Treasure Island

I do love the Japanese sense of design, especially when its small.

I adore this fabulous island, a real treasure I saw on small ads so saved these pics.

I have a feeling its been inspired by Tracy Island. is it a toy you know readers?

Will's Shinsei Rock Cutter

Hi Woodsy. Seeing a similar item on the blog the other day, I found this and thought I would post it. Best wishes. 

Will O.

UK

MY CHRISTMAS JEEK TUNNELN

 One of the big surprises for me this Xmas was an amazing die-cast toy from my daughter and son in law.

The Jeek Tunneln from the UFO Commander 7 range by Shinsei of Japan circa 1976.

Its a beautiful thing, almost a work of art with many moving parts and a gorgeous blue, red and silver colour scheme. When I first handled it I thought immediately of Popy type die-casts.

The cockpit bubble elevates as does the rear attachment.

Two side launchers can be stood up and rotated. Mine is minus its missiles.

The huge drill bit at the front rotates too with a satisfyingly ratchetty sound. It is a tunneller after all and worthy of a place in TB2's pod!

I've just seen on Pinterest that it can do this as well, which I didn't know and for the life of me can't work out how its done! I've tried!

Here's the Shinsei Jeek Tunneln its is classic blister box, an image I found on Worthpoint, reminiscent of those wonderful Grip and Edai die-casts.

I can't imagine anyone else but the Japanese coming up with such a fantastic design. I'm sure there's some Gerry Anderson influence there and all in all it looks like a homage to everything we loved in Thunderbirds et al.

Here's the full range in a shop display courtesy of Chogokin - the Star Wars effect clearly visible in the marketing.

Interestingly there's a cloned range by Empire, the successors to Tarheel Industries, the American Project SWORD toy firm. Empire released Star Mites in the mid-Seventies and here's there Jeek Tunneln. I wonder if they had a licence from Shinsei?

Do you have any Shinsei UFO Commander 7 or any Empire Star Mites toys readers?

Is there a Manga/ Anime connection?

GLIMPSES OF A WHITBY CHRISTMAS

As the glitter settles for another year on the shadows of Christmas here are a few snaps of our festive break this year in the harbour town of Whitby on Yorkshire's east coast.

Its a place I can truly recommend for its salty air, chewy whelks, seagulls mewing, narrow alleyways like Loggerheads Yard, whale bones, fog-bound streets, small shops, charity shops, the best fish and chips and general all-round misty period nautical charm. Imagine a place by the sea concocted by both Dickens and Bram Stoker and you have it.

The view from our attic bedroom: the Abby and St. Hilda's on top of the hundred steps.

Whitby Abbey ruins in shadow, the inspiration for Stoker's Carfax in Dracula.

The Builder-Joiner-Undertaker business opposite our house. I thought it said Butchers! Yikes!

Copies of Dracula in the Old Town.

Boxing Day night when the toys come alive.

My small haul of Superfast cars from Whitby and a Jeek Tunneln die-cast by Shinsei given to me by my daughter for Christmas.

More to come on the toys.

Time for another advocat!

What did you get for Christmas readers?