Sending you these piccies of my recent antico mondo acquisitions.
First up is the X-50 Space Racer, a rare carded version. The blister is in tatters and the racer is missing its nose spike.
Space Capsule & Flying Saucer set on the other hand is in pretty neat condition. I think the combination here is better than the sum of its parts.
In addition, a couple of HK bin toys I came across on the Cleaning Day last Saturday.
I just love this pair of small Power Squadron speed boats, both the colours and the flower stickers. Anything with a flower on it, and I am sold!
Topo Gigio Circus presents Topo the trapeze artist. These kind of HK toys are quite common, but not too many have survived bagged.
What do you think?
Arto
Helsinki Base
A superb haul Arto! I love the carded X-50, completely new to me and the blog. Only ever seen the boxed version. I wonder if the nose cone is behind the toy inside the blister?
ReplyDeleteThanks Woodsy and unfortunately no nose cone, I checked.
DeleteYou find the best toys in your neck of the woods Arto! Theres nothing like that in Blighty anymore. I had the Mercury capsule and chute - the little handle on the capsule was lost in the grass after the first throw and i think the saucers ended up in the gutter. The card art is lovely, with a little Lunik II probe above the word 'saucer' and a simple Mariner in the top corner. A Catalina flying boat is circling at the back and a Sikorsky copter is coming to rescue the capsule. Classic. On the flipside, poor Topo looks terrified and seems more set up to suffer the inquisition torture of strappado! Bill
ReplyDeleteHa ha, you're so right Bill. Poor Topo!
DeleteGlorious collection of dime-store toys! Really brings me back… SFZ
ReplyDeleteCheers Rob, does it for me too!
DeleteLovely Space Capsule and Flying Saucer, Arto. Such cool vintage card art and contents. So glad toys like these have survived.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony, HK space toys that have survived unused are rare species indeed.
DeleteI had the X-50 as a kid. I remember seeing them boxed in Woolworths. I also split my sides laughing at Peter Cook's Superthunderstingcar parody that had one trundling along the bottom of the sea!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clip tip Lewis, awesome!
DeleteOn cracked blisters, what do you think would it be possible to reproduce one? Would it even be possible and with what kind of procedure?
Oooh! Very tedious, which is why I don't do it more often!
DeleteWith an existing damaged bubble, you could fill it with polyester car putty and fix any flaws to create a new vacuum forming plug.
If you have to create one from scratch, do this...
1) Put your toy on a flat surface with a 3mm base beneath it. Push several folded layers of aluminium foil over the toy, being careful not to form undercuts (this allows for the thickness of the bubble.)
2) make a thin plaster waste mould over the foil and remove it. Grease the waste mould and pour plaster for your actual plug into it. When set, carefully break the waste mould away from the plug.
3) Sand and fill the plug to a smooth finish and when fully dry, coat with polyester resin to strengthen it and polish it to a mirror finish.
4) Vacuum form a new bubble from clear plastic using the plug.
Easy when you know how, huh?
Thanks Lewis, you make it sound easy, just follow the steps!
DeleteWhat I had in mind was something along the lines of your first option, taking the cracked bubble and using it to create a plug. It would also be true to the contours of the original bubble, the shape of which can in some cases (like this one in question) be a tricky one.
I wonder if the plug could be made using a 3D scan of the original bubble, correcting the flaws digitally and then printing the plug with a 3D printer?
One other Lazyboy option [ie. like me] would to find something of a similar shape in a blister in today's shops and use that, a cheapo toy plane for instance!
DeleteHa! Good luck Woodsy!
DeleteThat's a pretty good 3D solution Arto. It's a pity you can't drop by my place! The problems I can see with a 3D print is always the surface finish which will require a LOT of hand finishing. Although SLA resin might stand up to the heat of vacuum forming, the low temperture mature of FDM prints could cause problems when you start wrapping them in hot plastic!
The car-putty option sounds like the way to go...
Will be there by morning, Lewis! :-)
DeleteWhat about one step more, using the 3D plug as a mold for the final plug, made of more heat-resistant substance? (throwing ideas is the easy part, I know)
The space toys are great, but I also like the Flower Power speed boats. Where have all the Flower Power toys gone ?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Paul. Those were the days...
DeleteThe X-50 is awesome Arto! Vintage bagged or carded toys that have survived until now are special. I have some wherein the packaging is in tatters, while others are in good shape. Look forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you hav'em all in your Vegas Cave, Ed!
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