LOST AND FOUND: BILL'S SILL

Many many years ago when the world was young and so was I, through the power of the blossoming internet I got to know Bill B and Paul V. Ages before Ebay and the blog, we were exchanging news and views about vintage space toys through the newly-fangled machinery.

 

 

Around that time Bill B emailed a series of photos of his collection on his front room window sill. For  quite some time since I have lost two of them and Bill no longer has the originals. In stepped Paul V whose archive is second to none and hey presto, the series is complete once again. Thanks Paul!

 

 

So here you are, Bill's early collection back together on his window sill. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

YOUR ULTIMATE SPACE HOLIDAY

What would your ultimate space and sci-fi/ TV tour consist of? Cape Canaveral? Woomera? Smithsonian? Pinewood Studios? Slough Trading Estate? Dan Dare's shed?  Let us know readers?

PIRATE GORDON VERSES BOOTLEGGER MASON: KNOCKOFFS IN SPACE

 

Being a fan of knockoffs I'm always fascinated by mash-ups and mix-ups. Two caught my eye of late in the wonderful world of the cyberverse. First up is this carded space set from Argentina by Amimart, Exploradores del Espacio.

 

 

For a knockoff its a nice carded item and really quite attractive. I don't recognise any of the toys per se but the listing suggest that the figures are copies of Flash Gordon ones as seen in the book Blast Off page 75. Can anyone confirm this? Is the small half moon and the rocket set Flash Gordon too? Most bizarre are the inclusion of a bucket and spade and a pick axe, which look like dome-store charms to me and which I find quite wonderful for some strange reason.

 

 

I've no idea what the item in the bottom right corner is. Here's a close up. Any deas?

 

 

Second is this mixture of space toys which looks nice enough to eat doesn't it! Now I recognise the Major Matt Mason moon suit, sled and radio [?] back pack as being Mattel, but the figure, helmet, camera [?] and possibly the silver air tanks aren't Mattel. My guess is the Mexican brand Lili Lledy. A reader will hopefully confirm and I can see it now, all the Matt Mason stuff here is Mexican! [was Lili Lledy licensed by Mattel?]

 

 

I also recognise the bag of MPC astronauts but the little white ones below them have me stumped. Are they part of a set which included the small Marx Moon Grabber and lunar craters that are pictured? Am I right and has anyone got this set? It'd be great to see one on the blog.

 

 

Right, that's me done. I'm knocking off now!

 

The Truth Is Out There

Scoop's Roswell post reminded just how much I like the whole Area 51 thing, especially on the small and big screens.

 

 

I can vividly recall how excited I was when the X-Files started on UK telly back in the 90's. It was a sensation and I absolutely loved it. Very few TV shows have formed essential viewing for me in my adult state but Mulder and Scully did. Series 1 was the best and my favourite episode was Tooms, about a strange chap who, well, ate bile and could squeeze through holes in walls. Yuk! Was the X-Files a hit with you?

 

 

The UFO conspiracy was at the heart of many TV shows. Another one I enjoyed [but nowhere near as much] was Dark Skies. I'm sure that the alien-infected humans had creep crawly tendrils popping out of their mouths now and then! Anyone remember the show?

 

 

I suppose the most modern visit to Roswell on the Silver screen was Independence Day, where we actually got to see the US Government facility! The Area 51 Head Scientist was a scream with lines like 'Would you like to see the big enchilada?', or was it 'kahuna'? For some reason I always associate the actor's voice with the voice of the Hooded Claw from an old cartoon I watched as a kid but the name of which has completely escaped me. They can't possibly be the same voice.

 

 

My favourite UFO film is Close Encounters. Every time I see it I get swept up in the excitement being felt by the chosen ones. Richard Dreyfuss did a sterling job as an obsessive wondering what the hell was going on as his family life disintegrated around him. I've lost count of the number of times I've made a Devil's Tower out of my mashed spuds on my dinner plate! Although somewhat schmaltzy I found the ending to the film totally moving as people thought lost were returned home by the 'greys'. And who could forget that music? Der-der-der-der-der!

