FAB1 on the Tracks

It's enough to make me want to start up slot car racing!

What do you think readers?

https://youtube.com/shorts/VrK2rOkRX40?si=rfttL9WXD1DH-lkD 

PS. Is it FAB1 or FAB 1?

Penelope's Choice

 My cracked FAB1 canopy is sure perplexing.

Rob's idea of Kitsugi is appealing, the uniqueness of the crack. I like it!

I consulted keen modeller Paul A and he agreed toothpaste might remove scratches. Teeth fixative powder too and complete with clear varnish. I did try toothpaste but I just couldn't get it to work. Maybe it was too smooth.

I've read on Richard's, a previous reader's resto effort, that T-Cut does the job too, on both body and dome.

Bill Ev had another useful tip: replace it entirely with one from from the Imai Amerang FAB1 model kit. Good call! Typical, I sold a loose Imai FAB1 last year ( a lockdown donation from Wotan), but if I recall it didn't have a dome, so I don't feel too bad!

Another way forward, if any at all, is the paper method. Simply cover the split with a parcel tape band, as it would have come packaged in its box back in '65!

Here's one, for sale, like that, courtesy of online dealer Modellers' Loft.

Here's my copy! The cracks gone!

Another more technical solution comes via a modeller I just discovered online today, Marc Brassé.

Marc's method is to create a whole new canopy from a plastic bottle. Yes! I can relate to that, as I've done it before myself, albeit on a smaller scale with my Matchbox Draguar.

Marc used a Reddy fritturollie bottle, which, with his obvious skill, gave this amazing result, completed with beautiful pink stripes.

Image: Marc Brassé

You can see more of Marc's fabulous work on his website:

https://www.brassee.com/scalemodeling.html

Attempting to emulate Marc I found some old water and pop bottles in the greenhouse and using the FAB1 canopy as a template, drew the shape and cut it out.

I repeated this four times but none of them fitted well enough to be deemed an ersatz. The bottle shape has to be spot-on I reckon, which is a feat in itself! 

Anyways, here's my less than satisfactory efforts. I've realized I can't cut curved plastic for toffee! 

I may just leave it up to Lady P!

Have you made your own domes readers?

THE SCALEXTRIC FAB1: MAKE TRACKS!

 I love this short video from Scalextric. Makes me want to get their FAB1.

Almost! 

Do you like it?

They just need a Zero-X flying overhead now.

BOWLS ROYCE: THE 1967 SUGAR SMACKS FAB1

Check this marvel out, the Sugar Smacks FAB1 on a great cereals premium site, Cereal Offers.

I'm not sure I've seen this FAB1 before.

What do you think?

 https://cerealoffers.com/Kelloggs/Sugar_Smacks/1960s/Lady_Penelope_Fab_1_Vehicle/lady_penelope_fab_1_vehicle.html

There are more Gerry Anderson premiums on the site too:

https://cerealoffers.com/Kelloggs/Sugar_Smacks/sugar_smacks.html

KEV'S KONAMI

Here is my Konami FAB1 with my TB1 scratchbuild .

Home Parker,

Kevin

UK

MARY KAY'S PINK PERKS

Hello Woodsy

Re: Think Pink

Here in the US Mary Kay cosmetics are famous for the Pink Cars the salespeople earn.

You will find photos online

https://www.marykay.com/en-us/sell-mary-kay/career-car-program

What do you think?

Terranova47

USA

BILL EV's KONAMI FAB1

This is from my collection. Its incredibly small. About 1/300th scale.

Bill Ev.

UK

The Smallest FAB1's?

 I've got a thing for FAB1 at the mo.

Remember this Pizza Hut cup lid from the early 90's. I had them all back then. Our daughter was 9 back then so we ate a lot of Pizza and Ice Cream from the Factory!

This FAB lid is from an old auction. Anyone got any more?

The little Rolls above isn't one I had. From Yujin, a Japanese make that released gorgeous miniature gumball-style Thunderbirds toys. Other companies did the same. Have you got any?

THINK PINK

 I saw this shocking pink Bentley Continental and thought  .....

.... are there any others!

Yep, a pink Daimler hearse!

A pink Jag!

and of course! Our favourite! This time a beautiful pedal car style toy version from 2011. I have read the blurb on this and have no idea where it is or who made it!

and for the kid who had everything, the Shama Rolls pedal car! [OK, its red]

Can you think of any others?

FAB1 FETTLED!

 Junior gave me his small Matchbox FAB1 to fettle.

It had lost some paint after Parker took Tin Tin out for a spin.

Avoiding any trouble with the Tracys, I gave it a simple new coat of shocking pink.

I tidied up the chrome work

And finally, glossed the body with PVA.

