THE FUTURE IS FANTASTIC: STUDIO SCALE LABORATORY EAGLE

These days any Gerry Anderson event wouldn't be complete without an Eagle or two from Space 1999, and the Future is Fantastic con was no exception.

The All Sections Alpha team brought along a good selection of Eagle variations, but most impressive was Chris Potter's excellent 44" studio scale replica Laboratory Eagle with additional boosters, as seen in second season episode, The Metamorph.

I  have featured Chris' studio scale models before on the blog, but these boosters really do change the look of the Eagle, making it look really powerful. I reckon this is my favourite Eagle look!

The detailing is excellent.

The model even featured the alien device from first season episode, The Last Sunset, attached to the side of the cabin.

THE MARTIAN: MATT DAMON ON MARS

Just come back from the local Cineworld having seen The Martian.

Despite everything I said yesterday about Multiplexes its films like this that make the Big Screen the best movie medium in the world.

The Martian is a stunning film. I loved every minute of it and Matt Damon was just excellent. Ridley Scott has done it again!

Think of a cross between Apollo 13, Gravity and Moon and you have an idea of how dramatic this film is. The vehicles and tech are superb too!

Go see!

THE FUTURE IS FANTASTIC: SYLVIA ANDERSON

Without a doubt the highlight for everyone at the F.I.F. convention was a rare appearance of special guest Sylvia Anderson.

Although I've been lucky enough to have previously seen Sylvia  at one of the Cult TV festivals and last year's Cosford event , she has never appeared at any Fanderson convention before, and generally I've always had the impression that her huge contribution to the Anderson series has been downplayed somewhat.

Well, I have to say as she spoke to the audience in the packed out room, everyone hung on her every word.

She was witty,entertaining and her reminiscences created nostalgic images in my mind's eye of those early days at A.P. Films, Century 21 and beyond.

I should also say that despite her declining years, her mind is still as sharp as a tack.  

Unsurprisingly,at the end of her talk she was given rapturous applause and a standing ovation, which apparently brought a tear to her eye.

A lovely lady.

Oh, and in case anyone's wondering, the blond lady behind Sylvia is her talented daughter, Dee.

HAS GOING TO THE CINEMA GOT WORSE?

I go to the cinema about once a month these days. It used to be once a week until a two for one offer was withdrawn in the UK Cineworld chain called Orange Wednesdays.

Its too expensive without the offer, costing around £10 for an adult ticket.

Over the years I have seen the death of the town centre cinema and the unstoppable rise of the Multiplex. At my own Cineworld I have seen the combining of the food counter with ticket sales, a rather cynical move I thought, together with allocated seating, which I can't stand to be honest as I like to choose exactly where I sit once inside. Or at least I did!

The latest efficiency is the reduction in size of the house magazine to a two sided leaflet. This is streamlining gone mad. No doubt the reasons quoted would be the change in peoples' reading habits but I personally think its a sad day when there is virtually no printed material in a cinema.

I have to face it though, as long as I love movies I will go to the cinema no matter what they do regardless of whether I like the changes or not. Only a totally ludicrous rise on price would stop me completely.

What are your cinema habits and experiences readers?

IDEAL ASTRO BASE SPACE TRUCK

Looking at Ideal's Astro Base space vehicle [name?] below I couldn't help noticing its similarity to both the Miniflex Space safari vehicle - 2 -  and indeed the Project SWORD Moon Bus - 3 - and Moon Ranger - 4 - a little. Anyone know the origins of the Ideal Astro Base and its vehicles? Has anyone got one?

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[top two shots: Mike Burrows]

THE FUTURE IS FANTASTIC: PUPPETS

A few photos of some of the many puppets on display at the F.I.F. convention, some in their own specially made sets.

COLORFORMS OUTER SPACE MEN KNOCKOFF SPACE ATTACK TOYS

Just look at all the different ranges of toys and sci-fi series in this SPACE ATTACK knockoff boxed set our friend Arto spotted online.

I can see Colourforms Outer Space Men in there for a start. What else can you see readers? And what does the play mat look like? Anyone?

ONE SMALL SNAP FOR MANKIND

Or, the entire catalogue of Apollo mission photographs, taken with the legendary Hasselblad camera system, published to the public domain bia Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/projectapolloarchive/