Penn Plax DIY Skeleton

Waiting for the Grandkids to arrive I whipped up a home-style mock-off of the Penn Plax reclining Skeleton.

Making the paper-mache rock was fun!

The scallywag glows in the dark too.

Creature Feature: Recreating the Penn Plax Creature from the Black Lagoon Aquarium Figure

Years ago when I started buying reference books on monster toys I became aware of an iconic Sixties collectable among Creature from the Black Lagoon fans, the Penn Plax aquarium action aerating monster.

Original examples in the fantastic window box are much sought after and here's one on the Hakes auction site.

Here's a clip of it in bubbling action.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mcKS-nRVQdY&feature=shared

So beloved by monster collectors and aquarium buffs, it was re-released in 1999, in a somewhat less interesting bubble box.

With a resurgence of interest in this fishtank gill man, some astute modern toy companies have rejuvenated the Penn Plax classic in their own way.

Here's Mego's, who have largely stuck to the original box design, albeit slimmer.

And ace nostalgia makers Super 7's creature has recreated the Penn Plax big box.

Never ones to shy away from a challenge, Bill and me decided to have a crack at one ourselves! 

First, I was lucky enough to source this loose Penn Plax figure from Hong Kong for £28 including shipping on eBay. It kicked off the project well.

Next up, the box art. Bill came into his own here. We decided to adhere to the Sixties Penn Plax original, a complex window box with internal inserts! 

After researching the box and recreating the design, Bill had created a final and fabulous box art template. 

I then set about on stage three, making up the box. 

Boy! And what a job it was!

Finally, complete with a plastic window, here's the latest MoonBase International effort, our very own Penn Plax Creature from the Moon Lagoon!

Hope you like it.

William's LEM Sealab Explorer

Hi, I purchased one of these Sealab aquarium items today at a thrift store. I came across your website mentioning them. 

It doesn't appear to have been removed from the box as it looks tied down inside. The box says 1971. There is still plastic around the box as well.

Can anyone tell me anything more about it?

Thanks!

William B.

PENN PLAX SEALAB EXPLORER UNBOXED

Found this unboxed example of a Penn Plax Sealab Explorer aquarium toy.

It went under my radar because it was called a moon lander in the description. An easy mistake for sure, it should be a LEM after all and not a sea lander!

I saved the pictures and here they are.

We can see the differences between it and the Tri-ang SpaceX LEM too, which is pictured below the Sealab.

.... and the Tri-ang SpaceX LEM

Judging by the small number of either of these LEMs online I'd say they are equally as uncommon.

Which do you like the most?

THE PENN PLAX LEM

Always on the look out for new LEMS here's one from the archives of the blog along with a new sighting.

Its the Penn Plax Sealab Explorer from 1971 seen in red and white below.

Yes, the Sealab Explorer is an underwater LEM! Penn Plax were and are the kings of plastic fish tank ornamentation.

Here's another more recent sighting of a red and metallic green one on the Minipetsupplies site.

 The Penn Plax LEM reminds me a lot of my Tri-ang SpaceX LEM toy.

Here's a picture of one courtesy of Bill B.

Has anyone got the Penn Plax LEM for some more close-up photo's?

new year, new tank

Brian F's fish adjusting to their new bigger New Jersey tank!

Do you have an aquarium as cool as this?

Any Penn Plax classic water toys maybe?

geek salad scalliwags

Its always good to get away for a few days. We've been to Skipton. Yep, to recharge the ol' battery packs.

Its always fun to spot vintage stuff and old friends whilst travelling. The geek travels in me.

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So I had to laugh. In our Bed and Breakfast room was this radiator dial. I immediately thought ....

 stormtrooper! ha ha.

Have you seen any household items which remind you of films, sci fi or toys?

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In Skipton I also saw an old pal in the window of an Aquatics shop.

The Jewel Box Collection skeleton pirate by fish tank toy maestro's Penn Plax.

I've loved Penn Plax ever since I discovered that they released an aerating Creature from the Black Lagoon, one of the most iconic monster collectables ever.

I could easily collect Penn Plax skeletons. In fact all pirate skeletons really. Part of such a collection would have to be MPC's Pirates of the Caribbean - like their brilliant Dead Man's Raft.

Not wanting to spend a King's ransom on an original kit reader Jeff Saucerman has kindly let me know that for a few dabloons you could bag the Lindberg re-issue in their Jolly Roger line, Hex Marks the Spot!

Anyone collect skeleton kits and toys?

creature feature

On a recent trip to the crafts mega-store The Range I picked up a PEZ.

Brand new and on its card my PEZ was a minty R2D2, a gift for a family member in need of a new droid.

Buying it reminded me of one of my greatest collectables finds ever, the PEZ Creature from the Black Lagoon.

I found it in a dusty cabinet in a vintage shop in Leeds many years ago. It wasn't alone either because a Lincoln Frankenstein was hiding in a drawer too! Needless to say both monsters made their way home to Moonbase!

Diving further into The Range store I surfaced in the Aquarium aisle. I love fish tank decorations and was thrilled to see my old friends Penn Plax still bubbling along with cool modern Action-Air frogmen and skeletons.

Besides frogmen and spaceships, Monster collectors love Penn Plax too. They released a cracker ... almost a Kraken! Their own version of a fish tank Creature from the Black Lagoon called the Action Aerating Monster. A legend among goldfish everywhere this monster is one of all creature collectors' holy grails.

Checking up on the gill man I was pleased to see that the Lagoon hasn't dried up yet:

Veny's re-issued the Penn Plax monster as recently as 2013.

Have you any creatures at home readers?

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P.S. This is the first new post I've written in a while and posted on the same day. Normally I schedule posts 2 months ahead but its unusual as it's on my new Lenovo laptop. My old trusty Compacq workhorse, known affectionately as The Toaster, which I've had for well over a decade and on which this blog was born nine years ago is sadly giving up the ghost. 

The end of an era.