The Secret of Karg by Andy B.

Dear Woodsy

A possible all time low in SF!

This cover from a Lion & Eagle of the 1970s marked the end of some Dan Dare story reprints the comic was running, and the introduction of a home-grown story. I never read the whole thing; it was one where the aliens (scaly looking humanoids) quickly disguised thenmselves as human beings (eg without scales). This was convenient, I suspect, as the artist was better at drawing humans than aliens. I feel similarly cheated when aliens in films disguise themselves as humans -a warning that there is no further need for special effects, and a low-budget film is to follow. As for the secret of Karg, I never found out what it was!

Andy B.

Flying Start to 2011

Well 2010 ended sadly for me with the loss of my mum just after xmas, hence my radio silence on the blog. However, this year is looking bright and positive already thanks to the help and support of all my friends and with the good news that Woodstock has a new career and I feel quite enthusiastic about the year ahead.

Quite out of the blue I received a mail and a small packet in the post from our resident coolhunter Terry which contained another stunning SWORD first, following on from his discovery recently of the two tiny Task Force ships, he managed to unearth almost an entire fleet!

Apparently packed in loose with a number of conventional plastic airplanes were tiny coloured versions of signature SWORD craft - a Scout, Probe Force 3, Task force 2/3 and a Dyna Soar! No further information on these craft has come to light yet, so stay tuned for a closer examination. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before ?

SWORD DREAMS: Mock-Up Boxed Titan Rocket Dyna Soar Set

A bit of late night fun relaxing in front of the goggle box. Here's a custom mock-up of an imaginary SWORD toy: TITAN ROCKET DYNA SOAR X-20 LAUNCH BOXED SET. Purely for mine and your amusement, this set is a photoshopped fan mock-up before anyone get's too excited! The bottom pic is how the actual SWORD Dyna Soar looks atop the Apollo Saturn rocket body.  

The whole thing was inspired by a cool Fred Takasumi Dyna Soar launch painting, forming the background on the mock box. You can see it in it's contemporary 1960's setting on the wall behind the USAF presenter in this fabulous short X-20 clip on You Tube, blogged previously: The Story of the Dyna Soar [part 1].

Grab Bag

Not got much blogging time at the mo Swordies, sorry, as I've started working again and in my spare time I'm writing Part II of the FAB fanzine article on SWORD for Fanderson. Anyway a few quick thoughts I've had [which is always painful - having thoughts!]:

Anyone seen TRON LEGACY? I saw it a while back. What did you think? How did you find the CGI Jeff Bridges character? I didn't collect toys when  the original film came out in 1982 - did anyone get any of the original TRON merchandise or toys?

I've just got hold of a set of the new Gerry Anderson stamps from the post office. I do like them a great deal. Anyone else got some or maybe even a few of the other goodies available in the range - medal, picture cards, comic?

Anyone got any interesting collectables generally of late, SWORD, Spacex or otherwise?

Any contributions for the blog welcome - articles, jokes, quizzes, piccies, scans, video - all good!

Randy Rayder Speaks!

Not sure if I've blogged the sound of the Randy Rayder record before but here goes. Click on the link here and then click the 'listen to the track' button and enjoy! PS. ATHENA is Probe Force 1!

Schnitzels done. Waiting for potatoes!

I Seek Not to Know the Answers but to Understand the Questions!

Just waiting for some schnitzels to fry so I've got time to do a quick bloglet. Continuing the mini-theme of oriental arts and western pop culture here are three paperback books I devoured when I was a wee young lad. Published by Warner, these were the three KUNG FU paperback tie-ins to the popular TV series starring David Carradine as the Shaolin Monk traveller Kwai Chang Caine, a role originally destined for Bruce Lee [if I remember rightly Bruce, who had played Kato in the original Green Hornet series, was sadly deemed to look just too oriental by TV execs!]. Kwai Chang Cain was closely followed in the Shaolin stakes, certainly in my book, by comic Kung Fu masters Shang Shi ,Yang and the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, of whom more will follow! KAPOW!

By Space Ship To The Moon by Andy B.

Woodsy

Managed to scan a couple of the images from that space ship book mentioned on the blog [in December]. The picture of the space ship taking off on a rocket-powered sled is interesting I think. Was this a common idea in the fifties and is this the origin of the way Firball XL5 was launched?

Andy B.

Zen Bones

For those interested and continuing our short Ninja side-step into Eastern arts, here is a small selection of the books and magazines I amassed as a 12/13 year old [with the help of Father Christmas, my parents and Siblings]. Fascinated by all things Oriental ever since, I lay the blame squarely at the feet of two silver screen Sifu [masters] who kicked and kata'd their way into our young lives: Kwai Chang Kane/ David Carradine[I loved the show and the tie-in strip in Look-In, complete with free dragon badge!] and the great Bruce Lee. Terryfyingly beautiful and both greatly missed.