Paul V's SpaceX Junkyard Ten Years On

Ten years ago my friend Paul Vreede found some rather sorry looking SpaceX custom wrecks.

You can re-read the full story here, of how Paul found them and what glories emerged from the salvage!

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2015/05/back-on-track-by-paul-vreede.html

In summary, pictures tell the story really well too.

Before ....

And after! 

The restored Apollo Tracker!

And a custom 'Surveyor' Project SWORD Moon Crawler ( blogged recently, which Paul kindly gave to me).

I'm sure you'll agree Paul did a sterling job fixing up those original junkers. 

Paul still has a few Crawler parts spare if anyone would like to have a go at making one. Just email me.

Paul's SpaceX Surveyors and ... one S.W.O.R.D Moon Crawler!

My good friend Paul V kindly sent me this fab picture of his fleet of fabulous SpaceX Surveyors.

 It also features a Surveyor that Paul customised into superb miniature Project SWORD Moon Crawler, which he very kindly gave me as a gift for my birthday in 2021.

PS. Paul has some spare parts for another mini Moon Crawler if anyone is interested. Email me.

JOHN SCHOENHERR'S BEARS

The late great American artist John Schoenherr produced many well-known sci-fi covers and illustrations.

But he was also a master of wildlife painting too.

His wild bears are startling, capturing their majesty and power perfectly whilst walking through lonely desolate landscapes in search of food and shelter.

John Schoenherr's bears are just part of his vast menagerie of fabulous wildlife works.

Very poignantly, he was working on a new 'old' bear painting shortly before he passed away in 2010. You can read about this sad finale on his son Ian's blog dedicated to his Dad:

https://johnschoenherr.blogspot.com/2010/07/studio-april-12-2010.html

Many years ago Ian kindly gave permission for me to publish two of his Dad's unseen sketch paintings for a Moon Crawler.

Ian covered it himself in 2011 on his blog at the time.

https://johnschoenherr.blogspot.com/2011/09/moon-crawler.html

and here they are again in all their glory:

Image copyright: John and Ian Schoenherr. Published with permission.

OVER THE MOON

 A Christmas or so back my friend and fellow SpaceX fan Paul Vreede kindly sent me a wonderful gift, his take on the Project SWORD Moon Crawler.

Paul used an old SpaceX Surveyor as the basis and what a fantastic job he did!

LORDS OF THE STARSHIP: NOW THAT'S A BIG 'UN!

Lords of the Starship: When I first saw this Sphere paperback cover online I immediately thought it was Star Wars related. Maybe a Sith Lord like Darth Vader admiring a new ship.

But this novel by Mark S. Geston is from 1972!

The original 1967 first edition art is stunning too, by one John Schoenherr, whom we wrote a lot about here in MC in the past, his son even corresponding with us about his Moon Crawler art!

The blurb at the rear of the 1972 edition is great too! It describes a gigantic spaceship, an ark for a dying Earth's peoples. A familiar dilemma and one at the very heart of say Project SWORD.

Thinking of Star Wars again there's even mention of a dark hideous force!

I am really drawn to the size of the space plane, which took 250 years to build! A sort of mega-Fireflash!

I don't know this book at all or anything by Geston. Do you readers?

Rover the Moon!

I received this fabulous Moon Crawler from friend Paul Vreede for my birthday. 

Paul did a wonderful job converting a SpaceX Surveyor. The detailing is superb! 

I hope these photographs do it justice as I was and am literally over the moon!

Thanks Paul!

Scratchbuilt space station moon base was a gift from Wotan in 2010.

KUHL! FISCHER TECHNIK'S ASTRO-MOBIL

I love this!

Those balloon tyres do it for me.

I saw it first about ten years ago and not since, but it's back!

These pics were on an auction from last year.

The designer has signed the box but I can't read it. You?

Judging by the pictures on the box rear there's tons you could do with this toy.

and here's the toy itself as featured at the Fischer Technik Museum

How kuhl is that!

Have you got one?

LUNAR PROBE JIGSAW PUZZLE

Years ago I blogged a Lunar probe jigsaw or two. 

This is another one in the series. It has different card art and lettering.

The one I have at Moonbase is a copy of John Schoenherr's beautiful Moon Crawler painting.

http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2017/03/jak-pak-lunar-probe-redux.html

HOME-MADE SPACEX SURVEYOR 2 TOY: ALL DONE AND DUSTED!

Phew! That wasn't easy especially the blue windscreen. After a couple of duds I ended up sawing a Hermesetas box in half! It sort of worked I hope.

Not sure what to do next!