 

 

What are your favourite UFO films and shows?

ROSWELL ANNIVERSARY

Today, sixty six years ago the Roswell Daily Record reported that the Roswell Army Air Force had captured a flying saucer which had crashed on a ranch in the Roswell region.

The first official press release was that a ‘flying disc’ had been recovered, however later reports denied this, putting the whole thing down to a crashed weather balloon.

Since then, and the later alleged revelations that the mysterious object contained extra- terrestrial bodies has put the conspiracy theorists into over drive.

Well,  I’m sure we’ve all got our opinions on the Roswell Incident, and I personally think whatever the truth, it’s all great fun, along with theorizing about the existence of Big Foot and sightings of the Loch Ness Monster!

Watch The Skies! 

AVUNCULAR THOUGHTS

I’ve been reading about the proposed film based on the 60’s spy series ,The Man From U.N.C.L.E.  which will apparently star Man Of Steel , Henry Cavill and Lone Ranger , Armie Hammer. The film is to be directed by Sherlock Holmes director, Guy Richie.

I must admit I was a big fan of UNCLE during the sixties, and in particular one of it's stars, Robert Vaughn.   But although I have a nostalgic affection for it I can more or less take it or leave it these days. I watched some episodes a while back and to be honest once that nostalgic buzz has gone it just seemed to look a bit dated.

I remember a time when talking into your pen and asking for Channel D to be opened was cool, and how I wished I'd collected those Vosene shampoo and Macleans toothpaste tokens!

I did, of course get the Corgi THRUSH buster, but I don't recall seeing it in the show.

Robert Vaughn as suave spy Napoleon Solo and David McCallum as his Russian sidekick, Illya Kuryakin were as big as the Beatles for a time, but these days I get the impression that, apart from the diehard fans , the odd website and blokes of a certain age, the show is largely forgotten by the most of the public.

Maybe this film will change all that.

Mention the UNITED NETWORK COMMAND for LAW and ENFORCEMENT to most of the young'uns in the pub and they just look bewildered, and as for the TECHNILOGICAL HEIRARCHY for the REMOVAL of UNDESIRABLES and the SUBDUGATION of HUMANITY they just tell me you can get a cream to get rid of it!

The ANT's Metalastic Wheels

The Grumman ANT had metalastic wheels as did the SpaceX MEV2 [pictured below in Bill's garden]. Here's a great short article about them by space writer David S. Portree http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/01/metalastic-wheels-1962/

 

[thanks Richard B. for pointing this out].

 

EAGLEMOSS BATMOBILE FROM BATMAN #311

I finally received my replacement  Eaglemoss Batmobile from Batman #311 so let’s have a look at it.

Premiering in May, 1979 this new Batmobile still retained elements from the sixties version with its twin canopies and jet engine afterburner.

The comic issue had Batman and Batgirl defeating Dr Phosphorus, a villain who had mutated into a radioactive creature after falling into a Nuclear core.

This new comicbook version had a very modern look and had it's usual fair share of gadgets.

It’s aerodynamic design looks very cool and I love it’s metallic blue and black colour scheme with contrasting yellow wheels.

The style is  very similar to the Batmobile that appeared in the animated TV series, 'Challenge of the Super Friends'. There are differences on this version like  longer canopies and a slightly altered bat cowl over the bonnet but by and large much the same.

Looking at the car in the comic I reckon the Eaglemoss model is another nice representation, although I imagine the comic version went through several subtle changes throughout the eighties.

The lenticular backdrop shows Batman watching some cops checking out what looks like a covered body below a pier.

Some nice detail in the cockpit, especially the centre column with the switches subtly highlighted.

A super car which I can just imagine prowling around Gotham City.

Next time I'll check out the first 'Batmobile' from Batman's premier issue, Detective Comics # 27