CRATE EXPECTATIONS!

 I rescued these from the bin at Aldi.

Plastic toothbrush packet stands for display in the store.

Too good to just bin, I thought these little orange crates might do as something in one of my future models or toys. A Jungle Land Rover top? An Action Man storage rack? 

Any ideas welcomed!

RISING GUN: THE JAPANESE TOY SUB MACHINE DR. WHO WATER PISTOL

 I recognised this as soon as I saw it online. A Japanese version of ....

... the 1960's Dr. Who Anti-Dalek Jet Immobiliser toy gun!

This Japanese version is green. My substitute "Billy gun" was blue.

This one is labelled Water Sub Machine Gun on the header ...

and on the toy body as well. Its got a bar code so its not that old.

Anyone got one of these?

Kung Fu International*: my Custom Jager Kung Fu Doll

Recently I found my old Kung Fu figure header card, which Is archived in a frame with my old Kung Fuey crisp packet from the early 70"s when I was Kung Fu mad.

Alas, the figure I had is long lost in the Shaolin landfill but the header remains and reminded me that it was a cheapo male doll in a karate suit made by Jager [anyone know them?]

So what if I just remade the doll again? 

A few shuriken's later and hey presto! 

I give you my El Cheapo Enterprises Kung Fu figure rack toy with it's nice original header.

 Hi Ya! 

Did you have one of these readers?

I made the suit from a spare and battered 1990's Action Man Hasbro astronaut outfit languishing in the loft. A really rough and ready job, 'cos that's how I remember the figure; rough, ready and cheap. I loved it.

The doll is from my Hong Kong doll stash and suitably basic I thought. The belt is from the Missus's ribbon jar.

I've attached the header with double-sided tape in case I ever want to get it off. Originally it would have been stapled to the bag.

Looking up this figure online, I can only find a blister carded version by the US's Durham toys, with the same graphics however, but appearing in a kimono with a belt rather than a karate suit. 

I recall a suit on mine for some reason but I maybe misremembering. I know I had a life size Karate gi made for me by an aunt, before my Mum bought me a proper one!

I have no idea where A&O is as on the original price tag. Maybe the petrol station where I got my Kung Fu LP at the bottom of our road in Preston in the early 1970's? It cost 55p.

Now where are my nunchucks! 

*

* the title celebrates Salford's great John Cooper Clarke's poem of the same name!

Going Ape! The Custom Ahi Planet of the Apes Stunt Cycle Completed

 With Bill's wonderful graphics I've been able to box up my custom Planet of the Apes Stunt Cycle.

Unusually the backing card had a 3D footer, which Bill recreated perfectly so I could construct it as it was in the late 1960's.

Toy kings Ahi went to town on this box and besides the 3D footing, it had instructions on the back for turning the card into a stunt ramp! 

The plastic blister came courtesy of my Missus's old plastic case of blank business cards. It did the business alright.

The bike is an old Matchbox model, the rider an old tractor driver with an ape's head glued on and for a final garnish, a Playmobil rifle.

Our monkey business done. Hope you like this latest team effort.

Logan's Done: A Custom Kmart Princess Logan's Run Doll

 Keeping the toy workshop rolling, here's our custom version of Kmart's rare 'Logans Run' Princess Doll completely finished.

See what you think.

As usual Bill supplied the fabulous card art and I finagled the card and blister and dressed the doll.

Something a little different, here's our mock-off on the left and it's inspiration on the right, the original carded doll as featured in the brilliant Megomuseum site.

Our Mock Mr. Rock Blister Carded

 It's been awhile since this Mr. Rock mockoff figure was finished.

 I've been waiting for the best blister to fit his 9 inches and wide stance, but more importantly I wanted to do decent justice to Bill's fabulous repro card art.

Today I found a largish clear plastic sushi box in Aldi. It provided the perfect blister, as well as my Japanese lunch. You got a little plastic fish too! Result! 

So here he is, the Moonbase International carded mock Mr. Rock finally finished.

See what you think.

In monochrome as it might have appeared in comic ads.

I added an old price tag this time for a final touch. 

I had to keep this photo as somehow it's captured my ugly mug too! Ha ha

LOGAN'S DONE! MY CUSTOM LOGAN 5 CLOTHED PRINCESS DOLL

 A while back after finishing Zython I was flicking once more through my new and fabulous Knockoffs christmas gift book and found a another rare cheapo toy I just had to make.

The original and elusive toy appears both in the Plaid Stallions Knockoffs book and the related Mego Museum website.

Here it is, the fabulously cheesy 1970's Kmart Princess with new Long Hair doll in original Mego Logan's Run garb. The maker's clearly wanted to use up male Mego Logan 5 outfits rather than kit her out in the more diaphanous slip Jessica 6 wears in the 1976 movie. 

After all, this is a knockoff and nothing to do with Logan's Run.

[you can read all about Mego's attempt at Logan's Run toys on the brilliant Mego Museum site].

Image: Mego Museum

I looked around for an original Princess Long Hair doll and found a few for sale but they were all too dear for a tight-fisted Yorkshireman!

I also found this modern repro Logan's Run jumper made professionally for 12" dolls on eBay by BlackAshKitBash. Beautiful work but ten pounds would make me cry.

image; BlackAshKitBash

I decided to start from scratch and raided my doll stash for a suitable 12 inch Barbie clone.

A few swags of felt and cloth later and hey presto!

The boots came courtesy of Ebay from a very inexpensive seller. I coloured them black,

All she needs now is a card and blister. I will have to be extra nice to Bill!

What do you think readers?

I'll have to watch the film again now. Do you like Logan's Run? Book, film or series? Any toys?

*

A Fawcett Footnote: 

As a footnote, this project reminded me that Farrah Fawcett starred as Holly 13 in Logan's Run too wearing a glittery dress..

 and that I once found a huge doll that I thought was Farrah in yes, a glittery dress [it wasn't Farrah!]

You can read my blog entry at the time about this find here.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2017/09/dont-fawcett.html

Farah's stint in Logan's Run has inspired others to make custom figures of her. Here's a neat one I saw on Figure Realm by Nightwing1975 with Holly 5 in an equally glittery dress, a project which also includes an Action Man dressed as Logan 5! Now why didn't Palitoy think of that!

What do you think?

Image: Figure Realm

Coming full circle, Farrah even had her own Seventies knockoff too called Tanya/ Sport Girl ripping off Hasbro's Charlies Angels range. Don't fawcett!

My Home-Made Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon

 I needed a new project this week and I've always liked the Corgi Popeye Paddlewagon since having one as a young spinach gobbler.

I thought I'd make one. A Paddlewagon.

I found an old smallish car and consulted the Great Book of Corgi.

I scoured my bits drawers and began glueing stuff together. Popeye, Olive Oil, the lot.

After a while it was done. I just needed a tin of spinach and the car a lick of paint.

Finished! 

Hope Popeye's happy.

My POTA stunt rider turned up. I gave him a small rifle for his back.

Here's all three things I've finished this last two days.

Waddaya reckon readers?

Have you got a Paddlewagon?

The Moonbase International Martian Chronicles Custom Figure Completed

 A while back I blogged a small Martian Chronicles figure I'd made. All I needed to finish it was a decent blister for Bill's fabulous card art.

I found one. A dates box at Booths supermarket in Keswick. I bought three. It's a lot of dates!

A proper job now it's done.

See what you think.

My Custom Ahi Planet of the Apes Stunt Cycle

 Being a big fan of vintage Planet of the Apes rack toys I thought I'd have a bash at making my version of the Ahi Stunt Cycle.

See what you think.