THE LOST SECOND ISSUE OF MONSTER MAG

In 1973 UK Customs and Excise confiscated and destroyed the complete stock of issue 2 of the poster magazine Monster Mag.

I loved Monster Mag as an 11 year old. It really did hit the spot and it wasn't old. It was brand new and in the Newsagents. Well issue 1 was and 3,4,5 onwards. I still have my mags collection!

Even better I've just found out that a reprint of issue 2 is now available over 40 years later! It has been for some time. Reprints of the other issues are available too!

To find out more then go to the publisher site direct here.

I have come to this party quite late so please check with the publisher regarding availability.

Do you remember Monster Mag?

WHAT'S IN THE PACKET WOODSY?

All will be revealed on the blog's 8th birthday, September 15th!

THE STORY OF MAJOR PROBLEM AND HIS RECURRING DREAM

The dream begins inside a hot blue sweaty capsule with the sun roof wide open.

Major Problem lands in a pool of lukewarm liquid and tests it.

"We've landed on a plate boundary!" he suggests to no-one in particular

"I could do with a rocket to get off this crock."

"Eureka!"

With no dream fuel left Problem lands on Planet Gravel.

Sensing he's being lead up the garden path, he searches for the nearest public phone box.

Meanwhile the Space Patrol are looking for him. Because he's a Problem, they know he won't have any change for the phone.

It becomes quite a thorny issue.

Space Patrol drop a rescue pod for our hero. He clambers in and begins to float.

He can't find the light switch though.

There it is!

His colleague battles his way to the pod but next door's Dogzilla wants to play.

Re-reinforcements arrive!

Major Problem is taken to Colonel Saunders for debriefing and promised some fried chicken.

Instead he's driven to a nearby field and told to get out.

Suddenly floodlit we can see a Major Problem.

This isn't KFC! He makes a run for it.

only to return to the place he started!

"I wonder if I'll get some KFC this time?"

The End

[thank God!]

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Must go faster!

Continental film-making!

My next project is kicked into the long grass.

IT COULD BE PROJECT SWORD: RC DYNA SOAR

Check out this You Tube rocketry with a model Dyna Soar from the States. I wonder if a project SWORD toy Dyna Soar could be converted to fly like this?

https://youtu.be/rJtHt7p-EKI?t=28s

IT COULD BE PROJECT SWORD: RC SATURN V

I love this short You Tube clip of a model Saturn V rocket being launched in the States in 2009. All beautifully constructed it really could be a Project SWORD Cape Kennedy Set!  What do you think readers?

https://youtu.be/cNyN3bBV08I?t=2m48s

FISHER PRICE ADVENTURE PEOPLE, MASK AND MANTA FORCE BOOK NEEDED

My favourite book on loose action figures doesn't cover some ranges I often see loose at Boot sales. 

One of these is the Adventure people by Fisher Price. I love this set from the Seventies, although I didn't have any back then. I have been finding the little articulated fellas for over 25 years at sales. Easily the most prolific is the bearded lumberjack figure. I've found quite a few of those chunky astronauts as well.

Alas, I have never found any of the translucent green X-Ray figures.

A gap in the market, it would be great to have a small pocket book that identifies loose examples of the following action and miniature figures and their vehicles to compliment the brilliant SU- verlag German book I have, in which they are sadly missing:

1. Adventure People

2. M.A.S.K

3. Manta Force

4. Action Force

5. STAR FORCE

6. C.O.R.P.S

7. Explorer 12

8. SpaceX/ Golden Astronaut

Can you think of any other miniatures figure lines like M.A.S.K readers?

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY FILMS WITH OLD TOYS IN THEM?

I can think of two movies featuring old toys off hand: Salem's Lot and Super 8.

There must be loads more.

Any ideas readers?

MYSTERY PROJECT SWORD RUBBER: YOUR HELP NEEDED!

Can anyone help sharpen the quality of this image I've found on an ended online auction? This is the actual image size.

I am particularly interested in this item ringed in white? Its a UFO Project SWORD rubber shape I just can't identify as it is.

Any graphical help would be great.

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POSTSCRIPT

Readers Paul V and Andy B have both kindly sent me suggestions for this mystery rubber shape.

Andy's suggested this image of the LP Explorer car as a possible 'shape' fit.

This is really interesting as it confirms what I was thinking as well, that there is a domed cockpit at the front of the blue rubber craft.

Paul's image below was very helpful too as it traces the outline. 

Paul also suggested that it may be a crawler without the dozer blade. This also concurs with what I've been thinking myself, that it is the Project SWORD Moon Ranger without the front shovel.

This also fits with what Andy suggests, as the Ranger does have a front domed cockpit like the LP Explorer Car.

The Project SWORD Moon Ranger looks like this from above at a similar angle to the blue rubber.

What do you think readers? A fit?