DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE CANINE RESIDENT OF MOONBASE, THE 9PM SERIAL IS POSTPONED TONIGHT UNTIL 11PM. APOLOGIES READERS!
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
BIRTHDAY 5: WHERE IS THE NICHIMO RANGER BOX?
Continuing my look at the Nichimo Carboats, here's the related Nichimo Ranger, which I mentioned in my last post. Released in 1963, it is both in shape and name the forerunner of our friend the Moon Ranger by Century 21 Toys.
These are the only two pictures I have of this particular Nichimo model with each one showing a slightly different colour scheme. What I have never seen is the box! Just what is the packaging for this model? Intriguingly, does it have Shigeru Komatzusaki box art as well?
The top picture, taken from a modern Character Age magazine, shows a graphic of the model's movements. Is this part of the box art? Are the vehicle and little man pictured part of the box art or are they simply illustrations from the Nichimo 1963 catalogue?
Can anyone help?
Shoot for the Moon
In the 1970s, before the creation of the nanny state which now seems to preclude kids playing happily outside, I always enjoyed guns, rockets and anything which employed a projectile. Gliders, parachutes and flying saucers were always in good supply from seaside shops, so summer was always spent either on a beach, or in the garden. One toy that eluded me at the time was a simple idea, called Thundershot. Having seen it on tv, I was immediately smitten, but could never find it in the shops in Liverpool, or even on holiday. However, I was pleased to find a good quality example on ebay.The box was a little damaged, but the toy was unused.
It is essentially a pneumatic powered pump, made of two cardboard tubes, topped with a plastic rocket. Pushing down on the rocket compresses the air and releasing the rocket with a finger, lets it launch off. On tv, it shot high in the air, but in practicality, I only made about 6 feet in the air! The rocket comes with two cones, one for use with a chute and one just as a projectile. The cap should release and let out the chute, but try as I might, I couldn't get it to fly high enough to activate. Still, it's nice looking period toy and at least theres no danger of it joining my Quercetti rockets in the roof gutter!
SPACEX ON THE MOON
A few photos from my archives.
I took this for the Blog's first birthday.
I figured it was appropriate to celebrate Moonbase Central with some of the Moon fleet from Spacex.
After all, you can never have too many Spacex pics, folks.
The Mobile HQ with orange top and yellow dome
MEV with blue arm and darker orange wheels
The ubiquitous Prospector
Moonbase (Central)
BIRTHDAY 5: THE NICHIMO CARBOAT MODEL SERIES
In the early days of the blog reader Will Schwartz astounded us all with his Character Age magazine from Japan. Will had clearly found the forerunner of the SWORD Moon Ranger. Ever since I have been intrigued by the series of four models [pictured left below], which form the Nichimo Carboat series.
Number 2 is the Baron, another amphibious car. Pictures of the box contents and completed model would be welcomed!
Number 3 is the Frontier, a fabulous looking space tank. Box contents, instruction sheet [of Nichimo Tank] and partially made model courtesy of Arto [thanks!].
Number 4 is the Pioneer, the forerunner of the Century 21 Project SWORD Moon Ranger pictured bottom. Here we can see the familiar radar, tracks and front-slung dome cockpit and pilot. Only the front shovel is missing, which Nichimo added to their similar Space Ranger model, the Moon Ranger's origin.
Observations, pictures, videos, stories, remarks or otherwise about any of the four Carboats would be welcomed. [Pictures courtesy of Arto, Noppin and Vectis.]
POSTSCRIPT:
Reader Eric has kindly sent me a piccy of the Nichimo Frontier instructions, which where inside his box.
PICTURE TO FOLLOW.
BIRTHDAY 5: TOYS ON COVERS: ASTRO NAUTILUS
Astro Nautilus was the octopus-headed action figure in Colorforms Outer Space Men, pictured here lower centre.
The toys' inventor, Mel Birnkrant, recalls the inspiration for the Astro's head on his website, the giant octopus in the film Mysterious Island. Here it is pictured on the cover of Dell's comic tie-in.
Footnote: Modern US toy designers The Four Horsemen have updated the toy line and Astro Nautilus is on the cover of their company artwork.
He has morphed into a warrior elephant! Which do you prefer readers? The octopus or Nellie?
Monday, 16 September 2013
BIRTHDAY 5 9PM SERIAL: CENTURY 21 MINI-ALBUMS - The Toys You Can Hear! by Jim Lewis: Part 2
Earlier productions such as THE ADVENTURES OF TWIZZLE, FOUR FEATHER FALLS and SUPERCAR had seen exposure beyond the television screen through vinyl records but none were afforded the lavish production and promotion given to the joint venture between Century 21 and Pye Records. Pye enjoyed a fruitful association with AP Films/Century 21 throughout the 1960s releasing theme tune 45 R.P.M.s on their label including those for STINGRAY, THUNDERBIRDS and later JOE 90.
The company brought to the partnership an established network of distribution to records shops around the country as well as an understanding of how to promote their product in-store by way of point-of-sale displays and counter-top presentation boxes. Members of the team involved in the production of the actual programmes were drafted in to offer a level of continuity and realism to the project previously unheard of in television related merchandise.
Even Parker himself, voice artist David Graham, would co-write with Des Saunders the now legendary F.A.B. Mini-Album story featuring the Barry Gray classic 'The Abominable Snowman'. Alan Fennell too, one of the teams most prolific scribes and TV CENTURY 21 giant, found time to contribute to the ground-breaking venture.
Launching in September 1965 CENTURY 21 Records goal was to offer young listeners a plethora of suitably recorded vinyl records in the larger and longer LP format as well as the core of the brand the 33 R.P.M. Mini-Album. During the next two years a staggering thirty-seven Mini-Albums were released showcasing all of the most popular Anderson productions of the day including FIREBALL XL5, STINGRAY, THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS. Other properties for whom Century 21 had negotiated a licensing agreement were also incorporated into the burgeoning merchandise onslaught.
Launching in September 1965 CENTURY 21 Records goal was to offer young listeners a plethora of suitably recorded vinyl records in the larger and longer LP format as well as the core of the brand the 33 R.P.M. Mini-Album. During the next two years a staggering thirty-seven Mini-Albums were released showcasing all of the most popular Anderson productions of the day including FIREBALL XL5, STINGRAY, THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS. Other properties for whom Century 21 had negotiated a licensing agreement were also incorporated into the burgeoning merchandise onslaught.
Terry Nation's creation The Daleks appeared along with characters for the younger age category. Topo Gigio the popular puppet mouse created by Mario Perego, who would be voiced by Anderson stalwart Keith Alexander, enjoyed the prestige of a Mini-Album of his own along with Jean Morton's Koala favourites Tingha and Tucker who were the focus of two Mini-Albums and a long player.
Jim Lewis
read the next exciting part of Jim's week- long serial tomorrow at 21:00 UK TIME!....
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