ZZROBOT COLLECTION

Hello Paul, i am a advanced spacetoy/robot collector across the pond. I , too, collect project, 21th ect. toys. I assume you access your fellow countryman's web site , alphadrome.com . They now have a database of pictures of hundreds of space toys. Here is a link to old pictures of some of my collection, I have more in storage and have obtain more since these pictures were taken. Paul, yes, please post my message and link, my good friend Larry Waldman of Cybertoyz and I do collect most any space toys, including project sword/golden/apollo, in particular the Hong Kong made toys. cheers....stan.

Wow! Great collection Stan!

Woodsy

BLOG EXCLUSIVE 4 - PLAYSET MAGAZINE AT A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR BLOG READERS

Here's a Blog Exclusive you'll not want to miss! I've negotiated a special price of $6 (+ shipping worldwide) for blog readers directly with Playset Magazine for Issue 17 from 2004 (Zeroids Cover) - for a limited period only ( always wanted to say that!). This issue is currently retailing at $20 on the Playset Magazine Website! The Magazine Editor has kindly agreed to this price of $6 for a short period for which I am grateful.

Specifically of interest to the blog is Issue 17's multi-page colour feature on Apollo Moon Exploration. In their own words the issue covers...

".....the awesome Marx Man From U.N.C.L.E. Target Gun Set in COLOR on our
centerspread pages with its THRUSH villains VS Napoleon Solo and the repressed,
but violent Illya Kuryakin. We also have some great Rex Mars 60mm figures and a
remarkable, never released store display(courtesy Francis and Jason Turner and
the Official Marx Museum). . .PLUS the wonders of the future in COLOR with the
Apollo Exploration playset. Here you'll feast on Jetsons-like space ships,
flying saucers and space sleds galore! But that's not all -- theres new Japanese
Assassins, New Replicants, a newly revised book on Britains all in review, plus
a New Market Report by the always-thinking Tom Stark. And if that's not enough,
we'll have some great ads, classifieds and news for your Saturday night toy
fest!"

To buy this issue at the special blog price via Paypal:

1. $6 per Issue 17 (SIX US DOLLARS)
2. Add shipping - to UK/EU $5.40, Canada $2.20, US $1.68 per Issue 17
3. Buy Issue 17 direct from Playset Magazine's website via Paypal ( you can opt to pay in US $ easilly)
4. IMPORTANT: Write the codeword "blue" into the message box on your paypal payment and mention this blog
5. The Paypal ID to send the money to is playsetmagazine@aol.com (you'll need to copy and paste this into your Paypal payment)

For a limited time only!

Woodsy

THE SPACEX NUCLEAR FREIGHTER AND THE WOMBAT BY WOODSY

I've often admired the beautiful design of the rare Spacex II Nuclear Freighter and Salvage Craft based on the picture on the backing card (top picture). I can't help noticing the similarity between the Freighter's design and that of the earlier World Air Force Carrier or WOMBAT, which appeared in Thunderbirds and Stingray.

The first appearance of the WOMBAT was on TV in the 23rd Thunderbirds episode 'The Duchess Assignment', which aired February 17th 1966 at 7pm. The vehicle was called the 'Carrier Aircraft' (source: Fanderson - no TV still available)

Just over a week later on the 26th February 1966 the vehicle re-appeared in TV21 issue 58 and on the cover of issue 59 (picture one from the bottom and the one above showing a close-up) as part of the Stingray comic strip story 'The Medallion Mystery'. Whilst transporting the Crown Jewels the World Air Force WOMBAT crashes into the sea.

The second to top picture shows a still of a model WOMBAT being observed by Stingray, a shot that was never used (source: GACCH - more information available at this fabulous site).

The wonderful middle shot is a scratchbiult model of the Carrier Aircraft in the Thunderbirds TV show episode 23 'The Duchess Assignment'. The modelling and photography is by the ultra-talented Keith McNeill and the picture appears with his kind permission.

Intrigueingly there is also a 1960's toy based on the WOMBAT (bottom picture), which appears in the seminal Gerry Anderson Memorabilia Guide by Dennis Nicholson: a 40 - 45mm plastic Air Force Jet, which came with Japanese Guriko chocolate. The picture appears with Dennis's kind permission. This is further verified by Marc Frattassio in his excellent research into Gerry Anderson candy premiums.

It would be just great to see the Spacex Nuclear Freighter in the flesh but I would settle for a gander at the Guriko Air Force Jet! At least we have a photo of it!

NASA SPACE GLIDER - NEW TO THE BLOG - BY TONY PANTHER

Hi Paul,

Here are some pics of yet another different version of the SWORD Space Glider I picked up a couple of years ago.

It's based on the orange version of the Space Glider but has NASA stickers on it and no mention of Project SWORD.

Differences from the SWORD version are:

1. darker blue cockpit "glass"
2. blue switch at rear instead of silver
3. flat cylindrical protrusion on the underside of the nose
4. different stickers, obviously! The "NASA" stickers under the cockpit are placed over the line of small blue windows
5. different wheel housings - the NASA version has "open" housings with exposed metal axles, while the SWORD version has "closed" housings which fully enclose the axles
6. no nose antenna - instead the antenna's mounting holes have been filled in with mysterious "space jewels", with the holes re-shaped to accommodate them... One less thing to lose I suppose.

Best of all - it still works - I popped a couple of batteries in tonight and, surprise, surprise, it made a dreadful howl (which I assume was the "jet sound effects" referred to on the box of the SWORD version!), the wheels underneath spun around and the light in the nose flashed away merrily illuminating the "space jewels" brilliantly. I doubt that any self-respecting astronaut would have failed to find his way back to it.

In contrast my SWORD version didn't give a peep when I tried to switch it on... So much for saving the world...

Have fun!

Cheers

Tony Panther

Australia

Brilliant Tony! One I've not seen before. Love this detailed comparison and especially the nose jewels. Remind me of the Day Fran glider version. Woodsy

KELLOGGS SPACE-AGE MOLAB

Scouring through my picture archive I've found this shot of the Kellogg's 'moon vehicle' - as usual missing it's aerial - featured in an earlier posting. As discussed before it's virtually a deadringer for the Spacex II MOLAB. (Picture: Ebay 2008)

SPACEX II CARDED NUKE FERRY, NASA GLIDER AND BOOSTER ROCKET BY FERRYMAN

Hi Paul, 3 x SpaceX pics above. There not as good as usual because I had to use a flash. I did see loose examples of the Moon Buggy and Luna Transporter on Ebay recently. Ferryman.

Look great to me! Woodsy

THINDERBIRD 6 NOVA III LOOKALIKE PICTURES

As per my earlier post about this, Jim Lewis of the Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Forum has put 3 stills there of the Thunderbird 6 Nova III lookalike. Look here.

BANDAI THUNDERBIRD 2 POD VEHICLES

I love these clunky plastic TB2 pod carft by Bandai. They are very SWORDesque. Wonder if there were anymore made? Firefly? Pics courtesy of WOTAN/ Terry Harle.