UFORIA

Years ago I came across this black and white image of one of the legendary Imai UFO 'Base' kits showing amongst its gems a SWORD Moon Crawler. For ages I couldn't find a colour image [picture: Bill Earle]. I think the Japanese translates to UFO Secret Dome Kit 4 but I could easily wrong.

Well through the glories of cyberspace here is the kit in colour. Not a great shot of the box lid but you get some idea of the contents and the box sides. Anyone got this kit?

OK SWORDIES, a little brainteaser before beddy bies: on which other toy box art does the self same image of the SWORD Moon Crawler appear?

Have Your Say

The blog is attracting a lot of unwanted activity in the form of spam comments. 90% of this dross is automatically removed, but one or two slip through. Ive just added word verification again in an attempt to stop the blog becoming a spam magnet. The only robots and spiders I want on here are toy ones. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Moonbase China?

China launched their Long March rocket at the weekend. It is their 1960's and I can only applaud their plans to have a fully operational space station by the mid 2020's. They even plan to go to the Moon, where I can imagine them establishing a base [neighbours at last!]. Let's face it, they haven't much competition in the manned-space flight arena anymore have they!

As for their rocket, is it just me or is it very unattractive to look at?

LIBERATED: Blakes 7 Charges by Kevin D

Hi Woodsy,

Not sure if this is a bit too obscure, but I've got into the habit of showing you completed models now! I have just completed a couple of replicas of the explosive charges used by the crew of the Liberator when destroying Federation bases. These particular ones are magnetic but since they contain a cooking timer, they only ring a bell at zero instead of making a large bang! You can't overthrow the Federation with them, but you could boil an egg!

Take care,
Kevin D

Goodbye Toad

It is with great regret that I that I have to tell you that our friend Toad will no longer be contributing to the blog or researching SWORD or SpaceX anymore. She has moved onto pastures new to do other things and has begun a new chapter in her life. Alas, therefore, there will be no further contact from Toad.

From first making contact in the mid- naughties, Toad's insights and zest for SWORD and in particular SpaceX were for me personally an inspiration. Her generosity for sharing materials, which she had personally unearthed, knew no bounds and her selflessness was a model for us all. Her work with Shaqui on their GACCH website was pioneering and is easily still the best online research ever written about SWORD and reading it gave me the spark to start blogging.

Toad was part of the original trio, together with Wotan and Paul V, who encouraged me to establish the blog back in 2008 and her sense of humour, knowledge and wit often inspired me to go on and do more. Her own contributions to the blog were always insightful and often completely original and her comments are the stuff on legend and usually had us all in stitches.

I am truly sad that Toad will no longer be part of our small community and would like to thank her for her friendship, advice, well, basically everything. I am sure you will join me in wishing her all the very best in her new ventures wherever they may take her.

Take care and stay happy Toad wherever you go,

Woodsy

X

Pod Cars

What's the strangest vehicle that you van imagine coming out of the Thunderbird 2 pod? Thoughts, suggestions and piccies welcomed!

Minor Matt Mason

Wote's cool post showing the Major Matt Mason Firebolt Laser Canon, one of my fave toys as a young space cadet, reminded me that Imperial Toys had there own go at the Canon. Somewhat smaller with a different scanner and engineered to fire missiles rather than bolts of light, it came complete with another miniaturised Matt Mason vehicle, the Cat Trac, and a Golden Astronaut. I've always been surprised that the Major Mat Mason figure itself was never miniaturised or Callisto, Scorpio and Ol' Cap Lazer his Mattel buddies for that matter. Their contemporaries, the Colourforms Outer Space Men, were shrunk down almost straight away by various companies and have remained as miniatures ever since.

Or is there a Major Matt Miniature?

IF ONLY.......

Imaginary Custom spinning Moonbase Set box!
 courtesy of Photo Cube.

Have a go yourself!