HOVER REMOTE CONTROL PROBE FORCE 3 GALLERY

Don of starbase@starbase.plus.com has sent this fabulous and comprehensive gallery of the HOVER REMOTE CONTROL PROBE FORCE 3. Virtually identical to the Century 21 PF3, except it has that fantastic remote control, which places it in the illustrious company of the R/C big three - the Cape Kennedy set, Zero X and the Nuclear Ferry! A beautiful toy and box, into which a lot of thought has gone by Hover. From these excellent shots its clear that Hover didn't put a makers' mark on the toy itself, but the NASA spearhead decals are distinctive and can be seen on other unmarked toys like the orange Space Glider.

Nice one Don!

Woodsy

SPACEX SOYUZ 6 AND 7 AND APOLLO LEM

These fabulous adverts from 1970 were supplied by the Philosophic Toad and have appeared in the early days of the blog. But I love them so here they are again! The lower two toys are like Hens Teeth - or even rarer! Do they even exist? I'm still amazed that a russian spacecraft would be covered in this largely NASA-styled range - the amazing Soyuz 6 and 7. Do any toys in any toy-line exist of these anywhere? The Space Station I find really hard to picture at this angle. Are there any other images of this - the real concept design perhaps - or would it be possible to 3D rotate the image in the picture? And what is that fabulous glider in the distance? Cruiser 1 at a funny angle?

Anyone venture a full list of all 37 'fabulous items' as stated above?

BROHM AND T FLYING SAUCERS

And here they are! 1960's plastic battery-operated Flying Saucers a la JR21 style by BROHM of West Germany 'NASA WELTRAUM ERKUNDER' and a poster of their space range 1969 (both top) and the 'NEW FLYING SAUCER' by T in T Box (bottom). Are there anymore of these?

JR21 TARHEEL NEW FLYING SAUCER

And here it is, the JR21 New Flying Saucer! Just as I thought - it's the same as the Polyplast one. This also proves that JR21 used the same basic base design on the Prospector and the Flying Saucer with a few slight changes. There's also BROHM and NASA versions. It's incestuous! These JR21 pics are courtesy of Chris King on the brilliant Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Forum, where Chris observes:

This is the JR21 `New Flying Saucer` which I picked up for a song off Ebay recently. Its remarkably similar in design and box art to the JR21 TB5, but much smaller, approx 6" diameter. Interestingly, the bottom of the saucer clearly has the Tarheel `T` moulded on it. I`m guessing this is
from 1966, so we have an indication of the two companies `mould
swapping` way back.

MOON PROSPECTOR AND POLYPLAST FLYING SAUCER

Noticed recently that the grey base of the SWORD Moon Prospector ( Tarheel version - top pic - my own collection) is very similar to the red base of the Polyplast Flying Saucer (4 pics courtesy of Ebay). Polyplast was a Greek company so is it a straight rip-off of SWORD? Come to think of it the Saucer reminds me of the JR21 Flying Saucer, which appeared all over the world. To be continued.....

NUOVA AMERICA NEEDLE PROBE

NUOVA AMERICA PENCILS: I love this great little box currently on Ebay UK - there's a few of them at a nice price. The thin jet remings me of the Spacex Needle Probe.

PROJECT SWORD SPINNING TOP FROM GERMANY

Here's a new one, a vintage SWORD/THUNDERBIRDS - style spinning top! I love it. Of West German origin, it's 19 cm wide and 23 cm high. The silver rocket is clearly meant to be Thunderbird 2 and even more amazing are the images of the Moon Prospector and the Scramble Bug in the background! Don't know what the thing is in the middle with LBZ on it? But how cool is this toy!

PS. Paul Vreede has since explained LBZ:

Hi Paul,dunno what that thing on the spinning top might be, but probably
somebody's idea of an unmanned moon landing probe or just possibly a
LEM-like thing. LBZ stands for Lorenz Bolz Zirndorf, well-known tin- toy
manufacturers located in Zirndorf a couple miles west of Nuremberg (where
most of the historic German toy producers have been established since the
early days).Best--Paul

PS2. Another manufacturer of West German space-related spinning tops is BALLEIS.

MAJOR MATT MOVIE

Newsflash from Darth: Tom Hanks is doing a Major Matt Mason movie. Written by Graham Yost who worked with him on From the Earth to the Moon.

Just think - new Major Matt Toys in the shops! Wow! 1968 here we come again! Woodsy