CAPTAIN CAR

I recently saw these on an online auction and yet again the Japanese created a toy I've never seen before, the Captian Car.

 

 

Made by Takara, these Captain Scarlet toy SPV's and SPC's appear to be made from simply moulded brown or silver plastic and have, I assume, simple axled wheels to allow them to have been pushed around Japanese floors.

 

The beautifully illustrated header cards depict the SPV, SPC and Captain Scarlet himself but also a flying Angel Interceptor. Whether this was the third 'Captain Car' I don't know or did Takara adhere to the definition of  'car' to the letter and exclude the angel jet. The obvious omission is the MSV.

 

 

Looking at the strange decals on the vehicles it strikes me that they are probably very stylised 'T's, being short for Takara. There are also words moulded into the plastic of the two cars' front ends but I can't make out what they say. They look like English words.

 

 

There is no date of manufacture on the toys as far as I can see in the photographs but from their overall look I would say the 1960's, maybe to coincide with the TV show being aired in Japan. Can anyone help?

Photonic Sketches

Sketches of the fabled Spacex Photonic Propulsion Space Station.

I did them in Paint.

Your Photonic Space Stations welcomed!

In awe of ATVs

Dewsbury carboot gave me the chance to pick up a couple of matchbox diecast cars, an armoured riot vehicle and the classic Planet Scout in Adventure 2000 green livery. A little knocked about but good for restiration. They join the ranks of other classic ATVs!

A Back Yard Journey Into Space

On these cold and occasional cloudless nights that have occurred these past few evenings I thought I’d seize the moment and have a go at taking a few photos of the night sky in the back garden.  It’s not as easy as I thought and takes quite a bit of trial and error.

Living in a town, light pollution is always going to be a problem, but I reckon you can still get some nice views even in these conditions.

Here’s a  few shots I thought some of you might like.

A First Quarter Moon with some reasonable crater detail along the terminator.  

The following night shows a little more.   

Almost Waxing. My latest Moon Shot.

A change of lens and a look at the stars.

The constellation of Orion, low in the sky and very prominent. I was pleased with the colours here. Note the red super giant star, Betelgeuse at the top left hand side. The streak at the top is a jet engine vapour trail.

The three stars, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka that make up Orion’s belt, and below that are three points of light making up Orion’s sword.  The centre fuzzy light with the split down the middle is the well known Orion Nebula,  around 1,344 light years away apparently.

Even though they are only pin pricks of light there’s something really special about  identifying and capturing these images. It really fires the imagination. Are any of you folk out there keen on this? and if so any tips or photos would be welcome.

I've still got a lot to learn about Astrophotography but  I’m looking forward to a few more clear nights and a backyard journey into space.    

PROJECT SWORD DREAM SHOP: ASTRONAUT DOLL

Seeing an old auction photo of an Action Man astronaut I was intrigued as to what a Project SWORD box would look like next to it. By the power of Photoshop, hey presto! All that's missing is a SWORD Astronaut badge. Would you have bought one of these boxed dolls?

Coming Soon...

Ive just found the single most wonderfully clever website with an amazing Pulp Comic Cover generator! Brilliant stuff! Run, don't walk to the Pulp-o-mizer! Your covers welcome!

Nuclear Liner

Nuclear Liner

I created it using Paint.

Your space art and sketches welcomed for posting too.

Heres Hugh from Small Scale Worlds 3d cgi Space ship!

A Trained Eye

During my brief sojourn with the gaffer at Moonbase, we uncovered some old toys in the MB archives. Among the goodies was a biscuit tin of small plastic toys. Amongst them were Kinder toys, small cracker gifts and some german made train items. Woodstock generously donated them to me as I love small sweet premium type toys. The trains came in 3 distinct types and sizes, the smallest, in an ivory colour plastic, was accompanied by buildings, a bridge, station and signal, none of which are over an inch long. Next came a three piece diesel engine and two carriages at about 2" long and finally, a variety of 3" long rolling stock made by Solo Effka. Woodstock tells me they would have been brought back from a trip to Germany, but we don't know anything else. Can anyone else help?