending to fill in the claims ledger. They called me Inri because of my long black hair and beard. On Saturdays I could wear what I wanted because it was overtime and the public counter was shut. Out came the denim flairs and cheescloth shirts and lashings of patchouli oil. I think there were beads too. Lots of beads.

I stayed for two years. I think I was paid £70 a week. I bought the Kawasaki, was promptly knocked off it, broke my ankle, bought an amplifier, formed a rock band, did some gigs, gave up being a clerk, split and became a bird reserve warden!

I wasn't much of a clerk!

Were you?

SCOOBY AND THE PUSSYCATS

Someone recently mentioned that Scooby Doo made a guest appearance in an episode of Josie and the Pussycats! Is this a fact known to you readers?

EXCLUSIVE AND ABANDONED CARS

 Check out these crazy prestigious motors just left to rot! 

Which one would you want readers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY9Ls5xH3ts

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Water Bike


The Yellow Flag is out again in the garden pond. Junior's red motorbike sets it off really well I think. What's blooming at yours?

MONKEE BUSINESS

 Revisiting my Corgi Monkeemobile this morning prompted me to dig out my unmade MPC kit version.

Car customizer, Dean Jeffries is credited to converting a Pontiac GTO for the prefab four. 

Opening up the box, I'm  thinking this could well be my next kit project.

The kit  is 1:25 scale (the same early Airfix model and the Imai 'Mooneyes'is labelled as 1:24) is moulded in cream plastic, with chromed parts, rather than the red plastic that came with earlier kits . Mine also came with a 2013 Round 2 Models kit range leaflet.





Once I've built the kit I'll do a better researched article on it, but for now, here's a few box variations on the Monkeemobile theme, including a 'Mooneyes' Imai and a Fonnzie from 'Happy Days' version. 

A snippet from TV Tornado:



TIMESLIP MEMORIES

 Here's my far more detailed look at the TV series, Timeslip which I posted here a few months ago. 

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2022/01/timeslip-memories.html?m=0

MONKEEMOBILE REVISITED

 Back in 2019 I did an in depth post on the Corgi Monkeemobile and other related Monkeemobile ephemera . Here's a reminder. 

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2019/04/monkeemobile-mania.html?m=1






The MPC model kit. I have this kit, still unmade in the box which I hope to put together in the not too distant future. 






TIMESLIP

Hi

Some time ago the old TV series Timeslip came up. Well, I have just found that You Tube seems to have all the episodes, if you would like to have a look. I am currently re-watching the whole series.

Timeslip was a British science fiction series about time travel, made by ATV, and broadcast between September 1970 and March 1971. There was just one season, of 26 episodes. It was split in to four different stories.

The central characters are a boy and girl, Simon and Liz, who discover a Time Barrier that allows them to travel in to the past, and later in to different possible futures. I remember seeing it in the early 1970s, and again at a later date. It has been released on VHS and DVD.

This is the Wikipedia entry for the series.

Timeslip - Wikipedia

The second episode, on You Tube, to get you started.

Timeslip Season 1 Episode 2 S1E2 The Wrong End of Time - Pt 2 - YouTube

Hope you enjoy it. 

Is Timeslip something you watched as a kid?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Woodsy says: Check out more on Timeslip on MC from Scoop. Click the Timeslip label.

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

AGAINST THE GRAIN


Check out this wooden SR71 Blackbird. It would look great on your desk whilst you write your memoirs!

Like it?

Monday, 23 May 2022

A CLUTTERED MIND

The de-cluttering goes on at Moonbase as we prepare for builders to arrive in June to deal with our subsidence cracks.

Everything is getting boxed away and what can be taken into the attic is being taken up. The attic is the only room that's not being plastered and painted.

All my vintage toys and scratch models that were around have been packed away, apart from a few Hot Wheels kindly donated by Wotan that I still want to restore when we have a half-term break with Moonbase Junior.

Lots of unwanted furniture and toys that Junior has outgrown have been flogged on FB; a globe, a wooden garage, a magic set, a desk, a bookcase, some old board games and so on.

Overall though I find de-cluttering a hard process and cannot part with any of my really vintage possessions.

We do have too much furniture though. Three large obsolete pieces have been put out onto the roadside for collection by the Council. Its £30 for a maximum of three large things to be carted away in a big wagon.  We've spent the last two hours taking apart and carrying out a double bed, a double mattress and a sofa.

The whole lot is piled up near the road for the truck in the morning. It all had to be covered in a huge plastic sheet and taped down as the Council staff will not take anything away that's got wet and overly heavy as a result.

When the Missus and I were a young couple setting up our first flat in 1981 on the Continent we used to check through the unwanted furniture that was handily piled up outside people's homes in the summer before being hauled away. 

Our greatest finds were a tinplate remote controlled James Bond Aston Martin DB5 from Japan - see below - and a Police Patrol Car also from Japan. Just thrown out on the street!

Have you ever left any large unwanted items for the Council to collect? Have you ever found anything interesting on the street or in a skip?

MICE 'N EASY: RAY'S TOY MOUSE

I just adore the box art on this Ray's Mouse toy. 

Like a fine Christmas card from the Sixties it's got everything I like. Cute cartoony graphics and simple text.

Ray's is a new toy form on me. You?


Ray even stamped the key with his name!

Sunday, 22 May 2022

BLAKES 7 RECREATION

Here are some pictures from something I did last year with the Hyde Fundraisers. 

A photoshoot at a chemical plant in the North West that was a dead ringer for the sort of location used in many Blake's 7 episodes. 

 I didn't make the trooper uniforms, but I made one of the helmets, both guns and Orac.

Seek Locate Destroy,
Kevin