The Die has been Cast

More of my die-casts past. These departed MoonBase a few weeks back. Great fun to find them in the first place. Toy cars make a superb collection and are relatively easy to come across. Do you collect toy cars?

Make Way for the Space Beetle

I've always liked these cake box 21st Century space toys.

This is their Space Beetle.

It reminds me of a few other toys and kits I've seen, but looks good in its own right.

I have a feeling that when operated it can 'stand up' on those treads. Is that right?

Anyone got one?

How Did You Get To High School?

My secondary school, a catholic high, was a good way away from home so it required a decent stroll and a bus journey.

The walk was OK but ever day it became tedious. My mates made it doable.

The bus journey, specially the return, wasn't great.

A double decker of teenage dark energy!

I got stuffed inside a box seat at the back once and missed my stop by loads! 

Sounds funny now but it wasn't at the time!

Thank God those bus journeys are over!

How did you get to school readers? 

Vintage 1970 Hot Wheels Sizzlers TV Ad

Cor!

https://youtu.be/1Eq2EYdzmAg?si=mVz2PeY8DzmNVMV4 

Hank Framed

Hello Woodsy,

Here in reply to Will's finds, Hank and Mexican Pete puppets framed.

Sorry about the light reflection.

Terranova

USA

Another box of Stuff!

More finds!

From Will O

Will's Box of Stuff

Hi Woodsy,

Clearing some drawers, I found this box of stuff.

A few bits and bobs!

Will O

The Diplomat's Fleet

I've always been drawn to prestigious cars.

As a kid I'd get excited by Rollers, Bentleys and Daimlers.

When I started collecting die cast I was the same. Prestige caught my eye on a few occasions. 

Here are larger Corgis and such. The blue one is even called an Opel Senator. 

My favourite is the slick black Toyota Crown at the end. It's full of bad guys brandishing silencers. It's based on a James Bond movie.

Have you got a favourite prestigious car? 

Do you own a real one?

Alvis has left the Building

I'm certainly no expert on Thunderbirds and I must admit I can't see an Alvis in the Wiki gallery of die-casts used in the 60's show.

I'm being thick. Were there any Alvis's in Thunderbirds? Other Anderson shows? 

Die-Cast Toy Vehicles | Thunderbirds Wiki | Fandom https://share.google/5c9PpIuqYglhaK7z9 

It's Only A Video!

For those readers interested in such things, I have today placed a link to a blog diary I have of my current VHS horror project. Not everyone's cup of tea at all I know, but for those who are interested in the UK Video scene in the early 1980's then maybe look.

It's a work in progress and a bit rough round the edges. 

The link looks like this - 

  https://share.google/OJx5B3uq6AxvQaHcG

 - About half way down the right side-bar.

If you're offended by 1970's and early 80's trashy horror then maybe not click on it.

Sad About Monsters

Slowly but surely I'm selling the last of the items I had left over from my toy fair days in the Noughties.

Just a few things left, this Forry keyring has now gone too. I bought it from the States as a thing of interest to have on my stall. The keyring was a promotional item for the late great Forrest J. Ackerman, publisher of Famous Monsters and father of the Monster craze in the Sixties. I still have lots of his magazines, so I could let go of this after many years languishing in the loft.

Sad really.

It was originally somewhere on my old stall back in the day. Here's my mate Mark - top and me, bottom. It's probably Doncaster or Morley.

Hugely happy days standing at fairs and wearing our Mad About Monsters T-Shirts, the name I gave my vintage toy business at the time. 

Somewhere I have the massive Monster Lab toy by Ideal, boxed, which graced my stall now and then and caused a stir.

Do you or did you stand at fairs? Toys, books, records, models?

Sizzlin' Scenery! The Chase is On!

Bills passion for Sizzlers is rubbing off on me. I was amazed to see this road chase set on auction. It looks huge! It recalls Gilberts 007 road race set, which I would loved as a kid. This Sizzlers set too!

Talking of Sizzlers, it's time for some sausages! 

Shed Loads

 Like with any blockbuster toy or film, the knockoffs are never far behind.

No sooner had ALIEN burst into our lives the rip-offs were shedding their skin.

Here's just three.

I remember Within the Rock. It was a mid-90's TV film. I've only seen it once. It name checks Predator too!

Titan Find. Never seen this. I quite like the strapline, Where Space Ends, Hell Begins!

Another Within flick, The Intruder Within. This one is says 'an alien experience's in case you forgot it's an ALIEN knock-off!

Have you had the pleasure?

Any more ripoff aliens and predators out there?

