GLICO CAPTAIN SCARLET, GREEN, SILVER AND BLACK

These are some of the colour variations of Japanese Glico Captain Scarlet vehicles in reader Terry's collection. Each vehicle is about 25mm in length. Anyone got any others?

Separated at Birth?

Just received this wonderful pair of pencil sharpeners from Hungary. The resemblance to the LP Bubble car is amazingly close!

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO VIEWING FIGURES

I was looking at the viewing figures for TAG on Saturday night's screening which came out at 1.74 million which I felt looked a little disappointing considering all the pre publicity including a full size TB 4 floating on the river Thames.  An often  repeated episode of Dad's Army even got 1.5 million a little later on BBC 2.

Although ITV's top show that night, Ant & Dec got around 4 .8 million which considering their apparent mega popularity doesn't strike me as particularly high either.

So maybe TAG viewing figures when all the itv player views and repeats  are added might not look too bad in the end.

JAPANESE TOY AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Caught this brilliant You Tube footage of this super cool Japanese aircraft carrier toy. It may even be a kit. I love all the workings and the spring loaded jets!

FIREFLASH : THE NEXT GENERATION

With the third episode 'Space Race' due to air this coming Saturday on UK  TV  at the controversial time of 8.00 am in the morning, Thunderbirds are Go is riding high on generally positive reviews, despite the understandable negativity from some older fans.

Strangly, some of the reviews have applauded the fact that the series is not simply pandering to nostalgia , and has given a new generation their version.

That being said , there's naturally been several nods to the original series, especially the countdown voiced by the late Peter Dyneley. Another tribute will be a forthcoming episode which will apparently  retell the original pilot episode, Trapped in the Sky which featured the futuristic airliner, Fireflash. 

Here's a couple of screen grabs from the new series episode called  Fireflash which will definitely get us older fans taking.

CAPTAIN SCARLET PUZZLE CARS BACKING CARD

Japanese carded puzzle cars 1969: owned by reader Terry, who cleaned off 40 odd years of dirt from this backing card, which is about 450mm x 300mm in size. Anyone else got one?

BRAINS V SPOCK?

Who would win a fight between Thunderbirds' resident genius Brains and Star Trek's Vulcan brainbox Spock?

Brain's is a master designer of fantastic vehicles. Spock is a laser-sharp commander of logic. How would they fare pitted against each other? What strengths and weaknesses would they have readers?

Which other good adversary matches can you think of?

SYLVIA ANDERSON ANNOUNCED AS GUEST AT FANDERSON CON

Hot off the press is the recent announcement that Sylvia Anderson will be attending the Future is Fantastic Fanderson convention in October.

This really is a first for Fanderson as Gerry had apparently forbid the fan club to have any dealings with his ex wife, which meant that Fanderson organisers could never officially acknowledge Sylvia's tremendous contribution to the shows.

And with the next Andercon convention due to take place next month in a converted cinema in Leicester  I'm thinking Fanderson's announcement is well timed for anyone who can't go to both and haven't made their minds up which to invest in.

 Sylvia's voice talents are due to be heard in the new Thunderbirds Are Go TV series,and at the Fanderson convention she will be joined by another Thnderbirds  guest, David Graham, voice of both the original Parker, as well as voicing the new series version., Also attending is original Scott Tracy voice, Shane Rimmer (did I hear a rumour somewhere that he might be in the new mix!) and Matt Zimmerman , the voice of the original Alan Tracy. The latter three are also due to appear at next month's Andercon too.

In the interests of balance I, personally endorse, and will be attending both these events , so as far as I'm concerned my future Anderson enjoyment is looking fantastic!