APOLLO MOON EXPLORING CARDED SETS

I recently saw these on Ebay USA. Not actually owning any of these carded sets I find myself drawn to them! It's always the way! I think the pastel backing cards themselves are particularly attractive and no doubt eminently displayable. There appears to be a set missing here - which one one is that then?

I'm intrigued though - are the loose alien cake toppers currently on Ebay (see top of blog) the same as these in these carded sets? Uncarded dead stock? The whole cake connection is bizarre, although I would love an alien cake! I've recently read a brilliant article on golden astronauts for cakes in the essential PLASTIC WARRIOR magazine, which I can thoroughly recommend.

THE BARRY FORDE SPACEX COLLECTION

P3 Helicopter

MEV-2

Lifting Body x 2

Cricket

Forklift

Orange Space Patrol 1 and green unlicensed version

Reconnaissance 2

Surveyor

SII - MOLAB

SII - Lunar Transporter

Booster

SII - ATS

All these pictures originally appeared on the Space 1999 Transporter Forum. Reprinted here with the kind permission of Barry Forde.

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BLOG EXCLUSIVE COMING SOON - LIMITED EDITION DIE-CAST MINIATURE SCRAMBLE BUG IN PROFESSIONALLY MADE PROJECT SWORD BOX COMPLETE WITH SWORD SPECIFICATION SHEET. EXCLUSIVE TO THE BLOG. MORE DETAILS SOON!

HAWK

From the Woodsy collection: Tri-ang orange Spacex Hawk and green Tarheel Nova Rockets

British Library: Old Toy Trade Journals

Recently wrote to the British Library with a Project Sword/ Trade magazine enquiry. This was the reply, but, having tried, I don't seem to be able to take it further with them. Anyone got these old journals?

"The catalogue records below were selected by a researcher using the British Library Integrated Catalogue. Number : 2 Toy retailing news. (London : Batiste Publications, 1975-78.) (P) TQ 12 -E(1) (0307-6741) Record number : 3 Toy retailing news. (London: Toys International, 1975-) P.2000/423. Record number : 4 Toy trader. (Watford : Turret Group, 1979-1980.) (P) TQ 13 -E(4) (0041-0136) Record number : 5 Toys and fancy goods. (London : Trade News, 1960-62.) (P) TQ 12 -E(6) Record number : 6 Toys international. (London : Batiste Publications, 1962-80.) (P) TQ 12 -E(1) (0041-0195) Record number : 7 Toys International. (London, 1962- .)

Countdown Poster Fever by WOTAN.

Project 21 over on Eagle forum have scanned and hosted all of the first year of TV21 and the whole run of Countdown comic. I missed out on TV21 as a kid, but did get Countdown. In the June of 1971, while in the grip of Apollo 15 fever (!!), there was a pull out poster in Countdown of the next steps in space up to 1988 - was it me or did i miss something ? Ive still got my original poster, encapsulated in plastic and gracing the garage wall, shame we never made it to Mars though...

Nice one Wotan!

APOLLO EXPLORATION BOXED SET

Hi Woodsy,

I saw your article about the Boxed Apollo Exploration set on Ebay in 2005. I picked that one up for a small fortune after some spirited bidding. Gotta love those craters and monsters from outer space! I'll rustle up some pics and send them through to you soon! (although the seller's ebay pics were pretty good). I've ordered my copy of Playset magazine #17 from the friendly folk at Playset mag and am looking forward to seeing the set in print!

Cheers,

Tony Panther

LUCKY TOYS LUNAR PROBE NO.1 - JR21 ROCKET LOOKALIKE

This interesting rocket was recently on Ebay. It's a dead-ringer for the rocket on the JR21 and similar Rocket Carriers featured before on the blog. The name, Lunar Probe No.1, is clearly similar to SWORD names like Probe Force No.1. I am familiar with Lucky Toys making plastic racing cars. Did they make any other space toys or even Lunar Probe 2 and 3 I wonder?

The seller, Ilex18, kindly sent the extra pictures and information before it was sold:

"Hi Paul. I've sent some pictures. It's hard to get clear pics of the small
writing, but it reads on top of box "Lunar Probe No. 1, Friction Drive Chromed
Parts, The Lucky Toys, Made Exclusively For Trade Development Enterprises LTD.,
London." The small writing on side flaps reads "No. 186, Made in Hong Kong."
Hope this info helps.Many thanks for your interest, Holly"