SURFS UP! THE TV JOKERMOBILE FROM EAGLEMOSS

Issue 75 of the Eaglemoss Automobilia collection features The Jokermobile from the classic 1966 Batman TV series.

It’s a classic clown car for a classic villain. But how did this hotchpotch hot rod come into being?

The car started life as a Model T Ford , and was completely customised by classic Batmobile designer George Barris for a 1967 Elvis Presley film, Easy Come, Easy Go. It was given the name Mongrel T.

It was very much a sixties hot rod with lots of coloured vinyl, shag pile upholstery and surf boards for seat backs!

After completing its film début, it moved over to TV, and after a few minor alterations it appeared in the Batman second season episode, The Joker’s Last Laugh. There’s a bust of the Joker on the front fender, and Joker insignia on the doors and seat backs.

The Eaglemoss 3D Lenticular back drop choses a beach scene from the Jokermobile’s appearance in the third season episode, Surf’s Up, Joker’s Under.

You can see those two 'surf jockey's' , Batman and The Joker wearing their 'baggies'.

KEVIN'S NEW PROJECT SWORD TOY DISPLAY CABINET

 Have a look at Kevin's fabulous new Project SWORD toy cabinet! All we need are those doors open.....

.......hey presto!

X-40 SPACE ROCKET TOY: THE ENOLA GAY OF SPACE?

Is the old 1940's WW2 Enola Gay Superfortress cockpit the inspiration behind the split screened front of the X-40 Space Rocket toy made in Hong Kong 1960's?

Or has it more to do with 1950's Dan Dare? What do you think readers?

AOSHIMA UFO MOON BASE BIULT AND PAINTED

[pic: kohokugareki]

Beautiful built and painted Aoshima UFO Moon Base including both UFO and Project SWORD vehicles. Not sure what the jet is under the central dome. Anyone?

A different take on the same kit below, this one set on a white lunar surface.

and the painted vehicles from this diorama as a group

[2 pics: milano killer]

HOLY HARLEY! ORIGINAL TV BATCYCLE FROM EAGLEMOSS

While most models of the live-action Batcycle are of the Yamaha Catalina 250, that was made for the 1966 Batman film and used in the TV series, it was a 1965 Harley Davidson Electra Glide with a side car that was the first TV Batcycle.

Eaglemoss has done a splendid job producing a highly detailed model. 

The original was used in the first season episode, 'Not Yet He Ain't' , and used to pursue the Batmobile which had been stolen by that feathered fink, The Penguin! 

This Batcyle is fitted with a Bat Scanner with it's controls attached to the machine's handlebars. This is used to remotely operate the stolen Batmobile.

Pictured above is Batman's gloved hand operating the Bat Scanner's control buttons.

Pictured below you can see the Bat scanner controls on the Eaglemoss Batcycle.

The detail overall is excellent.

The front view 

The original for comparison.

Oh, and not that it really needs mentioning, but the 3 D Lenticular  photo of Stately Wayne Manor is the perfect backdrop.

AMERICAN SWORD: THE TARHEEL INDUSTRIES PROJECT SWORD TOY FLEET

With the recent discovery of the Tarheel Spectrum Spectrum Patrol Car at the Hamilton Toy Collection I thought it would be a good time to bring together all of Tarheel's American Project SWORD toys that we know about.

Space Glider - two different Tarheel logo styles, one with and [the less common] without both the T globe and Project SWORD brand, together with the "Battery Operated" red star.sticker.

Space Glider - two different Tarheel logo styles, with and without both the T globe and Project SWORD brand.

Moon Bus*

Moon Ranger*

Probe Force No.1

Probe Force No.2

Probe Force No.3

Spectrum Patrol Car

Task Force No.1 [mocked-up backing card]

Task Force No.2 and No.3

Have you any other Tarheel Project SWORD toys or box/ card variations readers?

*do box variants exist as with the Glider and Prospector?

GI JOE ACTION MAN BOOK COVER ART

Regular readers will know that I love seeing vintage toys on the covers of books and records. I've blogged about them many times. Well, it appears that I'm not alone. Here's a tasty smorgasbord of GI Joe cover art over at Saved From The Paper Drive. Enjoy!

http://savedfromthepaperdrive.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/gi-joe-book-covers.html

Do you know of any vintage toys on book or record covers or maybe featuring in a film readers?

CORONA POP

'Every Bubble's passed it's FIZZical'

I miss Corona fizzy drinks - and, what's more you could take the empty bottle back and the shopkeeper would give you cash!

Seeing how KID mentioned Cresta, I thought I'd dig out a couple of ads from 1974, to tantalize your nostalgia buds!