Mission Bravo

Just to clarify what some of the things I picked up in Bolton toyfair, here's a brief article about a couple of them. Matchbox ran a series a few years ago called Mission Bravo which were a spin off from the earlier Mega Rig series, but this time purely military. The line was quite expansive and generally featured a large vehicle with various 'action features' such as a hull which converted into a secret base or a transforming vehicle. The figures were about golden astronaut scale and simply articulated. There were various mercenary factions in clear liveries and a load of vehicles.

The blue jeep and gun I picked up for 30p is probably what Tony Stark would refer to as a 'fun-vee', a Hummer variation with pop up rocket launcher which can be removed to show a hidden gun mount. The little cannon has a steel plate built into the top to allow the copters magnetic winch to airlift it. The patrol boat has a flip down hydrofoil and twin torpedo launchers.

All the vehicles use the same style missile, so after you bombard you're mate with a rain of plastic fire, he can shoot you right back with your own ordnance. 

Some of my favourite and previously collected pieces include the Strike Jet, Sand Tiger heavy tank and the cool Arctic Fox missile tank!

THUNDER JETS SPACEX

I'm always on the look out for small plastic clones of Project SWORD and SpaceX. Two of the easiest spacecraft by far to find similar toys for are SpaceX's Reconnaissance 2 and Space Patrol 1, both most likely based on the US Blackbird spy plane.

On account of the Blackbird's iconic status, there are many toy versions of it. I recently came across yet another one online, pictured here, coloured translucent blue at the far right in this packet of Thunder Jets.

 

 

There was no real information with the picture but I believe that they are plastic premiums from some sort of US fruit cereal. Is this correct and are the cereals still in the shops?


POSTSCRIPT: Richard's ID'd them as candy toys from 1989 and pointed out this cool TV ad on You Tube! Cheers!
 

Seasoning

Summer's final hot breaths are upon us in the UK. The sunglasses don't need to go away just yet but the School summer holidays are over after six weeks of blissful recreation. 

 

 

Despite the ongoing record-breaking warmth, the garden is already covered in fallen leaves from the past week's winds as these seasonal heralds hum and whisper of Autumn's return .

 

 

I do enjoy sweeping the fallen leaves. The simple strokes have a zen-like quality and connect directly with the changing seasons. They remind me of time.

 

 

What are the seasons doing in your neck of the woods?

 

 

BOLTON ROVER

Endorsing Wote's comments on the Blogger's day out at the Toy Fair at Bolton, I have to say there was more to see than last time with more plastic toys for sale. I was glad to see a Zobor Zeroid represented, as well as a SWORD Scramble Bug  and some Rosanthal Thunderbirds.

There was, of course plenty of Dinky Toys boxed and unboxed, mint or falling apart and prices rangiing from 'optimistic' for wreckages to 'realistic' for some tidy examples.

I managed to find this lovely looking Dinky Lunar Roving Vehicle from the seventies. It was in remarkably reasonable condition with good paintwork and the two astronaut passengers present, and for three quid I wasn't going to turn it down.

Wote's previous post on his had peaked my interest in this little beauty so I was chuffed to find it.

 I've got to say these fairs are great fun and full of little bargains, plus everything's in front of you so you know exactly what you're buying and don't forget, there's always that chance to haggle.

Here's the next one, fellas?

Bloggers in Bolton

Today your hosts Woodsy, Wotan and Scoop had a grand day out together at a local toy and dinky fair in Bolton. Well, local for Scoop an Wotan anyway! We'd visited one earlier in the year, but this one had a much bigger toy presence as opposed to trains. One notable appearance was a Project Sword Scramble Bug, still boxed, which was a rare sight at a fair. Also present wasa Zeroid, several C21/ Rosenthal Anderson toys from Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, a Merit Dan Dare Radio Station and a multitude of other nice examples of vintage space and tv toys. Prices were keen and in some cases, silly, but there were bargains galore to be had. After a bit of rummaging and cherry picking while inadvertantly showing my builders cleavage, I managed to scoop up a nice selection of toys for small change.

BENDY ROBOT MYSTERY

 

I keep seeing this bendy rubber robot by Imperial Toys. Do you think he's based on Dr.Who's Giant Robot?

Grab Bag

A big space toy staple of the 1960's were the Hill Climbing Moon Grabbers, by Marx. They were released over several years, with three basic models and a special Moon Train set in the states, featuring small trailers with a rocket and a helicopter on board.

They were always highly visible in christmas shop window displays along with Billy Blastoff and Matt Mason and could often be seen trundling across the floor of large department stores along with robots, airplanes and barking dogs.

My favourite of the three is the Moon Scout with its huge grab arm and the iconic multi dish radar, which appeared on the later Spacex Apollo Tracker.

A curious design, with no apparent cockpit and two large domes enclosing what must be remote sensing equipment for the vehicle.

Marx also made small boxed sets with hand painted figures, rocks and a tiny version of the vehicles, adding a fourth space tank too.

Later versions of the grabbers appeared in coloured chrome finish which were still available in the early seventies.

ECO-DRAMAS: MORE THAN A LEAKING DRUM

There's very little Eco-Drama on TV these days. It used to be very popular and highly topical. Eco-drama needs an environmental crisis, preferably a conspiracy, at its heart. Global catastrophe, nuclear energy, dodgy genetics, that sort of thing. I suppose the Project SWORD story arc might even be Eco- Drama?

 

 

The earliest Eco-drama I can remember watching were the Quatermass films based on the popular black and white BBC TV series. I've never seen the series and must do one of these days. I imagine Quatermass set the scene for all eco-dramas that followed: shady government units, remote locations, science out of control and public secrecy. Oh and a charismatic central lead always helps, usually an honest boffin like Quatermass himself. My own personal favourite is the colour version of the film, Quatermass and the Pit.

 

 

One eco-thriller of the Seventies caught my eye on the big screen, Doom Watch, released in 1972 [released as Island of the Ghouls in the US]. Essentially it's UFO but instead of aliens there are eco-disasters at every turn. The film centred on mutation amongst the inhabitants of a remote island. Doom Watch, a government unit, are sent in to investigate. Ian Bannan, one of my favourite actors of that generation, plays the lead role as Dr. Del Shaw. John Paul played the role of Dr. Spencer Quist as he did in the original TV series of Doom Watch. Again, the series passed me by but I have started watching the initial episode, The Plastic Eaters.

 

 

The Eighties were rife with eco- drama on TV as Britain knuckled down for the Thatcher years. Edge of Darkness is probably the best series ever made in the sub - genre and often lauded as one of the finest British TV series of all time. It starred Bob Peck, who would become even better known as the tough shorts - wearing warden in Jurassic Park. In Darkness Peck plays a gruff Yorkshire policeman, whose daughter is murdered. Shady government goings-on are everywhere and Peck digs deeper and deeper till the truth is finally revealed. I had the pleasure of watching the entire series yesterday on DVD, 314 minutes! Highly recommended.

 

 

The Nineties gave us genetically modified nightmares with Chimera in 1991, released as Monkey Boy in the US. I remember watching this TV series at the time and really enjoying it. It's one I'm hoping to track down again this year. I suppose the modern equivalent if it would be the movie Splice.

 

 

I'm not sure that Gerry Anderson's series and films were eco-dramas. UFO comes closest with its hidden HQ and secret battles. I would place it more in the alien conspiracy sub-genre, which later peaked with The X-Files.

 

 

What are your favourite eco-dramas and do you think the sub-genre is still relevant today?