I've seen Action Man board games but not Big Jim's. This looks Italian or Spanish, SOS Emergenza.
Do any of you know Big Jim?
Sunday, 22 February 2026
Saturday, 21 February 2026
Lenticular Fairy Tales Books
Hi,
On a recent visit to a second-hand book sale, I discovered a pair of very unusual children's books from the 1960s. Both have a Lenticular photograph inset in to the cover, and I snapped them up.
These were part of a series of Fairy Tale books published between 1966 and 1968. They are hardbacks, with pages of heavy cardboard.
They are 7 1/3 inches by 10 1/2 inches (185 x 262 mm). The Lenticular picture is glued in to a cut-out in the cover, and is 3 1/2 by just over 5 inches (90 x 130 mm).
The interior illustrations are either black and white line drawings, accompanying the text; or double-page colour photographs, using puppets in miniature settings. Only the front cover illustration is of the Lenticular type.
The books were published by the Golden Press in America, but printed in Japan. The copyright notices are for Froebel-Kan Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan; Printed and bound by Toppan Printing Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan; Pictures copyright 1966 by T. Izawa, S. Hijikata and Shiba Productions.
Early books have Golden Press on the cover, while the later books have A Golden Book instead. My two both have 1966 copyright dates.
Some of the books were printed in more than one edition, and have different cover pictures and illustrations, and different copyright dates. It seems strange that they would re-do the books, rather than simply re-print them, using the original pictures.
There were certainly two editions of The Little Mermaid, and The Emperor's New Clothes, and possibly others. I am not sure if this is a full list of titles, but this is what I have found so far.
At least six titles by Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) - Thumbelina; The Emperor's New Clothes; The Little Tin Soldier; The Snow Queen; The Wild Swans; and The Little Mermaid.
At least four by Charles Perrault (1628-1703) – Sleeping Beauty; Puss in Boots; Little Red Riding Hood; and Cinderella.
At least two by the Brothers Grimm (Jacob 1785-1863, and Wilhelm 1786-1859) – Snow-White; and Hansel and Gretel.
There was also Goldilocks and the Three Bears, no author credited, just Told by Kathleen Lindquist. This one has Pictures by Rose Art Studio, but it was still printed in Japan.
Rob C has pointed out that the style of the puppets and their settings is very similar to such animated films of the 1960s as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Videocraft International, 1964) and Mad Monster Party (Rankin/Bass Productions, 1967), which were also made in Japan. They also resemble some of the Fairy Tale sets produced for the Viewmaster stereoscopic viewers.
Shiba Productions was founded by Kihachiro Kawamoto (1925-2010) in Japan, in 1958. The company produced book illustrations using puppets, and stop-motion animated films.
There is a Wikipedia page, but it mostly covers the films, rather than the book illustrations. Looks like a very interesting outfit.
I have not come across these Golden Press books before. The Lenticular pictures on the covers are certainly eye catching.
Have you?
Paul Adams from New Zealand
TIGER JOE TANK TV Ad
Mentioned recently as the basis for some Century 21 studios' prop vehicles in the 1960's.
Did you have a Tiger Joe?
BBC Arts - Out-of-this-world spaceship designs based on everyday objects
These are such cool illustrations!
See what you think.
BBC Arts - BBC Arts - Out-of-this-world spaceship designs based on everyday objects https://share.google/YAlezSw2lYTniiI3N
Friday, 20 February 2026
Arto's Laramie Cowboy Set
Arto over at Helsinki Base picked up a pristine example of this Laramie toy gun and holster boxed set.
By Crescent, (and not Larami!) it's got everything a young cowpoke would need on the range.
Do you think this set is TV related or a generic item?
The pics are from the Tradera site.
Looey's Spitfire in Oz!
Hello there! I've been doing a lot of research using Britmodeller! 1/48 scale is too fiddly for my needs. I did buy a Tamiya 1/48 spitfire for background use, but I haven't assembled it yet.
I'm very familiar with those internal details, although mine are twice the size at 1/24 and still a bit small!
I'm in a bit of a landslide at the moment, with a bunch of half completed models.
My mk99 is almost ready for painting, but I realised I needed a tractor to pull it out of the hanger -oops! I need a Hanger first! I might as well bash out some Nissen huts while I'm at it too!
I'm also making a 1/12 scale nose section with spinning prop, for a scene featuring an oil leak!
I'm quite happy with all the stuff underway, but I'll be happier when it's finally camera ready.
Here are some work in progress pics, but not sure if these are really blogworthy yet!
The 3D printed Spitfire is having panel lines etched in by hand.
The grey tractor is a downloaded David Brown 3D mesh model. The blue bits are pieces I've 3D modelled from scratch, to turn it into an RAF tow tug...
The hangar (pics not in order) is laser cut from 3mm MDF with a bumper 60 pack of A4 corrugated card sheets, shipped from China because they seem to have gone out of fashion in Australian craft stores!
Cheers,
Looey
Oz
Kevin's Scratchbuilt UFO SHADO Mobile
Hi,
Here is my scratchbuild of the Shado mobile from UFO. It uses the wheels and tracks from the Topper Toys, Tiger Joe tank.
