Century Twenty Den

Wow, now this is what I call a den fit for a Swordie! A LEM den! I was always a big den nut as a nipper back in Sixties Lancashire. I particularly loved little brick fires for making tea! I had a den next to the garage, a field den for playing war and a ghost train den. Alas, I never had a tree house, so this modern version, the Lit Clos [see below] for urbanauts would be just the job!

Made in 2000, The "Lit Clos" conjures up childhood memories of bunk beds, tree houses and forts while architecturally delineating personal space. This piece seeks to redefine large, open spaces, like lofts, into individual, private spaces by toying with height and enclosure. The box is at once a part of the larger scheme of a room while also being autonomous in relation to the larger infrastructure of the architecture. The "Lit Clos" was produced in two different stilt heights, a low version which is accessible via a stool and the present high model, accessible only by ladder [Liveauctioneers].

Putting My Foot In It

One of my first posts on the blog was way back in October 2008 was about a fave pair of shoes I had as a kid, Clarks Wayfinders.

Sifting through some old comics the other day, I spotted an original ad for them, which reminded me that they came with special Letraset transfers too! The little sheet of transfers looked familiar and when I checked out this marvellous resource:http://www.action-transfers.com/html/panorama/lunarbase.shtml

I saw that they were included as part of the cool Moonbase Panorama series! Nostalgia overload imminent!

Three Times A Ledy

Gasoline Alley

Here we have the ubercool Bandai-licenced Ledy Excavator a la Thunderbirds. I have blogged about this Mexican beauty, the Escavador Lunar - and the boxed Apollo set it comes from - twice before [sorry about the title!] because I really love the Excavator shape. It's not a toy or kit I personally own in any guise but there'll be more to follow soon from reader Ferryman.

I always thought that the TB pod vehicles like this one were totally SWORDesque. Equally the SWORD Moon Ranger would have looked so cool coming out of TB2 [that needs photoshopping or modelling somebody!]. But which SWORD vehicle might the pod craft have been housed in?

Anyone else got an Excavator, X-Car or any other TB2 pod toys?

My Other Car is a Modulo

 

After digging through my crate of old cars I came across the Corgi Junior Pininfarina Modulo, a stunningly futuristic car created by Ferrari in 1970. At the time, I barely realised it was actually based on a real life concept car and assumed it was just another fab toy. I recall seeing a larger version of the model in Hobbies toy shop in Liverpool back in the day, possibly made by Polistil. Beautiful styling and almost flat aerodynamic shape.

Having a quick look at the car this morning I came across this neat paper model - now we can all have one!

Contraption Caption Comp

This rock crawler guy's just so darn together! So what is he thinking Swordies? Remember, from the sublime to ridiculous is always good!

Oktobertest

OK Swordies, get your SWORD Academy caps on and tell me, what's this?

Buzz Off

Aah, Fascination by Parker Brothers. This was one of my fave games as a nipper in the Sixties. I remember it so clearly in it's gaudy box atop my pile of Christmas prezzies. My heart used to pound when the buzzer went off! Anyone else get 'fascinated'?

TIME WOUNDS ALL HEALS

 After a trying day in work, I came home with the intention of posting a photo of a ten year old me with my favourite 'Sod Off!' badge. Leafing through old photos to find it, I came across shots of me and my dad on holiday. In the recent posts, ive remembered how he went to great lengths to find me toy cars and brought me my very first Spacex Space Patrol One. After an especially long works bender in Blackpool, several pints of strong ale and falling asleep on top of the piano, he got up nest day and visited the shops to find me a special present. Its over ten years now since he died and in that time I never really accepted the fact that he was truly gone and when id visit my mum who i lost just last New Years Eve, I always felt he was either in the kitchen washing dishes or laboring in his garden shed. The last twelve months have been difficult for me as that last outpost of home has now been removed and all the familiar little things, like his cap and coat behind the door of my mums house and his shed full of tools have now gone.

Next January, ill be fifty, but at times the years smudge like the faded paper of old photographs and im 7 again, its a simpler time and the excitement of saturday morning comics, new toy cars and the wonder of holidays and christmas fill me and he's there again, that quiet, powerful, capable and solid man. Always there when I had a problem, a question, a want or just my dad. Holding my hand and making it all okay again.