FROM ZEROID TO HEROID

Hi there Moonbasers! 

I got a little distracted while working on some of my simultaneous projects. I have all three of my childhood Zeroids in a display case I made as a teenager and it's really the worse for wear. 

While considering a replacement, I thought again about how Ideal's Zeroids really were one of my favourite toys! The design was AMAZING and they were scaled just right for Major Matt Mason!

Anyway, still in my '66 mind groove, I woke up one morning possessed and HAD to design a Zeroid in their classic style. I already had Zintar: The Explorer, Zobor: The Transporter and Zerak: The Destroyer (pretty dull, no wonder his hands didn't even grip like the other two!)

So, I now give you Zutura: The Replicator!

Complete with all those design features I loved so much as a kid!

A chromed brain under a glass dome... I even pushed back my personal CGI envelope, by shaping the leading edge of the transparency with the digital equivalent of sanding and polishing!

And all those details on the rear deck like the on/off switch!

I didn't originally intend Zutura to be a female robot, but given my design inspiration, it was just a natural development.

And what was that inspiration that provided so many styling hints and gave her that odd name?

-Just a one word clue, Bat fans. ....Batmobile.

Maybe I'll get around to 3D printing her out in a little while, I've already bought the Radio Control drive chain, but making the caterpillar tracks in silicone rubber will be a bit of a task! ...

Happy New Year, 

Looey 

Oz Base

Could Zeroids Do Any Real Work?

I wonder just how much weight could a Zeroid have pulled?

I remember the brown one distinctly dragging his box trailer along behind him. He gave my Action Man a ride round the room now and then.

But could Zeroid's do any real work?

Would that trailer take a a book from one side of the room to another for instance or maybe relocate a whole stack of loose SpaceX vehicles?

There's one other working Robot I'd have loved as a nipper in 1968, Captain Robo from Yonezawa - their 21st Century Space Series range. It looks superb but I don't know how the robot pulled the trailer. Or did it?

Captain Robo reminds me of something in Space Safari by Miniflex. I haven't got that set so if you have maybe let me know which vehicle I'm thinking of. 

The Captain's red domed cockpit has a look of the Project SWORD Moon Ranger too. I'd like to get a good clear look inside that red dome.

Did you have any working robots as a kid? Zeroids, Ding a Lings etc?

COREL DRAW ZERO-X AND ZEROIDS BY KENNETZEL

 

These excellent illustrations are by a Flickr artist called kennetzel, who has kindly agreed to me posting them here. He says of his art  " They are computer generated by using Corel Draw. It's a program I got a while a go and self-taught myself how to use."

See more of his fabulous Thunderbirds and robot illustrations and much more on Kennetzel at flickr.

THE FIRST OF THE ZEROIDS

The first three original Zeroids as they appeared in this advert from a 1968 DC comic.

I did like the comic panel look of the ad which tempted me to read about all their features and give subtle hints to my parents for that year’s Christmas present.

Forty five years later I’m still as fond of these little critters as I was when I was a nipper.

And even though their design looks like they've been built using chrome auto parts and bits of Hi-Fi, it all helps to reiterate their retro kitschy look.  

Zobor, The Bronze Transporter.

 It came with its own Cosmobile used to carry small rocks.

Zerak, The Blue Destroyer.

 It came with its own Control Station which it was able to release itself from.

Zintar, The Silver Explorer.

It came with its own Lunar Sled.

Eventually, other robots would join the line up but for one youngster in 1968 these were the original and best.