CONSOLE YOURSELF

I'm always on the look-out for the console seen on the only drawing of the Project SWORD Moonbase Playset.

This isn't it but I like it anyway, the Mini Computer.

Have you a toy console?

and I may as well ask, have you got a Project SWORD Moon Base Play Set or have you ever seen one?

PULP ACTION: ACTION MAN AND GI JOE BOOK COVERS

IF you like to see Action Man/ GI joe used on vintage paperback covers like me then you'll like this site:

 https://sciencefictionruminations.com/2013/05/16/adventures-in-science-fiction-cover-art-plastic-toy-spacemen/

Hot to Trot: Plastic Horse Kits - Keeping Costs Down!

With plastic horse kits like the Aurora Black Fury blogged this week, I have noticed something while looking in to these - although Aurora, Revell, and Remco all produced a number of different horse kits, these came from just a few actual moulds.

Mould the horses in different colours, and include a few different accessories, and you have a 'different' kit.

Aurora did three horse kits - the first was issued on its own as Black Fury, and with three different riders and saddles, etc, as the Gold Knight on Horse, Apache Warrior on Horse, and Confederate Raider on Horse.

The Thoroughbred Race Horse seems to be the only Aurora kit that was not issued with a rider.

Then the last kit was issued on its own as the White Stallion, and with the Lone Ranger and Zorro kits. There was also the Forged Foil version, which was covered with sheets of metal foil.

Remco did the three Action Stallion kits, all of which were actually the same kit, but in different colours and with different accessories.

Now it looks like Revell did exactly the same thing. There were five horse kits in the 1960s, and four in the 1970s, some of which were re-issues of the earlier kits. But there were only two different horse models.

Two of the kits were tie-ins with TV shows - Blaze King from National Velvet, and Black Beauty (which is not even mentioned on Scalemates, or in the Thomas Graham book on Revell).

None of the Remco or Revell kits included riders. Scales also varied, but were around 1/8th (Aurora Black Fury), to 1/10th for the Revell models, and 1/12th. I have no idea what scale the Remco kits were.

Well, that was one way to keep costs down.

I wondered if readers had encountered the same thing with Action Man and Sindy toys horses?

Paul Adams from NZ

DOCTOR! DOCTOR! Two More Home-Made Dr.Who Toy Guns

 I had some real luck sourcing toy guns for my Dr.Who project this Autumn.

 I made the first three myself and thought I'd invest in real and inexpensive toys as close to the originals as possible for the next three.

Two are finished. The original 1966 toys are both pictured on the superb Space Museum page 2.

https://thespacemuseum.net/1965-gallery-2

I managed to pick up this vintage blue Billy Gun water pistol in Germany for a very good price. It's a dead ringer for the Dr. Who original and mounted on Wotan Bill's fabulous repro art, which I glued to card, a team effort, its turned out really really well I think. Hope you agree. 

Dr. Who's Anti-Dalek Jet Immobiliser

Similarly, I dropped on with a really good price 'outlaw' style water pistol as part of a bundle. The original Dr.Who version was silver but I've left left mine as it is. It's certainly the right shape and again, mounted on Wotan Bill's brilliant repro card art, it's not bad at all I reckon.

Dr. Who's Anti-Dalek Fluid Neutraliser

What do you think readers?

More to come, watch this space!

SHEFFIELD CITY SHUFFLE

 Tother week the Missus and me had a day in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield, known locally as Steel City and the home of the Master Cutler.

A beautiful place full of grand architecture and independent shops. Its gothic splendour is very atmospheric at night.

Alas, I shuffled round Sheffield with a limp on account of a terrible corn, which I'm please to say a wonderful podiatrist cut off today!

In daylight I spotted this fenced off pile, which screamed Hammer Horror to me! I could easily see Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee battling with stakes and crosses between the pillars!

Not sure what the building is.

It does remind me of the creepy mausoleum on the cover of Judas Priest's brilliant Sin after Sin LP!

In one of the many bigger shops I clocked this Batman Detective boxed Kit. I would have adored this as a kid. About 20 years ago I might have bought it as part of a growing Batman armoury collection I had but its since all been sold. Shame.

Do you like the look of this kit?

Its based on the latest BATMAN film post-Affleck, which alas, I've already forgotten. Come back Ben!

As part of my comics and radio rings research last month I spotted these in a small knick-knacks store, modern costume rings that were deadringers for Captain Planet rings!

In a cosplay shop I saw this Roam Sword, again a thing I would have loved as a nipper. I had a few plastic swords but I don't think I had a roman one. is is called a a Gladius or Clavius or similar?

Last but not least were these two old Barbie cars. Quite big to fit Babs, i think they're Golfs or Polo's.

I've never seen them before.

You?

MALWARE NEWSFLASH!

I've had to remove a post showing the Invisible Boy movie, as AVG informed me that a malicious threat of Malware was linked to it. If you have looked at that post and the film then please check your device and perform a safety scan maybe.

Thanks,

Woodsy

November Auckland Toy Fair 2024

The last Auckland fair of 2024 yielded several interesting small scale die-casts by various makers, and a couple of larger scale Lledo Vanguards. Just one Hot Wheels this time.

Matchbox tractor and trailer set in orange, white MGA, blue pick-up truck, and Autotanker, from the 1950s or 1960s. The Husky Citroen Ambulance, and Corgi Juniors Super Stock Car with the Union Flag, and US Racing Buggy in blue.

The black Wolseley 6/80 Police Car and the green Rover 105 are by either Morestone or Budgie. The Covered Wagon and six-horse team remain unidentified, but the seller thought they might be Japanese.

The Schuco Mercedes Bus has a die-cast body, clear plastic top, and printed tin-plate interior. A cracking little model.

Next up, a selection of six all-plastic trucks in N scale, for model railways. Individually boxed, the length varies from 61mm for the tankers, to 75mm for the cargo trucks.

Finally, a group of seven British tea card albums. We just did not get these in NZ, cards only came in breakfast cereals, and Greggs Jellies.

History of the Motor Car, Flags & Emblems of the World, British Costume, British Wildlife, Wild Flowers, Trees in Britain, all by Brooke Bond; and Australia, by Lyons Tea.

These are nearly full, although the glue has dried out, and a few of the cards have come loose. How lucky you were to have these wonderful sets in Britain.

I know these card albums may be a common sight in Britain, but not in NZ. They are just beautiful. I wish I had been able to collect these back in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Plus some Linka building moulds, which deserve a write-up of their own.

Enjoy.

Paul Adams from New Zealand.

PARKS BATMAN WATER PISTOL RE-IMAGINED

 Ever since seeing the old Parks Batman Water Pistol I've liked its sleek design.

Here's my re-imagined version of it using parts from two modern water pistols bought in a discount shop. I sawed, glued and filed and painted it black. Wotan Bill kindly sent me the fabulous decal.

Not quite Parks' smooth biff-bang design but it'll do for the cabinet.

If you can find any of the colours that Parks issued their water pistol in you could paint yours black too!