HONG KONG TOY STORIES

This is a cool vidcast about Hong Kong toy collecting. Check it out on Hong Kong Stories:

http://podcast.rthk.hk/podcast/item_epi.php?pid=472

STARBUG

I know a few of you are fans of the popular Sci-Fi comedy Red Dwarf so here's a few photos of David Sisson's replica Starbug that was on display at Smallspace.

I also note that a new series of Red Dwarf comprising of six episodes is due to be transmitted during September 2016 exclusively on the Dave Channel.

According to the official Series XI synopsis,  Rimmer accidentally saves the life of a Space Corps Captain, and is promoted to Officer: The Cat abandons his narcissistic tendencies and falls in love with a female cat ,with a secret:  Lister has some of his body parts stolen by a deranged droid; and Kyrten has a mid-life crises and wants to join up with a younger crew.

Sounds like just another day for the Dwarfers.

R & L CEREAL PYRO SPACE TOYS

This is a really interesting discussion from a few years back on the fabulous Alphadrome forum. 

It concerns R&L cereal space toys and includes a series from New Zealand, which appear to be Pyro miniatures.

http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/topic/11123-robert-the-robot-rl-cereal-toy/

ORIGINAL BLAKE'S 7 PROPS AT SMALLSPACE

Mat Irvine's involvement in Smallspace meant some of the original Blake's 7 props were on display.

I was particularity pleased to see the only surviving Liberator from Blake's 7. The model is more or less complete, and still bears the scars of the space virus that affected it in the final episode of season 3, Terminal.

There was quite a few other original Blake's 7 props that have survived over the years. These System Chase Ships from the episode , Redemption.

The Atlay Shuttle from the second season episode, Voice from the Past.

'Orac' the artificial super brain, first mentioned in the penultimate  episode of season one , Deliverance, and first seen in the following episode, Orac.

Part of the Teleport controls.

Finally, the Andromedan Scout Ship which was made from sticking two Morphy Richards hairdryers together. It is seen very briefly in, Star One,  the final episode of season two. 

NOVA MOTION

My latest doodle

MARKERS UNIVERSAL TRUCK PROP

One of the original props on display at Smallspace was one of the three Markers Universal transporter trucks as seen in UFO.

The three trucking rigs were used in the series to inconspicuously transport the Shado Mobiles to ufo landing sites.

The miniature uses the base of a Toppers' Johnny Express toy , which also turned up in various guises in other Gerry Anderson shows.  

Here's the Markers Universal transporters in action.

I believe it's current owner is Mr James Winch, the chap responsible for restoring the Shado Jeep.

MYSTERY SPC SPACE CAR TOY

Saw this small plastic miniature on Yahoo Japan.

Just what is that vehicle readers? Some kind of SPC?

MATCHBOX HOT ROD DRAGUAR CODE 3

Kevin D found a battered Matchbox Hot Rod Draguar and decided to turn it into a police car vaguely reminiscent to the Silhouette custom car kit that was used in several Gerry Anderson series.

This is how the Hot Rod Draguar would have looked new (photo: Vectis)

Here's an example of the box art on the  Silhouette kit.

The kit as it appeared in Thunderbirds.

Here's a Hot Wheels version of The Silhouette.

Finally, a photo I found on a sales site showing that someone has done another code 3 on a Draguar by converting into a Batmobile.