Zython Sunshine

I love a good recycled toy story and the Zython's another one.

Mattel used an existing line of dolls they had to make Zython, the Space 1999 alien. At least the body.

It was the Sunshine Family pictured above, the adults. Mattel just made it green.

If your'e considering recreating Zython why not try and get hold of an original Sunshine Family doll! I cheated and bought a green Monster High.

What do you think?

There's No Escape Batman!

 Tracking down clones or origins of Sixties TV character toy guns is fun.

Here's another.

Lincoln's cool Batman Escape Gun.

And here are it's clones or maybe origins.

Do you have any of these? 

Larami Space Shooter. Presumably a later clone.

Unbranded Satellite and Rocket Pistol. Could these be older than Lincoln's gun?

Images: courtesy of Ebay

Space Ace Weapons Mystery

 As soon as I saw this I knew I'd seen those 1984 Space Ace rifles before. But where!

Bingo! They're the Action Man Space Ranger rifles aka Space Arms! 

But why?

RE-INFORCED! THE STORY OF KENNER'S RECYCLED STAR WARS TOYS

Even if you're not a Star Wars fan this is interesting for toy collectors generally.

Long time Star wars collector and writer Ron Salvatore has torn apart the Falcon to find all the Star Wars toys that Kenner up- and re- cycled. It looks old and I've no idea when it was written but I liked it a lot.

For instance, did you know that the Kenner Gamorrean Guard became their Friar Tuck? Me neither!

Its a fascinating story, so have a shufty.

http://theswca.com/images-speci/recycle/ 

I also found Ron's bio page really quite poignant, talking about his Mom and Dad and those gloriously free days of our childhoods. Even though I'm much older and British, it struck a chord, which I imagine is universal.

http://theswca.com/ron.html

Have you come across Ron Salvatore before?

IT'S RIGGED!

This CLIM extravaganza is a classic multi-wheeled monster.

Interestingly, the listing on Spain's Todocoleccion suggests that the red driver cab is somehow linked to a Star Wars Mini Rig!

What do you think?

Here's two I saw on Ebay.

Is it the MTV-7?

or ISP-6?

Red Hat Man

 I received this card and Sangria on Father's day. Our daughter's family had just got back from Majorca. 

As soon as I saw the red hat I thought .... Action Man!

Avoiding it's unpleasant Mateodor roots I wondered what else Action Man could use a red hat for? 

A Canadian Mountie? This is a Little Big Man Mountie in this group shot.

Or A Mexican Caballero like this Aurora kit?

 Anyone got any pictures of red hat Action Man or figures? 

AMERICAN FOLK ROBOTS

We stopped on the way out of town to visit the American Visionary Art Museum, a fancy name for folk art, that is, art by artists without a formal training.

Here is the exhibit MC readers might enjoy. A Robot Family. For size the red one on the left is about 6 feet tall.

Terranova47

USA

DIG FOR VICTORY!

I'm always on the lookout for replacement Action Man equipment!

Made in Hong Kong for Hallmark of Kansas City, here's a bag of nifty plastic party picks that would sit well in Palitoy's Fighting Man's footlocker! A spade with a bayonet!

Can you think of any 'replacements' like this?

Hokey religions and Ancient weapons are No match for a good Blaster at your side, James!

 Having yesterday returned from the Star Wars fest that was Junior's sith birthday, I'm seeing the rebellion everywhere!

Take this James Bond 1979 Lone Star Moonraker weapon.

Does that look like a blaster to you?

ARTO'S DATED BATTLE CATS

On MOTU Battle Cat versions, thought of sending you these pics for comparison. The upper one is marked (c) MATTEL, INC. 1976 TAIWAN whereas the lower one (c) Mattel, Inc. 1983 MALAYSIA. The green colour on the 1976 version is a bit lighter.

Arto

DYNA BAT BLISTERS

 Being a fan of Project SWORD toys I'm always on the lookout for similar toys and parts.

I spotted something online, see what you think.

Here's the Century 21 Toys Project SWORD Dyna Soar.

Here's its distinctive cockpit blister.

and here's another similar one with Batman piloting ...

in the superb looking Batamaran by Lincoln Toys.

Do you agree they're similar?

Have you got these toys readers?

DOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Domes are on my mind.

FAB1 domes to be exact.

But along the way I wondered what might substitute for a SpaceX Moon Base HQ module.

What about the Coman Boys explorer vehicle?

Not the same but four of them might form a decent X-shaped lunar station.

What do you think?

BILLY BLASTOFF'S CRAWLER WHEEL

Seeing Billy Blastoff's orange Crawler wheel rang a bell.

Was it like the Spacex MEV2's?

Not really.

Was it like the much scarcer Hover LRV as seen here, top left, in Wotan's very old collection.

Hmmm. What about the related Scramble Bug wheels by Hover too?

Well, it just so happens that Wotan still has a wheel from his Hover LRV [nothing else mind].

here it is.

front.

Back.

Can anyone confirm if this was also used on the Billy Blastoff Moon Crawler?

Go and have a look when your'e next playing with your Billy.

FARSLEY SCRAP STORE

We recently took Moonbase Junior to Farsley Scrapstore in Leeds.

It's a cool recycling shop where rubbish is stockpiled.

Crafters, artists and play people use it for projects.

Cheap as chips as well.

It's an Aladdin's cave of cardboard and plastic bits and bobs.

Oh, and a few tailor's dummies and massive baubles.

Imagine these on your tree!

There's bags and bags of pipes and stuff.

Shuttlecocks, tubes and trays.

Bike helmet inners. 

I instantly thought of Bane's mask!

Barrels of plastics and card. Great for rockets!

Could you do anything with stuff like this?

I wonder if Derek Meddings might have liked it?

RECYCLING MAJOR MATT MASON'S SPACE STATION

I was reading James Gillam's Space Toys of the 60's last month. I got the book when it first came out years ago and the author kindly signed it for me.

Its a great book to dip into - have you got it? - here's the cover:

James loves Major Matt Mason and there's a great chapter on the Major. 

He mentions some parts recycling too. One I didn't know about was about the MMM Space Station. 

James talks about the re-use of part of it in the Space Moon Base 1999 set. 

Here's the Major Matt station dashboard:

and here it is with different graphics for Mattel's Moon Base Alpha dash.

Have you come across this before readers?

Is there any more MMM/ 1999 recycling?