Frank Hampson Newsreel

Whilst browsing the treasures held within British Pathe's online newsreels archive, I've stumbled across some amazing clips. The first is this knockout film of Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson [click on his name] at home working on his famous strip in 1956. His Dad's involved as well as a young boy and one Joan Porter. Below is a still to wet your appetite. Enjoy!

Copyright British Pathe

2001: The Underview Web Site

I've come across a simply encyclopedic site about the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey, THE UNDERVIEW There's sections on the cinema release dates with a fantastic photograph of an external 2001 cinema biilboarding and an amazing page of collectibles. A fabulous labour of love by the site creator no doubt, it has been around for years it would seem and is a veritable treasure trove for us to enjoy.

Madel Madness

Since posting Ferryman's fabulous 2001 toys I have been grazing on the cyberplains for more Odysseys. I never realised that Madelman was such a huge collecting area particularly in Spain. There are some fantastic blogs on the little fellow, which include what I think are Customised 2001 boxes and possibley suits [the Google translation was a bit confused]. Can anyone shed any light on these [the links are below the pictures]? I'm assuming that Madelman is the Spanish version of my own childhood favourite Little Big Man by Bradgate/Lion's Rock. I wonder if there's a Little Big 2001 Man?

Picture Above: Madel Man Blog Show

Picture Above: #66 Montaplex Madelman Forum

Task Force 3 is Down

TF3 is Down

by Andy B.

Cool!

McCall's Men

Continuing the astronaut toy theme the 2001 Madelman reminded me of a astronaut previosly blogged, Operation Astronaut from Darth's collection as pictured here from the front and rear. What really interests me in both astronaut boxes featured is the use of Robert McCall's art. Operation Astronaut  includes a collage of no less than parts of two McCall images pictured below: the astronaut to the left and the small Nuclear Ferry at depth.

LIFE

Look and Learn

You'll remember that two other pieces of McCall's work were also used for the box art of two SWORD toys: the Nuclear Ferry and the Cape Kennedy Set. It makes sense that his art would be replicated this way as the late Robert McCall was the foremost space artist of his generation and his works featured prominently during the mid-Sixties in US icon LIFE magazine and UK children's journal Look and Learn.

Scramble Train

Scramble Train

Photoshopped using Soviet Truck [seen on Ebay] and Scramble Bug

[both have the same coloured bodies and wheels]

Ferryman's 2001 Space Odyssey Toys

Reader Ferryman has kindly sent me pictures of his rare 2001 Space Odyssey toy collectables. Ferryman explains "In case you don't know about the Twinch Squad suits [pictured above and two close-ups below], they were hand made to order in Spain in 2001. Forbidden Planet even had some in stock for a very limited time. They sold quickly! The boxes are also hand made and are simply plain black on the outside. Suits came in Red, Yellow and Blue and there are reports of the silver version but I've not seen evidence of it."

"The original Madelman suit is unlicensed but actually says Astronauta - 2001 on the side of the box. The reissued version [pictured two down]was released by Altaya in Spain in about 2005 and was only available as part of a magazine collection. These are already very sought after." 

Ferryman has also sent these pictures of his Aifix Orion box and blister-carded Japanese 2001 tri-jet of unknown make. Wonderful! Thanks for sharing Ferryman!

Postscript:

I have found this Madelman variation in my photo archive. It appears to be licensed as MGM's logo is on the box. I love the Robert McCall 2001 Space Station art used for the backing. Wonder what's on the rear of the box? I'm unaware of the origin of this picture so I apologise if it is yours [do let me know].

Space Base Leicester

Last weekend Me and Mrs. Moonbase visited the UK National Space Centre on Exploration Drive in Leicester. A very impressive site it is too with tons of original space suits, space food, personal items, Russian equipment, British astronaut mementos, capsules and spaceships. the huge panoramic theatre is wonderful, where we watched We Are All Astronomers, which I'm sure made everyone feel small. There's even a cafe called Boosters! But for me the highlight. without doubt, was the Rocket Tower [pictured], where two full-size rockets are stood vertically in all their glory: a Thor Able and Blue Streak. You can travel up and down the tower in a glass lift and there are different exhibitions as you rise. If you have a head for heights you can look down from the top taking in both rockets from head to toe. Breathtaking!

Anyone else been? I'm not the only one to have visited a space centre this month. A reader has sent a postcard from Moscow! More to follow.