Stalwart Supporter

Hi,

Here's my plastic, friction drive Stalwart that I bought a few years ago and converted to an Anderson-esque vehicle.

Cheers,

Kevin

Combat Barrage: Six and Mortar

 I like the look of this Combat Barrage I saw on auction last year.

The box art is fabulous.

The six wheeled vehicle has great Anderson vibes!

The vehicle reminds me of my beloved Airfix Alvis I played carpet wars with as a kid. Is it an Alvis?

That cannon would have come in handy against marauding aliens from UFO! 

Not sure if the make.

Do you like it?

Hot Wheels Roller Coaster Car

Hi Woodsy,

You recently posted a link to a model of a roller-coaster ride car. An open, multi-seat vehicle running on rails.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/11/snakes-on-train.html?sc=1764218562032#c3627597381108365579

I recalled that Hot Wheels did a similar die-cast model, and here it is. Called Loopster, it first appeared in 2015 (copyright date 2014), and has been released in several colours.

The models have connectors front and rear, allowing a number of Loopsters to be linked together, to create a train. Some models have passengers with their arms down, and some have one figure with arms raised.

Do you like it?

Hot Wheels Wiki page for this model.

https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/Loopster

Paul Adams from New Zealand

2001 in 3D?

https://youtu.be/fLwkj6SpRJs?si=QnNc8YygTilzVnWw  

any readers of the blog got any spare 3D glasses??

MJ

South Coast Base

Cap in Hand

 Washing up I noticed the fairy liquid bottle top.

It's a pilgrims or pirates cap! 

It's even got a recess underneath for ....

... A substitute pirate cap for an action figure! 

Like the pirate Joker!

Or the Fighting Furies

Or the Europlay peg leg!

Have you got a little pirate or pilgrim that needs a cap?

Cart for Carts Sake

 I had to look twice when I saw this pot lamb cart.

It reminded me of MM Toys lovely plastic lambcart! 

They did a donkey too!

Have you any interesting ornaments or fancy goods?

The Chemtoy Jaws Action Figure

Once more to Amity Island, courtesy of Brian F, Monster Base, New Jersey.

- Fin -

🦈

The grey original

A Howling Success

The neighbours' mutt has been howling of late and the sound recalled 

some successful

movie howls.

Notably these are the the lonely wail of the David Kessler wolf in the alleyway in American Werewolf in London.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxiC1q2TC1uclxqkQmTbXpks0kpq8CUvra?si=I-rZDb8OXyBLYH5X 

And the pained yowl of the junior T.Rex stuck in the hold in Jurassic Park II

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx0ew2aGljOLPF6b1QkL9NbABIfQR0urAI?si=8iFogRJd1a4rn1yM 

Do you know of any notable howls?

FEEL THE HEAT

2026 got off to a great start recently, as I managed to score three new Hot Wheels Sizzler models, including a pair in their original packaging. Mattel were always streets ahead of the competition with their product packaging, from the amazing Hot Wheels flare (which is still in use today), to the bold and striking graphics on the Major Matt Mason space toys, which were always prominently visible on any toy store shelf. Mattel’s Sizzler line, although slightly understated compared to Redlines, was equally well promoted. Each car came in a hard plastic case, supported on a card insert. It is probably this stout packaging that helped keep these two beauties safe over the last forty-plus years. The batteries inside the cars had long since corroded and failed, the fumes from the process leaching away the chrome paint on one of them. However, the self coloured plastic bodies remained intact - aside from some minor play wear.

The Spoil Sport model needed a rechrome of the engine, but was otherwise unscathed and both models even had original price stickers on the case, showing price reductions from £10.00 down to just £2.99.

Sizzlers were very rare and expensive in the UK and were not as common as standard Hot Wheels cars.

The Ant Eater and Spoil Sport models were among the initial 1969 releases and were still on release around 1972, hence the post-decimal prices.

The Up-Roar was one of the later releases and used a different chassis with a longer, slightly thinner battery. This one was found loose, but still in good condition, despite losing its chrome.

All three models had a quick dip in raw lemon juice to remove the acidic corrosion from the copper contacts and could be racing again very soon!

The portable Juice Machine takes four large D cell batteries and can charge up the tiny motors battery in 90 seconds.
 

Terry's Rocket Lunchbox

Hi Woodsy

Saw this on Buyee listed for 65p with no bids. It was stuffed with cheap new plastic toys.

Regards

Terry

Don't Block It!

 

Watched this tonight, The Block Island Sound from 2020 and enjoyed it.

A sort of The Happening set on the coast, the mystery in the island's surf is a strange reverberating noise sending residents bonkers. 

I wont say anymore.