Arch March

 Today's Arch outdoor boot sale gave up a small clutch of old toys.

See what you think.

Back: Tonka Desert Express 1982, Stobart trailer for me to transform into an Optimus Trailer.

Middle: Action Man field radio, Mighty Max 1992, Power Rangers Condor, MASK Firefly 1986.

Front: Hot Wheels Jag 1977, Dinky Eagle pod 1974.

SHAZAM! CAR BOOT BOUNTY!

 I was quite chuffed with this morning's catch down the boot sale.

We burst through the early fog into decent weather in Wetherby.

Here's what I picked up. See anything you would have got?

There was a whole jar full of about 50 small plastic American football helmets. I bought one, 50p. Not sure which team that is. The small digger is by Tomica but the toy line is unknown to me.

I was pleased to find this Shazam Corgi car from 1979. Don't think I've seen one before. I'll try to spruce it up.

These packs of model decals and papers were going for a song at 50p each. I got two. No idea what's in them yet!

This big modern Batmobile was a snip at £1. It so reminded me of the Kenner Super Powers version that it had to come home to Gotham.

The red Barbie MG? is dated 1998 and the silver spaceship is for Junior. I think its Roblox maybe.

Last but not least, my biggest purchase at £8, this old case full of various bits and pieces from 1980's toys like M.A.S.K and Manta Force, plus a couple of Ghostbusters ghosts and more bits to keep me amused for a good while. The case itself is likely to be 1980's, as its covered in Transformers puffy stickers.

See anything you like?

RICHARD'S M.A.S.K PHOTOS

Here's some pictures from the beginning of my career with the Toy Industry UK / Children's Comics , taken from my archives....from 1988 - 1989...

Enjoy this bit of Toy History....M.A.S.K. Mobile Armoured Strike Kommand....Kenner Toys UK......

My first Toy Industry product I got to work with....model sets , painted backgrounds and a lot of close up picture taking....these early pictures took me into a whole different way of doing things for my work...with M.A.S.K. using studio photography....before this I did only Portraits , Weddings , Theatres Publicity Pictures of Artists and Groups in Blackpool...some Commercial Products Photography and Motor Sport Magazine stuff....a whole new world for me was just about to happen around the corner in 1988/1989....

Hope you all like these pictures...Richard Dixon TPD STUDIOS UK.

Did you have any M.A.S.K toys?

Bionically Yours

 

Most peoples perception of Lego will be either a standard 8 stud brick, or more lately a minifig. Lego today is one of the biggest toy brands ever, but around 2000, it was in dire straits and heading for the back of the toy cupboard. With the revival of Star Wars and Transformers franchises, Lego looked for a new approach to toys and construction and went down the action figure route and shortly after, the Bionicle franchise was born. Popular Mechanics tells the actual story much better than I can, but suffice to say, after getting rid of most of my original Lego, I was suddenly back on board again, with a vengance.

In the late 1990's, I had found an advert from Lego asking for freelance submissions to Lego Dacta, the educational arm of the company and I contacted the company and began to submit some ideas for various new directions. granted, none of my ideas were even close to Bionicle, but what I did provide was very well received, even if it didn't actually land me a desk in Denmark!

Still it did however put me back in touch with the toy in a big way. I bought a huge lot of standard Lego from a friend and started building and shortly after, saw an advert for the new Bionicle line in the Lego magazine. For me it was a wish come true, combining a super adaptable toy with an action figure base. 

Collectable 'Infected' Hau Mask

As the line was revealed, it became apparent that besides the off the shelf figures, there was a collectable element to it too, as the figural heads all had removeable masks, which could be bought separately in blind baggies. £1.50 bought three masks with a chance to find a super rare 'Infected' mask, a hand painted version which expanded the storyline behind the figures.

First Generation Bionicle Figure

The series was hugely popular and spawned endless variations and spin offs including merchandise, comics, videos and games. Lego did fall foul of some legal issues, as the mythology behind the series was based on polynesian gods and theology and the original ideology had to be changed slightly.

But up until a few years ago, the line was going strong, with various revamps along the way, but always with the central 'mask' idea, meaning that in order to collect all the possible variations and designs, you would need very deep pockets and a lot of space! Needless to say, I have been collecting them from day one and am still not complete, but content myself with a selection of the more accessible ones and not worrying about the platinum and 4 carat gold versions!

Nestle Cereal Premium

For me, they represent a throwback to the little toys that came with cereal, bright coloured plastic and nicely designed toys, but there is also the mythological element to them as well, as each mask is accorded a special mystical power and some of them even reflect totem animals or primitive art.

Canadian First Nations Masks

So Lego has come a very long way from its origins in small wooden pull along toys, through the first brick based plastic toy into action figures and mainstream cultural icons, but it will always remain a fabulously playable toy and something which I will always enjoy, either on my own or with future generations of grandchildren.