Captain Space Solar Scout Rifle

I had to look twice at this old 2013 Hakes auction. I thought it was a Captain Scarlet rifle - the red lettering is very similar at first glance.

Turns out it's a prototype, all either rather fabulous, on a mock-up if I'd understood the blurb. See if you understand it:

11x28.5" mock-up card for 26.5" long plastic prototype 1950s space rifle. Fully painted prototype mock-up card features large "Captain Space" name and image of spaceman w/rifle. Additionally, card show three views of the rifle, demonstrating that gun shone three different colored lights - "White Spotter Beam, Red Signal Beam" and "Green Ray Signal." Card also advertises that gun had a "Sonic Buzzer Sound" that was activated by pulling trigger. Small paste-over Marx logo also on card. The actual production gun came boxed, not on a card like this. Card shows obvious wear w/noticeable warping and heavy dust soiling. Lettering at upper right shows some wear and card is VG overall. Rifle prototype is a production piece that has been painted over, w/painted "Solar Scout" logo applied to one side of stock. Nicely detailed scope has "Captain Space Solar Scout Official" recessed text/logo. Gun has some moderate dust soiling/aging and scattered paint nicks/scratches. Fine overall. From the John Bowers Collection.

This is the link.

https://payment.hakes.com/auction/ItemDetail/84306/CAPTAIN-SPACE-SOLAR-SCOUT-RAY-RIFLE-MARX-PROTOTYPE-GUN 

Operation Lone Star Customs - The Five Toy Swords: 1. Zorro

Propelled by our Tarzan, this is Operation Lone Star Swords!

This Spring Bill and myself aim to re-create Lone Star's three TV toy swords from the 1960's: Zorro, Steed and Adam Adamant.

  We will then attempt two far less well-known TV swords from the company, details of which were kindly supplied by the incredibly helpful John B of Murdersville: Sir Francis Drake and Dick Turpin.

So, that's Five in total. It'll be emotional!

So, with a big Z flourish, here's the first Lone Star sword custom:

Zorro's Sword.

Like all Lone Star's toy swords the toy was simply inserted into the header card. They must have been quite difficult to display in shops.

The sword, which I re-painted black, was provided by an ever-reliable eBay cosplay stockist called RubberPlantation, who supplied all my five swords.

As always, it's the stunning card art that once again properly finishes these home-made productions and this first one's another beautiful backing card from Mister Bill! 

As a final touch I've added the flocked mask that came with the sword and a rubber tip containing white chalk to emulate the original, so budding Zorro's could sign their three-stroke initial on the neighbours wall! 

We hope you like our debut for Operation Lone Star Swords!

For fun, here's an original toy ( showing the lovely patterned hand-guard but missing the chalky tip) along with more lovely Zorro-full stuff on an old auction site.

And as a final 3 flicks of the blade, you can see Zorro's Sword here, bottom left in this Lone Star products page I found online.

Of note is it's neighbour, bottom right: the fabled Lone Star Captain Scarlet Anti- Mysteron Rifle, featured a few times in MC. Rocking horses and poo poo spring to mind! You haven't got one so I won't ask! 

And as if that isn't enough, top centre is our next project: Steed's Sword Stick! 

Footnote:

For completeness, here's a later Lone Star Zorro sword backing card I saw this week on an old auction. I prefer the original design. You?

BLOG LEGEND UPDATE: THE LONE STAR CAPTAIN SCARLET ANTI MYSTERON RIFLE REPRO BOX

Decades ago another blog legend was born, something so rare hens' teeth start to chatter.

Way back in 2010 I blogged about my first sighting of the Lone Star Captain Scarlet rifle as it appeared in my beloved copy of the TV Toy Zone catalogue.

The rifle has surfaced again a few times on Moonbase over the years. The toy itself has become a bit clearer but the box remained a bit of a blur inside a display.

This week, however, I found this site, Retrotoyrevivals.com, who specialise in professional toy box reproduction and lo and behold there's the Lone Star Captain Scarlet Anti Mysteron Rifle box!

Even a repro box is something to behold! I doubt anyone can tell the difference!

Do you like repro toy boxes?

Have you got pictures of this rifle?

 https://retrotoyrevivals.com/products/boxes-and-parts/rare-items/