Arto's Latin place-holder story reminded me of another mystery from way back when Moonbase first kicked off in 2008/09.
Here it is, as solved in 2011. Enjoy!
Back in October 2009 reader Ferryman flagged up a gasket mystery relating to a strange card template inside the New Flying Saucer at the bottom of the above picture. The gasket was sort of cat faced and pictured a speedboat in blue, black and white. The identity of this has remained a mystery.....
Until now!
I was recently lucky enough to acquire a new T boat, the Dolphin Cruiser and lo and behold, the box art includes, you've guessed it, the blue, black and white speedboat picture on two sides!
Mystery solved!
Below you can see the two pictures close up.
Did these card gaskets appear inside all three types of New Flying Saucer: T, JR21 and the German Welt Erkunder?
I remembered seeing this gorgeous batcycle on Ed Kelly's Batman toys list.
Its number 72 on Ed's rarest 100 toys.
I had thought it was Tudor Rose but it turns out its an Italian make, Il Giocattolo, made in Hong Kong.
Anyway, I've found this similar non-Bats version of the bike online!
I wonder if its easier to find this one?
Made in Hong Kong, this old Hakes listing suggests its by Telsalda but the E logo on the box front suggests otherwise, although I don't recognise the E. Do you?
Is it possible that they are more or less the same two motorcycles?
Back in the mists of time I blogged about the Rocket Firing Space Car.
A single internet entry was all there was, a grainy picture of the box and car from the side.
Its so long ago I can't find that forst post that started a blog legend: where there any more out there?
Here's that first picture though.
The only other image was this much clearer one of the box only.
So I was stunned and excited when this year the toy and box turned up on Ebay!
The seller was ZZRobot, ace space toy collector who's amazing stuff has appeared now and then here on MC.
Needless to say I am not the new owner but I did save the auction pics, so without further ado here is the Telsalda Rocket Firing Space Car in all its plastic glory!
Its Japanese design origin was discussed by both myself and Ferryman four years ago, Super Jetter, a really old monochrome anime TV show from 1965.
There are various model kits of this vehicle available and here's the box art of the Imai Ryu-Sei-Go courtesy of Rob C. There's also an Imai die-cast version. This photo, which we featured on the blog 4 years ago, is the only one I can find online:
Recently I've since found this Japanese Hot Wheels version pictured online! It doesn't appear to come with the figures but looks great nonetheless!
Here's a Japanese film about the Hot Wheels Super Jetter Ryu-Sei-Go, again on You Tube.
Have you got any of these toys or models or maybe you've seen the TV series?
The Telsalda Thunderbird X-2. I saw it on the Bay.
Now, Telsalda are not at the forefront of my mind when I think of space toys**
This one is real hotch-potch of names and styles.
Its a sort of Flying saucer space car with its name borrowed from Tracy Island and X-Planes I suppose.
The red fins recall the red fins on the unrelated X-series of toys like the Space Racer, whilst the rear engines remind me of the rear of the Blue Bird Space Glider.
The box art has me stumped though! What is it?
And that's the Jimson crown logo in the bottom left corner!
Has anyone got this strange Telsalda Jimson concoction?
** Telsalda did release a rare and beautiful space vehicle and I would love better photo's of it for the blog if you have one, as it's literally nowhere else on the net - The Rocket Firing Space Car
Recently I discussed the origins of a rare plastic toy with Ferryman: the Rocket Firing Space car by Telsalda. Neither of us own one and these two pictures are the only ones I've seen, which I culled from the net years ago. As time goes on and it remains hidden from view its legendary status is growing on the blog, a bit like the awesome JR21 Submarine Aircraft Carrier [eventually found in a garage!]
As soon as Ferryman saw the picture he said it looks just like an old Imai kit, the Super Coupe 5 pictured here [courtesy of Japansuperfantasticmodel.com]. We both agreed that the red-capped chap looks like one of the Monkees!
and again here, the Shooting Star, appearing in a anime TV show Super Jetter.
and the Super Jetter Shooting Star again here as part of Imai's Good Model die-cast range, which we know well at Moonbase because its stablemate is the neat metal Scramble Bug! Seen below are the small poster, which accompanied all the Good Models and the Shooting Star itself in its blister box. Anyone got this die-cast Shooting Star toy?
