SPACEX - THE REAL THING!

I recently wrote to the fabulous SpaceX space exploration company about the similarity of their logo and that of Spacex toys. I got a reply!

Hi Paul, Thank you for your note and interest in SpaceX. Yes,
I've seen the old "SpaceX" toys around here on people's walls. I don't know if
there is a connection or not. Lots of "X" in the New Space world - X Prize, X
cor. Stay tuned. It is going to be another busy year for us!

Sincerely,

Roger G. Gilbertson Media Coordinator SpaceX -
Space Exploration Technologies

1 Rocket Road,

Hawthorne CA 90250Main 310.363.6000 Desk
310.363.6446 Fax 310.363.6001

Roger.Gilbertson@spacex.com

MARTIN AND GOODYEAR GLIDERS BY DARTH

Hey Paul, attached are two pics from my Dyna-Soar book of something very similar to what Wotan and Paul Vreede posted earlier on the blog. One is an animated mock-up of a winged re-entry vehicle built by Martin and put on display at the New Worlds Fair in New York in 1964. It looks to be half way between the X-20 and the X-24. Apparently is was seen to fly back and forth docking with the cylindrical space station. The other pic is a mockup proposed by Goodyear for an inflatable re-entry vehicle.

Darth

THUNDERBIRDS MOVIE NEEDS INTERNATIONAL RESCUE

Saw the 2004 live-action Thunderbirds movie today on the box. What a pile of pants! Thank god we had the 1960's series!

CENTURY 21 HURDLER - NEW DISCOVERY

Here's the second newly discovered Century 21 toy this month - the Hurdler. I found this at the back of a die-cast stall at Doncaster Toy Fair last week. It perfect nick with an excellent box, just cost me a tenner. Originally it went for 16S6d (on base of box). Basically it's a battery-operated plastic jeep. The C21 logo is clearly visible on the box but not on the toy itself. It reminds me of the Bridge Carrier that Century 21 did too featured earlier on the blog. Wonder if there are more of these military vehicles by JR21/ Century 21?

WATCHING THE WATCHMEN

I went to see the Watchmen last night. I hadn't ever read the graphic novel so I was slightly apprehensive about understanding the plot. I shouldn't have worried. It was simply amazing! Exhilerating and long. I will have to read the comic now! Smiley!

STINGRAY ATOMIC SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT CARRIER - IT DOES EXIST!

comic art courtesy of WOTAN

I've been away for a few days to a Lancastrian family reunion. Having survived said Prestonian revelries I'm back in my West Yorkshire hovel with my own family. Before I left I mentioned two JR21/ Century 21 discoveries. Well, here's the first and it's soooooooo rare it's untrue - the mighty Stingray Atomic Submarine Aircraft Carrier! We've spoken about it before on the blog in the hushed tones befitting the stuff of legend. This fantastically scarce example turned up in a garage recently in a box stuffed full of space toys including some brilliant carded Spacex. The pictures were originally posted on the Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Forum by the lucky garage owner, Mack29, to whom I'm very grateful for letting me show them here. I would also like to thank Gordon O'Byrne of the Stingray Memorabilia Museum, who first made me aware of this iconic toy way back in the early 1990's.

I'll be radio silent for a couple of days folks.

JR21 NEW DISCOVERIES

2 JR21 CENTURY 21 discoveries made! More to follow!