KENNER SSP REVRODS

Kenner SSP racers were designed by the great Marvin Glass and were a revolution in car racing. Inside each one is a weighted flywheel providing gyroscopic balance and motive power. Released as four models only in England, by Denys Fisher as Revrods, the SSP range in the states was huge.

I've had my green Eliminator Revrod since the seventies, but just lately have found the jet engined Sidewinder (minus back wheels), Sand Scorcher and blue Can Am Racer which needs a new windscreen and some TLC. But supet toys, nonetheless!

APOLLO SATURN ART

The Apollo Saturn rocket of the Project SWORD range is one of the most attractive in the line and the blue, white and red versions from Sears USA and Tomy Ranger Japan [above] are particularly so. The design is iconic and perhaps the quintessential rocket shape. Similar sleek designs popped up on the covers of childrens' magazines and sci-fi pulp novels from the 1950's onwards.

 

 

 

 

Recently I found this beautiful artwork on the UK childrens' educational magazine World of Wonder dated 1st July 1972 [price 9p].

 

 

 

 

Here is another similarly gorgeous rocket on the 1953 cover of Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man.

 

And the Apollo Saturn artwork itself surfaced on this Japanese Gemini rocket toy, with illustrations lifted from the US/ Japanese toys on the front and rear of the card.

 

 

Any similar designs are always welcomed here. The precise inspiration for the Project SWORD artwork has yet to be found.

 

Battle damaged OX

 

ZEROID ZERAK AND THE MISSILE DEFENSE PAD

Continuing with my look at the Mighty Zeroids, here we have Zerak, The Blue Destroyer. 

Originally, Zerak came with his own Control Station complete with exit ramp.  Slightly disappointing when compared to Zobor’s Cosmobile or Zintar’s Lunar Sled, but certainly preferably to the simple box or bubble pack that later versions came with when costs became an issue.

As with the other original Zeroids, Zerak came with  additional hands. The Magnetic Grabber enabled the Zeroid to carry metal objects.

The Action Hand, using the spring loaded arm could throw Laser Bombs (or Satellites,depending on which advertising blurb you read )

My Zerak came as part of a Zeroid Action Set.

Along with the usual additional hands the set came with an automatic reversing ramp but unlike the ramp in the individual plastic  cases it doesn't have the word 'ZEROID' across the front.

 It also came with a Solar Cycle, the Zeroid Attack Vehicle.

Fitting the Zeroid requires applying pressure to the side of it's base and pushing out the rim of the cycle.

Once it's in position the Zeroid is supposed to drive the 'wheel'. It's a bit of a hit and miss affair as the robot's tracks don't always connect with the rim.

But it looks nice.   

As far as I’m concerned, the best thing about the set  is The Missile Defense Pad.

The Zeroid trundles up the ramp and levers set in the pad base release three rockets in sequence.

That’s the theory, although sometimes vibration from the robot’s movement sets them all off at once. 

Not that I'm complaining, it's still great fun.

Here's a short film showing Zerak and The Missile Defense Pad in action.

WHO IS KING OF THE KAIJU?

 

With excitement building at Moonbase Central for my Wednesday visit to the flicks to see Pacific Rim, I've been thinking a lot about Kaiju.

 

 

After this movie I predict that Kaiju will be a household word. In my day we'd have just called 'em Big Monsters! and boy do I love big monster movies!

 

 

It's fun doing a Kaiju scale. Which exactly is the biggest monster? I've had a go and put Pacific Rim at the top end. I may be wrong. I'll find out on Wednesday!

 

 

What would your scale look like?

The New Official Gerry Anderson Website

Gerry Anderson's family have created the Official Gerry Anderson website. Check it out guys! There appear to new projects on the way!

LAUNCH APOCALYPSE

T'other day a kid asked me how much fuel was there left on Earth? I didn't know. Having googled the question there appear to be various guesstimates.

One estimate for oil is 1350 Billion barrels left. The human world consumes 80 million barrels a day. The USA has enough natural gas to last around 100 years and fracking open shale gas deposits could mean more gas is available. Then there's Nuclear, Wind, Solar and so on.

But just how much fuel does NASA need?  They quote that each of the two Solid Rocket Boosters on the Space Shuttle carries more than one million pounds of solid propellant. The Space Shuttle's large External Tank is loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, which are mixed and burned together to form the fuel for the orbiter's three main rocket engines.

NASA is building the biggest solid-fuel rocket ever, the SLS. It will be 10% more powerful than the Saturn V. The fuel will be composed of ammonium perchlorate, powdered aluminum, iron oxide, a polymer (such as Polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN) or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)) and an epoxy curing agent.

 

 

So, looking at the constituents of rocket fuel, the amount of oil and gas on Earth may not affect future deep space missions, particularly if fuel is added en route from other moons and planets like Mars. Titan appears to be one huge petrol station!

 

 

But just how much thrust can we produce on Earth for the deepest of missions: one final mission to save Humanity SWORD style, in other words, an 'ark'? Could such a launch destroy Earth itself: an Extinction Level Launch?

Blimey, how did I get here from that kid asking me how much fuel was left on Earth? Phew! I need a beer!

KELLOGG'S THUNDERBIRD 3-D CUT-OUTS

I found this old ad in a 1966 edition of TV Century 21. This Kellogg's promotion was apparently their first to feature Thunderbirds. Strangely, while I recall the later plastic figures and vehicle set, I don't recall  these at all from the time. I note that they include Kyrano in the set rather than the Hood, who is present  in the plastic set. I don't recall seeing much of Kyrano  in spin offs. Was there any other  merchandise from the time that included Kyrano apart from this?