Space Bird 3: Variation 4

Over the Summer I was lucky enough to pick up this Space Bird 3 variation. Space Bird by YT of Japan is a clone of Project SWORD's Probe Force 3 and as far I know this brings the total number of Space Bird variants to four. The other three are featured below. The main two colour types are grey or white. All the other variations are differences in the colour of the cockpit and engine windows and the rear engines themselves. This new combination, pictured above, is green cockpit, red engine woindow and yellow rear engines. There could well be many more colour combinations as yet undiscovered.

There may also be box differences between the grey and white types, but I can't be certain as I don't own a white one. Looking at the pictures here they do apear to have different top box art.

Candy X: The Morinaga OX

At long last I have managed to add this beautifully tiny Zero-X plastic model by Morinaga candy of Japan to my collection of SWORD miniatures. Packaged in a neat square box it comes in various parts and snaps together easilly. The grey heatshield and engines, together with a sheet of neat transfers, complete the model. Who needs the candy when you get toys like this!

Cruisin'

This week I dusted off my T* boat fleet for a quick cruise round the Moonbase attic before Wote arrives in early August. Seeing my plastic Dolphin Cruiser, shown below, reminded me of the Corgi version I recently saw on Ebay pictured above. The Corgi version is dated 1965, which I feel certain is much earlier than my larger T version. T may have indeed copied Corgi. Has anyone else got any Dolphin Cruisers, even a real one?

* T refers to Sixties plastic Hong Kong-made toys branded with a T in a Circle. Their correct trading name was Tai Hing Plastics. They're of interest to SWORD collectors like me [and hence the blog] because they made the original Moon Bus, on which the C21 version is based, and a Moon Prospector, both beautifully boxed.

BROKEN SWORD

It was the last day of term before the School summer break today. Lots of DVDs were shown to keep the kids happy. So taking advantage of the calm classroom I distracted myself by messing on 'paint'. You can see my efforts here. The name Broken SWORD came to me whilst thinking about a rogue SWORD squadron, who break away from the Project to persue a darker agenda. I just can't think of what. Any ideas?

Holy Bat Smoke!

Kapow! Well, it's here, Batman The Dark Knight Rises opens today. My own excitement is rising as well as I'm something of a batfan. DC's comic superhero has always held me in his dark thrall ever since I read the comics in the Sixties and watched the camped-up high jinks of Adam West on the telly,

Oddly enough it was much later when I started collecting batnalia. Michael Keaton's original big screen Batman was the trigger back in 1989. For me it remains the definitive Bat movie with Keaton's portrayal absolutely spot on knocking the socks off subsequent Batmen. I wonder if bat collectables are still popular?

West, Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney and Bale. Who's your favourite Dark Knight?

Virgin' On the Sublime

I'm still pondering the possibility of public space travel in my lifetime. I had to chuckle when I read Virgin Galactic's website. It all seems so normal, like taking a flight with Jet2! There's even a booking form! Minimum deposit $20K! Well I suppose it's a form of public space travel but only for a tiny fraction of the public, the Times Rich List! Maybe the price will plummet like mobile phones did! Do you think we'll see cheap space travel?

If you want to book your seat click here! http://www.virgingalactic.com/booking/

GALAXIAS SPACE GUN

Reader Jose castro sent me this fabulous picture of the GALAXIAS space pistol and uniform. I was particularly taken with the box art. The white black-striped fuel tanks of the ship recall Ed Valigursky's Booster Rocket shown below. Would you agree?

Lunar Check In

I heard on the telly the other day that an old Soviet spaceship is available for refurb for anyone who wants to go to the moon. It's in storage somewhere in the UK. It will set you back a cool one hundred million pounds!

There must be cheaper seats to the moon somewhere in the world. Virgin Galactic? The Chinese? Ebay? I'll try Go Compare and see how they stack up!

Hope the price comes down soon. It's getting lonely up here on Moonbase!