Just hope Lady Penelope is happy! 

THE 2023 SCALEXTRIC FAB1

This is just great! When I saw this I thought it was the JR21 FAB1 I had as a kid... but on a track!

Scalextric has done it again!

Waddaya reckon readers? FAB?

[Images and video: Scalextric and Anderson Entertainment]

A FAB1 GOOGLEWACK

Years ago a single hit on Google was called a Googlewack. The name stuck with me and now and then I find one.

Here's another; contained within this superb Fab1 article on the ever-informative Dinky Toys TV and Space site is mention of a rare FAB1 custom model car made in 1982. 

https://dinkytvspace.com/100-lady-penelopes-fab-1/

Its about two thirds down in the rarities and oddities section talking about two gold hand-made FAB1's. One is shown and another non-gold normal model is also shown on the company box. It looks amazing and a bit like a JR21 toy FAB1 but more detailed.

Anyways I wont say the name of the company, S, or the model maker, DM* and FAB1 in the same sentence as that would explode the Googlewack!

* I have read separately that DM was previously the Marketing Director at Dinky Meccano before setting up his own model company, S.

FAB1 ON BLUE PETER

 I stumbled across this whilst looking for something for the sidebar but its just too cool so here it is on the blog proper.

FAB1 in the Blue Peter studios back in summer 1968.

Its HUGE! They're all in it! Noaksy, Peter and Valerie! Maybe Shep as well!

What do you think? Do you remember this on TV?

DAN DARE'S FAB SALVAGE CRAFT

 This 2000 AD Annual 1980 was part of a large lot of books that came my way last month.

I was never a 2000 AD reader but I now appreciate the effort and following of the comic that emerged in the decaying end of the Seventies.

Browsing through I was attracted to the reds of Dan Dare.

When Bam! What is that ship!*?

There was more at the end too!

I don't know about you but I think the artist has possibly taken inspiration from two sources we know well.

FAB1

and the Triang SpaceX Salvage Craft

Merging them together you get something like this.

What do you think readers? 

DID THE DINKY OR JR21 FAB1 APPEAR IN THUNDERBIRDS?

My query yesterday about the size of the Thunderbird front-end 2 prop used by Century 21 got me thinking about the size of FAB1's used in Thunderbirds.

Specifically I've been wondering if they ever used the toy versions of FAB1 in the show? - For distance shots maybe and namely the Dinky and JR21 FAB1's, both available from 1966 onwards I think.

There's no mention of them in Marc J. Fratassio's resume of the models used in Thunderbirds

http://www.lestersdomain.org/superm/tech/sfx/tbirds/models2.html

or his gallery of die-casts used in the show

http://www.lestersdomain.org/superm/tbirds/diecasts-gallery.html and http://www.lestersdomain.org/superm/tbirds/diecasts.html

so its probably a non-starter.

image: ewbank auctions

FAB1 AND THUNDERBIRD 2

Seeing the size of FAB1 against Thunderbird 2 on Thunderbirds Wiki it struck me that FAB1 could have easily driven into the TB2 pod.

So did FAB1 ever go into the TB2 pod in the TV series or did TB2 ever lift FAB1 and drop it off? Anyone know?

THE ROYAL CAR

 

This is the Maks toy Royal Car, a version of which we have all seen recently on the TV during the sad rituals of the Queen's passing.

The late Queen, here young and comfy in the rear, is waving at her adoring crowds as she has since 1953. The new King Charles will be hoping for just a smidgeon of such devotion I imagine.

I wonder if this is a copy of the actual royal Royce stored on the Royal Yacht Britannia I saw in Edinburgh years ago?

It look likes a splendid plastic toy car and one I would have loved as a kid. I doubt I could afford one now!

Have you got a royal car?

Have you ever seen the real thing, maybe, sadly, this past week?

WAS THE DINKY FAB1 USED IN THUNDERBIRDS?

 Looking at this famous shot of Derek Meddings and the Fireflash [courtesy of lester demon nl] I can see various die-cast toy vehicles just below the control tower [what can you see?]

Seeing Derek and knowing he designed FAB1 I've wondered whether the Dinky FAB1 die-cast was ever used in Thunderbirds TV series or films?

Does anyone know?

FAB1 ICE CREAM VAN

I'm glad they cite Thunderbirds as the source for the name FAB1! They've made millions off it!

https://p50cars.com/fab1-creating-the-worlds-smallest-ice-cream-van-for-nestles-fab-ice-lollies/

FAB1 STORY

This was interesting, a take on the history of FAB1 by Marc of Sixmania. Part 2 is linked in the article.

http://www.sixmania.fr/en/la-fabuleuse-histoire-de-la-vraie-fab-1-premiere-partie/ 

What did you think?