Cheers,
Kevin
Here is my scratchbuild of the Shado mobile from UFO. It uses the wheels and tracks from the Topper Toys, Tiger Joe tank.
Cheers,
Kevin
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Four Wheels Good
This is a gorgeous toy by Jyesa, the Vehiculo Espacial.
A classic design, there's a Japanese original too.
Anyone got one?
It's Still Not Safe!
Arto sent me these links. Those Jaws are still open!
This too at Ancient Mariner's:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ...
Arto
Helsinki Base
Steak Canadian and the Rockin' Boys
I couldn't believe my eyes down at Farmfoods. There in the frozen food compartment was a pile of Steak Canadian! Those flat wafer-thin steaks that fried in seconds!
Wow! Cor! Did that bring back memories. Back in the mid 1970's I'd invite mates round to listen to rockers like Budgie, Skynyrd and Rush on the music-centre in my Folks' breakfast room. I'd raid the chest freezer in the shed and grab some steak canadian. Then I'd peel spuds, slice 'em up and make fab home-made chips. Topped off with marrowfat peas, it was the real reason my rockin' mates came round! 😃 Sometimes I'd change the menu to include frozen chicken and mushroom pies - with my own gravy. I even knew how to make a roux! I was way better at cooking age 14 than I am now!
I shall once again relive those halcyon days soon and make the steak Canadian special again and crank up the stereo. Alas, the rockin' boys are distant memories now.
Did you, do you like Steak Canadian? 🎸
More Japanese Toy Catalogues
A trio of Japanese toy catalogues I found on the net.
Daishin.
Yonezawa.
Horikawa.
See anything you like?
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Slime Time
I'm blown away by these Close -Up photographers Award pictures of slime moulds and fungi.
https://share.google/U15RAjzc6jGinJ9UB
The bottom one by Barry Webb looks like an alien eyeball city!
Only nature could pull that off!
What do you think?
Waffling
Not having had enough yesterday on Pancake Day our Moonbase grandkids made waffles this morning, with a little help from us.
It's waffle Wednesday!
Do you like waffles?
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Polistil Personalities
I love these die-casts. I came across them ages ago and the pics languished in my archive.
Alas I don't know that the characters really -are they TV personalities (I know the Smurfs).
The make is Polistil.
Do you know them?
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The Dodgems Blues
I threw caution to the wind today and joined my Grandson Moonbase Junior in what he called a bumper car and what I knew as a Dodgem.
This inter-generational wonder occurred at the Valentine's Day Fair in Leeds City Centre.
All went well with Junior driving until our first bump. For some reason we stopped dead and were sitting ducks! Eager rammers flew past us at speed and we just couldn't understand why our car was stationary until the ride guy shouted 'press the pedal!'
'Pedal? What pedal?'
Junior then realized that he'd got a pedal on his side and the bump had knocked his foot off!
Pressing said pedal to the metal, we were just about to re-enter into the fray, when some kid with a mullet totally rammed us from the rear.
It was one helluva collision and our car leapt violently forward, as did I, letting out a distinct yelp. Junior seemed unperturbed but I was definitely rattled.
I said 'Junior, pedal!' and I grabbed the wheel! Red mist had descended and I'd decided that Mullet boy was toast!
Fortunately he was a better driver than me and my anger dissipated as I drove in ever-decreasing circles!
I'm unsure of the moral of this story but it's the first time I've come home with Dodgem whiplash! 😵💫
Have you been on the dodgems?
Ed's Century 21 Project SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket
Woodsy,
I got around to photographing the recently acquired Century 21 Project SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket and it is a beauty!
The seller didn't lead me to expect much based on the photos and description, but to my surprise the rocket was complete and in working order!
It even came with two extra front red fins, and you've already seen the Project SWORD Manual that came with it. The plastic has yellowed with age but that's common with vintage toys.
As well, the box has seen better days, but it is 96% intact. It takes two 'D'-cell batteries and runs forward and reverse, and the lights blink as they should.
Overall, I'm stoked!
From Vegas SWORD Base
Ed
Monday, 16 February 2026
Hollow Man
I re-watched Hollow Man last night, the 2000 shocker starring grown-up brat packer Kevin Bacon as the man himself.
Despite fantastic special effects I now feel Verhoeven could have done a lot more with this story. OK, the process sent the invisible man mad but did that have to mean simply copping a feel from the female cast wherever he could. Is that all that invisibility is for for men?
My Missus actually got up and walked out.
For true lab madness I'll stick to Darkman with Liam Neeson.
My next reventure back into the brat pack is going to be Flatliners. Remember that?
Disclosure Day
I must say I'm intrigued by Steven Spielberg's new film Disclosure Day coming this summer.
Having watched the trailer it strikes me as perhaps a Close Encounters for modern audiences and I for one am looking forward to what the old master has conjured up.
Are you?
Beleaguered Posties
Just seen the MoonBase postcode on this list of post offices being delayed by local issues. This could explain delays to our post and parcels! Is your postcode here too?
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Paul Vreede's New Spacex Toys Website
A beautiful and comprehensive site dedicated to the world of Tri-ang SpaceX and Golden Astronaut Toys
Ed Berg's Toy Blog: Toys and Stuff
