COWBOYS VS ALIENS

Aside from the usual collection of stuff in the early Wotan toybox, rockets, tanks, cars and soldiers, there was always a small contingent of another classic toy, which I suspect everyone reading this will have come across at some point, either by playing with them, or standing on them barefoot in the dark!
Britains and Timpo made some wonderful toy figures in the sixties, along with Herald and Crescent. Besides the usual soldiers, my dad encouraged me to play with Cowboys and Indians. Probably predating my army toys, these few figures have survived a little better due to their lack of wear. I especially loved the interchangeable Timpo Swoppet mexicans, with their bright colours and odd poses. The indian camp would introduce me to the totem pole, something which would obsess me in later life too...
But in a knockdown, dragout fight, it would always be the aliens won out for me!

Century 21 Miracle Wheel

Further to our February SWORDCAST, here is the unique Century 21 Miracle Wheel. An unusual toy, which only really impinges on the space toy genre, due to its 'gravity defying action'. Presumably early sixties, judging by the packaging but clearly showing the classic C21 logo on the end of the box. The pack also includes pre-punched inserts for the wheel itself, to create a kaleidoscopic effect, not unlike the record label on Black Sabbaths Paranoid!

The Miracle Wheel represents C21s other toy output, aside from the standard Anderson fare, the company produced mainstream toys such as Woodsys Decimal Dominoes and Topo Gigio tie in items. The Miracle Wheel still appears unchanged today, in novelty stores and discount shops. The simple combination of a magnetised axle and steel frame allow momentum and gravity to do all the work as the frame is tilted. As Woodsy says, its almost an idea for perpetual motion!

Concept Tank

This piece of artwork (not signed but more than likely Eric Eden) appeared in TV21 issue 65 dated April 16, 2066. I’m not sure if we've seen it on the blog before but if not this is the prototype of the SWORD Hover Tank.

Called the' Swamp Buggy', the side air intakes and guns that poke out of the front valance are very similar to the ‘Battle Chariot’ hover tank. which credits the Swamp Buggy in it's development. The Battle Chariot appeared a month or so later in the 1966 TV21 Summer Extra.

The final version, the SWORD Hover Tank has a slightly different  body design and a valance with lights rather than guns but it’s a definite evolution and nice to see that famous TV21 continuity at work.

As an update this is the full Dateline 2066 article.

And contributor, Andy B points out that Mike Noble drew some hover tanks in a Fireball XL5 story from August 2066. They're not part of the SWORD hover tank evolution but I include this scan of  them for comparison.

February SWORDCAST

 To briefly illustrate some of the less well known items we are discussing in the February SWORDcast, heres a quick rundown of some of them. Marx Johnny Apollo Moon Crawler and Moon Buggy, with Woodsys favourite 'gold' plastic accessories!

 The cranially challenged Pedigree Paul doll, courtesy of the Sindy Museum (click photo to see Paul wearing Woodsys specs).

 

From Jim Lewis personal collection of fabulous Anderson memorabilia, the Captain Scarlet doll with repurposed 'Tommy Gunn' body and the wonderful Fairylite Lady Penelope and Tin-Tin  dolls.

For more information on the condition 'Mego Greying' check out the amazing Mego Museum website. I'm hoping to look at some of the toys we talk about in more detail shortly. If you have any requests or ideas to be included in the show, let us know!

"Yes m'lady.."

MARS ATTACKS TURNS FIFTY

Whilst in a Bradford bookshop today, in the old mill of Titus Salt, I came across an amazing book. Just seeing it sent a frisson of pleasure up my spine as me and its subject matter have, as they say in cop shows, 'previous'.

The book is a pictorial record of Topp's iconic Mars Attacks cards lovingly printed card by card and page by page to celebrate the Set's 50th anniversary. With explanatory notes about each card and images from the Tim Burton movie it really is a thing of beauty. But the best part was at the end of the book inside a slot behind the dustjacket, a set of four new chase cards to add to the original set! Wow! How fabulous! I didn't have time to check them further and a stubborn bout of penury prevented me from buying the book but it did look superb.

Through a big green dose of martian good luck whilst walking round a car boot sale I once owned a set of the original Topps Mars Attacks cards. Through a series of equally brazen cruel twists in my personal standing during the Nineties I had to sell them and later settle for a repro set by way of consolation in the Noughties. I still have this and the new book's chase cards would sit with them perfectly. I best start selling on Ebay again if I am ever going to get anything new! Wow, just had a thought, I wonder if they are re-issuing the original cards in packs of gum again? My big green brain has just exploded!

 

Anyone else like Mars Attacks?

The Tumbler

The Batmobile from the film ‘Batman Begins’, a.k.a The Tumbler.  The latest model in the Batman Automobilia collection.

A jet powered high tech military vehicle capable of 100 mph, and the ability to jump 30 feet in the air.

And if that’s not enough, if the main body gets damaged the front wheels can eject to form a motorcycle.

Obviously it’s a modern take on Batman’s transport. Gone are the sleek bat finned  roadsters of the past, replaced with this black anonymous pile of armoured steel. I must be honest it doesn't do anything for me.

No doubt it fits in very well with the darker revitalised version of Batman and possibly takes some inspiration from the second instalment of the 1986 comic, Batman: The Dark Knight . In it the Batmobile is little more than a tank.

Well, call me old fashioned but I think I prefer the familiar bat finned  roadsters from the past. The Tumbler might add some realism to Batman, but when the main character in the story is a bloke who spends his nights dressed as a bat, you’re really not looking for realism.

  

Next time. Taking the bat finned roadster theme a bit too far - The Batmobile from Batman Forever.

MOON PATROL: ITS HERE!

Arcade Games

NOW PLAY!

Turn on, Tune in, Drop out!

It's that time again! at 20:20 this evening, Woodsy and Wotan will be rambling on about vintage toys in our monthly topical SWORDcast live on Celtica Radio. Just click the link at left or if your late to the party, find the podcast download at left. This evening we digress from the space toy core and look at Action Man and his peers. With special aural accopaniment courtesy of Blue the Wonderdog! Be there or be square!