RAILWAY ROCKETS? JUST WHAT IS BATTLE SPACE!

Like Scoop and Bill, I'm always fascinated to see whats available at Toy Fairs. The Reebok Fair is a fairly large one in Northern England, so aside from the obligatory die-cast there is always something of interest for space toy and Anderson fans like us.

What caught my eye this time were a Project SWORD Scramble Bug, a stack of [very expensive] boxed JR21 Thunderbirds toy vehicles, a Chad Valley Thunderbirds Projector set, a comansi Brains figure, a pile of old Eagle comics featuring Project Nimbus covers, a Fireball XL5 bagatelle ....and a cuddly toy [let me know if you don't get this!]

I also saw some Triang-Hornby Battle Space! Now I'm not a toy train fan, but I am intrigued as to why the makers of SpaceX saw fit to combine space and railways. It feels quite odd to me but seems to work really well. For the uninitiated like me I recommend watching these two videos on You Tube by chambs123, whose zeal for Battle Space! is infectious! Part 1 , Part 2

 

 

Is there any link whatsoever between Triang's Battle Space! and SpaceX toys?

SPACE 1999 BAGATELLE

This Space 1999 Bagatelle pinball game is another purchase from the Bolton Toy Fair.

I believe it was produced by Marx in 1976 who, not surprisingly used the same plastic cover for many other bagatelles, simply changing the illustration.

I'd imagine that like most people it's the illustration that attracted me to the thing in the first place, and the price, a tenner!

Strangely enough, there was a couple of other bagatelles at the fair, a very retro looking Rex Mars Planet Patrol and one of the Marx Fireball XL5 examples but those were priced a lot higher than what I'd be prepared to pay for something that would be fairly peripheral to my collection .

Anyway, It's not in bad nick. Everything works and the stand on the back is intact . Apart  from the odd scratch here and there, I can honestly say I'm quite pleased with it.

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?