Getting to the point

Space toys arrive in many different forms and one of the most overlooked is stationery items. As a boy, I would often get a multi-coloured rocket pen with ten separate phials of ink. Alongside the rocket pens, I would often find space erasers and pencil sharpeners. Today, they are difficult to come by, but I was pleased to obtain two prime examples from the sixties.

I had already acquired a Thunderbird 1 sharpener, but I found what appears to be two more from the same manufacturer.

The first one is a classic rocket, three stages with small fins. The fins are removed to take the sharpener out and release the shavings. Its just under 3" high.

The second one, is Lunar Probe 1 and features elements which show the connection to Thunderbirds. The grey fuselage with white vertical lettering and red nose are very similar to the TB1, but the triple engine array is very similar to TB3.

Strangely, I also saw another auction for a friction Thunderbird 1 which came with a red version of the Lunar Probe. Sharpener synchronicity!

Generation SPACEX - Finale

Having looked at all the models in the SPACEX line this week, here's one last look at the wonderful carded artwork for the series.

CARD BACK WITH SERIES CHECKLIST

EARTH BASE

SPACE STATION

MOON BASE

OUTER SPACE TRAVEL

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

With exactly two weeks to go before the Alpha: 2014 convention I felt the urge to begin a run of posts  putting up a few photos of some of my Eagle models and toys to get me in the mood. Don't worry if you're not going, I'm duty bound to give a full report of the event for the blog.

To begin with I thought I'd re-post a couple of photos I took last year of a slightly distressed Dinky Eagle Transporter which  I picked up at a  Dinky mart, Bill , Paul and I went to in Bolton.

More Eagle photos to follow.

FAILURE TO LAUNCH

"LANCASHIRE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"

Heartened by the recent success with capturing the Nuclear Pulse launch, I thought i'd have a go at something a little more dramatic. The Topper/Deluxe Reading Cape Canaveral Rocket Base has been a staple toy for me since I was about seven. One excited Xmas morning I got the set laid out, primed one of the 10" rockets in the spring powered launcher... and Bam! Off it went, a perfect parabolic orbit across the room and crashed into the tree, fusing all the xmas lights. Needless to say, my name was mud for the next few days.

Since that epic launch in the sixties, that set has long gone, but with Woodsy's help, Ive now got an almost complete second set. So, thinking I could record the dramatic launch of a rocket with my camera, I laid it out on the conservatory floor, found a long aluminium rod, primed the camera and...

..Nothing. No amount of pushing or nudging would make it go. A quick spray of WD40, though and it was away - but unfortunately, too fast for my old shutter finger.

  But perseverance is the name of the game, so some 300 frames later, I cracked it. Unfortunately, the launch took 1/30th of a second, so it was a very brief shoot!

The big stick effect also pushes the base around, but the considerable recoil from the rocket (which sailed 8' into the air and landed on my head) slams down shaking the launcher.

On to Phase 2... see the pilot on the extreme left faint dead away at the thought of being sent into space!

Expect more potentially damaging camera hijinks soon..

THE REAL STARS OF THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO 2015

Although there's a while to go before, hopefully a whole new generation of Thunderbird fans will come into being when we get to see the brand new rebooted Thunderbirds are Go TV series.

Slowly but surely, little snippets of info are being leaked onto the web to wet our appetite and provoke many a debate from fans, myself and blog friend, Will Schwartz included.

Personally, my interest will be in what merchandise we'll be treated to, die cast toys, plastic models, I can't wait.

We've now seen plenty of images of the new Thunderbird 1, including this rather tidy looking large model. That would look very nice in my display cabinet.

We've also seen these 3D renderings of the craft ,which are all over the web, so they may as well be here as well.

This is what I think of what I've seen - what do you lot think?

Thunderbird 1 is too much like the original for me and there's been changes for changes sake. I'm not sure I like those stubby wings, but I can see me getting used to them.

The rendering of the new  Thunderbird 2 looks like the wings fold up, and what is that circular thing behind the intake? I'll be honest  this design is really growing on me. There's enough of the original design to make it recognisable, but now it's taken on a more muscular look.

I must admit I'm having trouble with Thunderbird 3. The rocket motors look like they've been inspired by Lego. I'm hoping it'll look better on the show.

Thunderbird 4 doesn't look a lot different to the original, but unlike the changes in Thunderbird 1, I reckon this looks a lot sleeker and more realistic.

As to Thunderbird 5, the 3D rendering I've seen looks totally different to the original one we're used to.
To see it along with the other click on the link which shows the 3D renderings.

http://rocketumbl.tumblr.com/post/93947737360

Generation SPACEX - Outer Space Travel

 Outer Space Travel

ROCKET NOVA 1

The final installment of our look at Spacex Stage One is the only series without a larger model. Instead it features a flight of four smaller toys.

NUCLEAR FREIGHTER NF II

SPACE PATROL 1

PLEASURE CRUISER 1

This last series of models are all spacefaring vehicles, but with the notable inclusion of a pleasure cruiser, Triang clearly thinking ahead to a period when the everyman could take jaunts into space. Nova 1 again features in Arthur C Clarke's book along with the MEV and Sword Booster Rocket and the elegant Space Patrol 1 or Space Command Ship from the US line, is a direct lift from Ron Turner's 'Guardian' ship in his TV21 Dalek strip. The Nuclear Freighter has more than a touch of Thunderbird 2 styling as well.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief look at some of my most treasured toys and a look at Woodsy's personal SPACEX fleet. A multitude of style and colour variations exist, some of which can be seen here: 

http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/p/wotans-page.html

Prospector on the Moon

Master builder Kevin Davies has sent us a fine photograph of his recent Prospector build, coursing over the moon surface. Wonderful.

Generation SPACEX - Moon Base

MOON BASE

The Triang Stage One series Moon Base series includes the single most complex toy of the fleet, the eponymous base itself. Based on a NASA concept for an advance base, the toy has four modular capsules, each sitting on four tiny detachable legs. Inside three of the four units are tiny scaled items of furniture and equipment, including a computer array, recreation hall with cinema and dormitory with pool table and bunk beds! The fourth module is the garage unit with opening hatch and the four units are connected by a cross shaped tunnel unit.

MOON BASE

The Moon Base series is possibly the closest that SPACEX comes to Project SWORD in one sitting. Featuring a central base, the almost identical Prospector and Moon Bus lookalike, parallels between the series begin here and radiate outward.

PROSPECTOR

EXPLORER MEV 2

The MEV design can be found in Arthur C Clarke's 'Man in Space' book and the Cricket P1 appears in many other toy lines, most notably in Remco's Hamilton Invaders line.

MOBILE HQ

BASE PATROL CRICKET P1