THUNDERBIRDS AND SWORD MINIATURE FLEET

And here are my final photographic offerings for tonight! The top pic is a ring of miniature Andersons: on the left are plastic Thunderbirds from the 1993 Peter Pan Playthings Board Game. On the right are rubber SWORD vehicles from the 1960's Takeuchi line of erasers. I thought they went well together.

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Bottom pic is close-up of the Triang Spacex Forklift. I liked the rusted props - lends it a bit industrial grit.

MEGARIG RANGERS TOPPER ROCKETS

Inspired by Mike (Burrows) amazing Spacex dioramas I've been messing about with a few space toys and my camera. The somewhat unspectacular results can be seen above.

1. Penance battles with Spacex
2. Penance inverted colours
3. Bronco Fire Tender colour inverted
4. Topper Rocket Base USA truck and Spacex colour inverted
5. Topper Rocket Base USA Truck and Spacex
6. Megarig Rocket Transporter and Topper Rocket
7. Megarig Moon Ranger and Robot
8. Megarig Scramble Bug and Topper people

SKYLON

I love the futuristic look of the 1950's Festival of Britain iconic tower, the Skylon. Straight from an age when space influenced both everyday design and public art. I remember seeing a great TV programme years ago about what happened to it but I can't recall the story at all now.

INVESTIGATOR DIE-CAST

Picked up these Investigator die-casts at the local Car Boot. In no way complete, I still like the basic designs, which have that clear Andercized look. I don't know the Investigator at all, either as a strip or TV show. Wonder if these two vehicles actually appeared?

PROJECT APOLLO

Park's Project Apollo is not a toy line I know but I've recently found these sets on the net. The top pic is from the 1960's and on Ebay USA as a pricey BIN. I love the red MLP, very Spacex! The middle pic is the 1970's version without any gantry, also on Ebay USA. Both sets have a parachute like the SWORD Saturn Rocket/ Sears 3 Stage Rocket. The bottom pic isn't Project Apollo but I thrown it in for good measure as its a nice old Apollo rocket with two red astronauts by Processed Plastic Corp. -from George's great little site. Just think if there had been a toy line called RED ASTRONAUT! I think not.

MLP

Here's a gallery of the Spacex Mobile Launch Pad (MLP), one of the best looking space toys I think. The top 3 pics are the US Golden Astronaut issue and the bottom 6 are the Spacex issue. They are smaller than their big brothers, the Century 21 Cape Kennedy Set and the Sears 3 stage rocket but fabulous toys nonetheless. Anyone got any other US or Triang boxes? I'm not sure the MLP came with a badge. Anyone know?

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Pics courtesy of Mark McClellan, Bifben, Martin Warman and Ebay.

BLUE NUCLEAR PULSE - CUSTOM AND PRE-PRODUCTION MODELS - BY WOTAN

Paul

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I know I've got the MLP instructions - I'll send them on. I painted this blue Pulse years ago. It was really weird to see that old pic on the blog the other day! The box artwork (top) for the Pulse is my all time favourite piece of spacex art, I just wish the Pulse had been made in blue instead of that awful orange. If you look at the pic above theres a big crack in the front wing. I added a launch pad for the plane and replaced all the wheels with a smooth belly. I think the one in the JC Penney ad and the one on the card back especially are pre-production models. The card back one has a solid blue dome over the plane.

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WOTAN

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Just checking my pulse (s) now! Woodsy. Anyone got a decent close-up of the JC Penny Pulse and/or the one on the Spacex card backs?

MORE BUG PRAISE FROM FINLAND

Hi Paul,

Just in time before the May 1st eve celebrations, I managed to collect my copy of the Scramble Bug from the Post Office. Just awesome Paul & fellow Swordheads! This little IMAI must be one of my favourite off-SWORDs, and the elegant packaging fits it in nicely with the rest of the fleet. Thank you also for the dedication, I hope there is a little light blinking over Finland on the Project SWORD Moonbase World Map!

Cheers & Happy May 1st,

Arto

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Thanks Arto, glad you like it! Happy First of May from the Bug Team: Terry, WOTAN and Woodsy