scratchbiulding the project sword toy moonbase playset

After walking Blue the doggy  and I have made some progress on the Moonbase model in my rather cramped but snug attic den. 

That old floral Liberty chair is so comfy you wouldn't believe it! And with my stereo record player still in action I've been modelling to the sweet riffs of Wishbone Ash and Rory Gallagher!

So, I've tested the battery-powered lights...

On the Housing module

and Light Module.

more or less finished the Garage Module, on the floor, complete with crane and ramp, which looks quite good don't you think?

and the base unit of the Light Module on the floor too looking like a square cake with 4 legs at the mo!

As predicted the LEM has proven the most difficult. I couldn't find a Panettone box anywhere - think it must be a Xmas thing - so I've opted for a stack of 3 small boxes to create the effect. Its on the chair waiting for the top box. Not finished yet so the jury's still out!

Need to decide whether any extra livery or decals are required over and above the SWORD logo.

What do you think of the build so far?

jyesa spanish space toy

Whenever I journey in Spanish cyberspace I see this old plastic space toy.

By JYESU it looks like a combination between a Thunderbird 2 and a SR-71 Blackbird.

I can't make out what it says on its tailfin.

Anyone got one of these?

ZERO - X AND PROJECT SWORD WRITTEN IN JAPANESE

THUNDERBIRDS ZERO X CENTURY 21 TOY jr 21 Gerry Anderson Project Sword

サンダーバード・ゼロXセンチュリー２１おもちゃjr 21ゲリー・アンダーソン・プロジェクト剣

scratchbuilding the project sword toy moonbase playset: housing and light modules finished

There's been some progress in the modeller's loft! These two Housing and Light Modules are more or less finished. 

Maybe just another SWORD logo somewhere and a light in the Housing unit and that's it! Phew! 

I've started on the Garage module too - below. its basically a thick cardboard tube with a card ramp. 

A stroke of luck was the plastic lid it came with - a sound base for the plastic roof crane unit courtesy of an old mega rig set!

I also picked up 2 tupperware stacking trays -middle pic - at Dewsbury Car Boot. Not sure I can use them yet but one might make a good LEM base!

Still no Panettone though!

Monday monday

what are you doing today readers?

I'm off to work worst luck.

2001 NASA SPACE GLIDER INSTRUCTIONS

I picked up a 2001 NASA Radio Control Space Glider years ago like this one.

My own example didn't have any instructions with it so I was interested to see these which appeared as part of one for sale on the net a while ago. I archived the photo.

They aren't that clear I'm afraid.

Have you ever had one of these toys working readers?

Have you any film footage of it?

scratchbuilding the project sword toy moonbase playset: the lem

After a particularly dire late night choice of Friday films on TV, the best of which was 1992's The Unforgiven with Clint, Morgan and Gene, I went to bed pondering - is there anything else that looks like a Project SWORD Moonbase LEM as shown above?

..........and hey presto, out of that wacky dream machine called sleep we have PANETTONE LEM!

Bravo bravo! The box is a definite contender for the main body I reckon! The right size (phew!), cheap AND the contents are edible! 

A second normal box for the base and some K'nex legs and voila, off we go! Its common knowledge that small astronauts love Panettone bread and butter pudding too!

stack of lp's

I do enjoy looking for LP astronauts on the web. They have really taken to the medium and small populations continue to break out all over.

Here's a few more recent spottings all on auctions past around the globe.

A posse of greys.

A gang of aliens and the less common three legged flying saucer.

A pair of Goldens.

My personal favourite today, a medley of cake toppers including LP white spacemen, rocket and aliens together with the small candle-holder train I used to stock boxed on my own toy fair stall.

Last but not least, a couple of White Silvers on a small cake topper. 

I think they're getting married.

You got any LP astronauts readers?