Wednesday, 31 May 2023

NETWORK DVD SHUT DOWN?

 I'm very sorry to read that the UK company, Network On Air AKA Network Distributing AKA Network DVD has apparently gone into liquidation.

 Very bad news for cult and classic TV fans like me. A vast majority of my DVD and Blu-Ray collection are from Network. In fact I'd only this month ordered a new ITC Baron film collection.

The people behind the company were top notch and worked hard to keep all those vintage films and television series alive. 

I hope something can be worked out for possibly saving the company.



Drac needs a Caption!

 Can't think of what to say. You?

A HUM DINGER! THE ROCKET SHIP WHIRLER

I thought this was interesting on auction, a vintage whirler.


Measuring 4.5" x 3.25" it says on the card that it should be whirled around the head to make it hum.

Ever seen anything like it readers?

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Speedy Ever Blasts Off!

Captain Speedy Ever and his Space Glider leaving Earth for Andromeda.

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Behind the Scenes: 6 year old Speedy Ever, aka Moonbase Junior, made the model, set and did the editing and filming all by himself. He hopes you like it! 



It's Robot Spring Break !



One potato, two potato ......

DIG FOR VICTORY!


I'm always on the lookout for replacement Action Man equipment!

Made in Hong Kong for Hallmark of Kansas City, here's a bag of nifty plastic party picks that would sit well in Palitoy's Fighting Man's footlocker! A spade with a bayonet!

Can you think of any 'replacements' like this?

Monday, 29 May 2023

GABRIEL TOOT YOUR HORN!


Here’s few photos of a model I made based on Gabriel, the 1917 Ford Model T, the vintage mode of transport used by Father Stanley Unwin in the seldom seen Gerry & Sylvia Anderson series, The Secret Service.

I used a1:32 scale Airfix 1912 Ford Model T which I altered to make it a little more like what was seen in the series.

I originally made it for some photos I planned to take for the Fanderson Secret Service annual, but ultimately other projects got in the way and I missed the deadline.

While I’m fond of The Secret Service, I can’t say it’s in my top five Anderson series. I’m not keen on the hybrid formula, the mix of puppets and live actors ruins my suspension of disbelief, and while the models and special effects are top notch, I don’t find it particularly exciting.


Having a Ford Model T as the ‘star’ vehicle doesn’t really help, either.

It’s well known to Anderson fans that ITC financier, Lew Grade, halted production after watching the pilot, although it’s cancellation meant a move to live action for the Anderson’s, and UFO.



Still, I’m sure it’s got it’s fans; Gerry Anderson, himself said it was his favourite of all the series he had produced!



Kevin's Movie Make-overs!

 The Birds!

The Eagle Has Landed!

Movie Mash-Up: SAVE THE EMPIRE STATE!

Godzilla AND Thunderbirds on set!

Two movies for the price of one!

Any more toy movie sets readers? C'mon!

Beetle in Space!

Woodsy,

Here's another Instagram sighting, a VW Beetle convertible configured as a Space Patrol Car! Let's not even discuss all the logistical problems with this concept, and just enjoy the cool factor!

Rob C
USA

OTAKI MONSTER CAR 1964

I've always liked the brown and yellow Otaki kit Monster racing car after it was discovered as the likely source for the Project SWORD Probe Force 3.

Here's a great shot of it built up in an old Japanese Otaki kit catalogue from 1964, 3 years before the UK's Century 21 Toys released its Project SWORD range.



Check out the brilliant website Box Art Den for more catalogues and kits. Link is above.

Have you got this Otaki kit?

Sunday, 28 May 2023

More Movie Puns:

Vlad the Inhaler!

Mish's Movie Mirth: Name the Film!


It's .....


ʇǝuunԀ uǝppᴉqɹoℲ

*

Mish!

Dracula: The Burger Bandai King

Two boot sales this Sunday. The first was rubbish. The second landed me these. See what you think. Total outlay £2.10.



SPACE GARAGE BLOG IS GO!

Readers, New York's Steve Nyland's renewed Space Garage blog is live and packed with LP, Pyro, Gilmark, SpaceX, Golden Astronaut toys and more!


Steve's Arts blog also revived at https://syracuseartfreak.blogspot.com

Saturday, 27 May 2023

ED'S NOSCO MEN

Here's my set of three small (1 3/4" - 42mm H) spacemen, 

The grey one on the right here may be an unattributed Nosco item - or... any ideas readers?


As for the other two, I was perusing Kent Owen Sprecher's excellent 'Toy Soldier HQ Inc' website and found they (left and middle in the photo above) are Cracker Jack premiums made by Nosco in 1958.


and here's my Nosco Fire Engine. Hope you like it!










Ed B
Las Vegas

GARARA YAMAKATSU CARDS



These Garara Yamakatsu cards caught my eye on an auction. I saved the pics for the blog. I had thought the Japanese movie shown was The Green Slime but I didn't think so. Any ideas readers?

Anyone got the vehicles shown as kits or toys?

TOPPS CUSTOM CARS CARDS

I just found this set of 66 US trading cards featuring wild custom cars, some of which have been made as kits or die-casts. Some of them are film or TV cars.

Both the front and back are shown. By Topps, with copyright T.C.G. on the back, and Prtd. in U.S.A. According to the listing the set is from 1968.


Paul Adams from New Zealand

Friday, 26 May 2023

ROB'S SPECIAL IMAI THUNDERBIRD 2 BUILD

Woodsy,

Here at long last is my attempt to build the iconic Thunderbird 2, based on the 1/350 scale Imai model kit called “TB-2 Special.” Originally from the late 1960s I think, I managed to snag one of the 1995 reissue US imports by Imex on eBay about ten years ago.

This is one of those kits that took me twice as long as usual to assemble and paint, and looks half as good as my usual! This “Special” Thunderbird fought me all the way. I swear, some models do not want to be born! Speaking of swearing, I won’t even mention some of the horrible things I called this kit.

No weathering or panel line washes or any of that, just an out-of-the-box “New Toy” version.

Two of the telescopic legs broke during final assembly, and are wobbly as you can see. As a final insult, I neglected to carefully prefit the pod before painting, so it does not fit into the main fuselage! Thus, no “flying” pics...

Cool Excavator for Pod 6, though!

Rob C
USA