TOY REVELATIONS

Now and then I find out something new about vintage toys which is a revelation. A light bulb does literally light up inside my head!

A good example was during the first get-together Bill, Scoop and I had a couple of years ago at Bill's house. We were discussing TV21 comic and Scoop said something like " Its a pity that all the Project SWORD stories in the comic were just text with one drawing". I was stunned. "What, all of them? No strips at all?"

You must remember that I didn't get TV21 comic that often when I was a kid. Just the odd one along with the odd Shoot and Fantastic. I was a comic dabbler until I got Look-In every week [the Junior TV Times!]. So I had no real direct experience of Project SWORD in TV21, only what I'd picked up on from the blog. It was a light bulb moment!

Well, I had another one this week. This time I was reading an old copy of One Inch Warrior magazine, specifically an article about Tri-ang SpaceX astronauts. the article stated that some of the small astronauts, besides being based on the LP series, were also based on old Marx/ MPC designs. "What!" I cried from the bathroom [the magazine is part of my current WC library!]. "Marx!" "MPC?" I quickly checked and yes, there was an MPC design staring at me from a carded Mobile HQ in a picture I'd been sent by Vince only that week. Doh!

I don't own many SpaceX toys so again, I don't have much direct experience of the intricacies of the range. When I was a kid I won't have noticed the difference in the astronaut designs I don't think. I was too busy blowing them up with my UFO Interceptor missile!

Have you had a toy light-bulb moment readers?

Moon Prospector Survey

I will be doing some research into Moon Prospectors this Spring. To help me I wondered if I might ask readers to have a look at their own Prospectors, should you have one and let me know, via the comments, which maker's mark there is and where it is: Century 21, Tarheel, T in a Circle, Chibi/ Bichi?

I'm particularly interested to hear from any readers who have boxed Prospectors. Which makers marks are on the box and on the toy. Are they different?

Thanks in advance folks and keep on Prospecting!

ARE THERE ANY INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TOYS?

Just been watching Space Station Live on UK telly. A fascinating glimpse into the world of the astronauts on the International Space Station.

This was preceded by a radio package I listened to driving home from Bradford about the shift from braun to brains when selecting NASA astronauts.

And with the movie Gravity scooping up awards left, right and centre are we witnessing a resurgenge in interest in space readers?

The Space Shuttle generated plenty of toys. Not sure about Skylab toys? Anyone? Can we expect beautiful plastic toy International Space Stations in wonderful boxes reminiscent of the glory days/? Are there any ISS toys out there at all?

Do you have a favourite Space Station toy from your youth?


POST SCRIPT:


I saw this on the bay. Is it a space station do you think readers?

SPACE TOY SPARE PART MART

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SPARE PART FOR YOUR SPACE TOYS? 

HAVE YOU A SPARE PART TO TRADE?

LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS HERE.

To kick-start the process, Moon and Mars bases has available for trade:

Bill says: Now Woodsy will probably kill me for this 
[Woodsy says: I won't], but we bought a bag of C21 Sword and Thunderbirds spare parts a while back. Here they are. The motor units have been literally sawn off the toys. But there may be something of interest here...

IS PROJECT SWORD REALLY NASA?

Having discovered a whole new feast of a late evening, cheese on toast with Worcester sauce and a glass of cold Guinness, I can ponder life's conundrums to my heart's content.

I was wondering about Project SWORD as an organisation. In the real world what would it look like? NASA? 

SWORD's mission varies depending on which publication you read. In parts Mining Operation, Liberation Force and Space Explorers, the side of Project SWORD, which I find the hardest to pin down is its role in quashing the rebel forces of the Casuals and the Rejects. But isn't the rebellion justified given that only the chosen few will get to leave a dying Earth? Wouldn't we rebel?

This oppressive SWORD sits uncomfortably with the innocent zing of children's toys and casts a dark cloud over their mission. This tyranny sets it clearly apart from the altruism of Thunderbirds and places it beyond even the shadowy worlds of SPECTRUM and SHADO. 

Perhaps it was SWORD's role in quelling repressed insurgents that ultimately put paid to it getting beyond comics and toys and onto the telly? Who knows.

I do think though that my earlier comparison with NASA should really be changed to say a military arm of a government like an Air Force.

What do you think readers? Have I got SWORD all wrong?

A PIECE OF CAKE: PK'S LEMS AND LP SPACEMEN

Hi Woodsy

Hope all is well. Just went fishing in my storage and ran across some Apollo bits-n-bobs you might be interested to see.

I found these pieces about 5 or 6 years ago at the Long Beach flea Market. The vendor had a pretty big lot of Cake Decorating supplies and amongst them I found these two Apollo pieces. One is pretty straight foreword. "Space Men".

The other came in a plain box simply stamped "Made in Hong Kong" the modules can be separated. I found the clear capsule with astronaut seated inside rather interesting! Thought you might too.

I love the atrocious glue job too. Oh and also as I was tipping over the box, a small bag containing X2 astronauts fell out!

Cheers!

PK

The Red Arrow Emblem in the Worlds of Century 21

The arrowhead was a popular theme for logos at Century 21. The TV station used a dart to pierce the number 21. TV Century 21 magazine had a red arrow zooming across the title. Project SWORD used the red arrow as the main emblem, itself pierced by a sword, possibly a foil or an epee.

Are there any more arrowhead logos in the Century 21 world readers?

EAGLEMOSS DALEKS

I don’t know how many of you in Britain are collecting the Eaglemoss Doctor Who Figurine Collection.  Initially, I wasn't really interested in what was on offer at the beginning as it seemed to be, understandably quite biased towards the new series.

However, as part 6 featured a new series Dalek, and I do like Daleks,I thought I’d invest in a copy.

The model from the ninth Doctor story, ‘Dalek’, is, to anyone who hasn't partaken, quite heavy as it’s made from a metallic resin. The detail is quite reasonable, although the pickier collector might find the paintwork less than perfect.

The Supreme Dalek from tenth Doctor story, ‘The Stolen Earth’ turned up in part 13 so more investment.

Another nice rendition slightly let down in my opinion by the paintwork again. I suppose being used to seeing the detail on Konami models makes me think, possibly in error, that that’s the standard. 

This is one of seven special edition Daleks given to subscribers who are prepared to pay a premium subscription – the Supreme Dalek from the first Doctor story,’ The Dalek Masterplan’.

A nice little collectable but, again I’d suspect the paintwork is a bit amateurish for the seasoned collector.

I must admit I was quite taken by the exclusive subscriber gift which I found on fleabay - The Dalek Emperor from ninth Doctor story, ‘ The Parting of the Ways’.

It's pretty much a huge detailed pot ornament with a little deranged emperor floating in his little glass tube.

Apart from the special editions I believe one or two other Dalek models will feature in future editions which I’ll no doubt pick up,  and I might be tempted to the odd figure from the classic series but I reckon that’s about as far as I’ll go.