ITS ONE BIG TRUCK: TOPPER TOYS JOHNNY EXPRESS

Ebay US

In the 1960's Topper Toys, famous for the invincible Johnny Seven One Man Army rifle, released the huge Johnny Express range of vehicles. Not a toy that I had alas -I'm not even sure it was available outside the US? I have a recollection that this toy appeared in an episode of Thunderbirds or another Anderson TV show. Does this ring any bells?

Apollo's Aplenty: X, 11 and Wonder-L

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water up pops yet another T Toy! Here we have another box variant of thier Thunderbird 1 -like Apollo-X. Luvverly. If you hurry you may still be able to snap this up from a seller on Ebay!

And I've come across two more Apollo cousins. First is this Apollo 11 by TN of Japan with box art very similar to that of the normal T box. Again this is languishing on fleabay.

And last but not least is the most oddly-named of the Apollo toys, the Wonder-L by Nomura of Japan. It's also the one most clearly influenced by Thunderbird 1 with its swing-wings and TB1'esque box art. But why 'Wonder-L'?

TRASHED BY BRAINS: The Tarheel NOVA III aka THUNDERBIRD 6

Below is the NOVA III by Tarheel Industries of Tarboro, better known to us  for their Project SWORD US copies.

It's one of three NOVA's that formed the series pictured belows: I, II and III: II being a pink Thunderbird 3 lookalike and I a green jet similar to the Spacex HAWK.

The blog covered the origin of NOVA III earlier in 2009, which you can read here and on the Space 1999 Forum here. In short, its THUNDERBIRD 6 or at least one Brains' designs - the red craft at the bottom of the picture below. I don't think the other two designs were ever made as toys. Or?

You can see footage of Brains trashing his Thunderbird 6/ Nova III in the film Thunderbird 6 on You Tube! (about 7.7 minutes in)

Did Brains create any other craft that never made it into the Tracy hanger?

Unidentified Plastic Objects

Flippin' through pics of my first few space collectables back in the heady pre-Ebay early Nineties, I came across this. Back then I had no idea what the two toys were with the question marks. Come to think of it I still don't! Anyone any idea?

No Ordinary Joe: The C21 SAM LOOVERS Saloon

This beautiful and ultra rare piece of Century 21 is the Sam Loovers Saloon from Joe 90. Only 7 inches long it packs a big punch [it sold on Ebay for £1620 in 2009 - was that a Century 21 plastic toy vehicle record I wonder?] I never had this particular toy as an anklebiter but it would have looked great with SWORD. If you check the last picture you'll see the JR21 diamond logo. Pictures from 2009 are posted with kind permission from the Ebay seller, Toy Cellar. Wonder why C21 never made a toy version of Strakers car?

Jet Set Radio Future

Talking of cheap toys - I bought this jet/rocket radio ages ago as a fixer upper. Trouble is, ive never seen another like it and im not sure what the back battery cover should look like. Anyone familiar with it ?

Boot Dilemma

Me and Missus Moonbase went to a car boot sale for the first time in ages this morning. The spring sun was shining and the stalls were full. I bagged a trio of old videos for my collection, a couple of old books on planes and space and a few odds n' sods. What I walked past is still on my mind though - a Blue Box [or Blue Bird?] Chopper Ace Set from the 1980's, all boxed up. Looked like a twin rotor helicopter, cargo, personnel and ground vehicles. A nice low price too but I left it. Mistake?

Century 21 Heaven: The Mobile Bridge and Combat Tank

The CENTURY 21 MOBILE BRIDGE AND COMBAT TANK is one of the less common C21 offerings. Like the Hurdler it is a straight military vehicle but it wouldn't look out of place in a SWORD fleet I don't think. I've never seen this toy in the 'flesh', the above picture of an incomplete example is courtesy of Ebay from a couple of years ago. Anyone got any more pictures of it?

Like the C21 Hurdler it has its doppelgangers (or maybe origin?) by MARX - in the shape of the CAP FIRING TANK and more closely the SPACE TANK, both pictured below, which even has the same red barrel tip shown [albeit unclearly] on the box art. Odd that Century 21 opted for a military theme rather than space. I do love this C21 toy though and can't wait to actually see it one day!