scrooged too soon?

I'm trying to kick start that festive feeling inside me. 

You know, to light the tinsel.

I know other folks have already got the holly in their ivy but it's wilting before it reaches Moonbase. I'm wondering if its too early to smell Santa's spiced bouquet?

In an attempt to give it some WD40 I've been wrapping prezzies and listening to some Christmas tunes on vinyl. Missus Moonbase has touched down in Bury seeing pals.

Today's record was an old LP I got years ago from a charity shop called Scrooged, the record that is, not the shop [it would be a terrible name for a charity, Scrooged!]. 

Its the soundtrack to the old funny movie starring Bill Murray. Its part of my horror and monster LP collection.

To be honest I prefer the whole film to just the soundtrack though the album is pretty good, especially Put a Little Love in Your Heart.

It worked a little bit as well but like Scrooge himself I probably need to experience all three spirits of the season before my turkey juices start to really flow [get it? turkey juices? I'm basted on this blog! ha ha].

Right, time to take Blue the Moonbase Mutt for his zero-G poop on the dark lunar slopes at the top of the year.

How are you making yourself feel festive readers?

fancy a nice cup of toy tea with Lady Penelope this Advent?

This has to every JR21 toy collectors cup of tea, the Lady Penelope Tea Set.

Here it is in its lovely window box as it appeared on an online auction. What a marvelously refreshing Christmas prezzie it must have made for young Ladies in the Sixties, for whom I imagine it was largely aimed at.

Its a Christmas prezzie I'd love now!

We can see that its a pink plastic service for four, complete with tea pot, milk jug, sugar bowl and various utensils.

It appeared on an another auction site loose and unboxed. 

Now we can see that each cup came with a saucer and a side plate, along with a knife, fork and tea spoon each. A nice touch are the five table mats with the crowned P monogram of Lady Penelope. They appear to be made of card.

Obviously this toy set is based on the service Lady P used in the Thunderbirds TV series.

But was the TV Tea Set based on a real set?

I asked Thunderbirds collector Ghosthunter who very kindly gave me the following information:

"... it most certainly was, however, in the TV episodes, there were two different teapot designs used, a stout version and a taller version which really could have been a Coffee pot.

Both are based on traditional Georgian designs by Walker & Hill. 

The smaller design has a smooth top and may have been based on the Mappin & Webb design before they joined Walker & Hill as part of a joint venture by the 'Delta Metal Company' in 1963. 

The taller design does have a fluted top, a typical Walker & Hill feature. Both designs have the long flutes on the body leading down the base. The taller pot also has the flutes on the bottom half of the spout."

This is a picture of a real Walker and Hill teapot of the taller variety, upon which the JR21 toy pot is based.

Unlike the JR21 toy set, these are actually available on Ebay at any given time!

I would like to thank Ghosthunter for his fascinating info and Thunderbirds Wiki for the images of Lady Penelope.

Ranalcus - my old hobby room

Hi

Like you asked I am showing my old collection (I gave away lot of stuff)

You can find some blogs/youtube movies about items I gave away to my

friends - google "Ranalcus paczka" (Paczka is box in Polish).

Nothing fancy, those just "leftovers" (I had to sell/gave away some

stuff - financial problems) and slowly I am starting again to collect

Thank you

Ranalcus

my first of december song choice

I Love this song and it mentions the first of December!

I like a gradual musical build-up in December starting with seasonal references like this before the full-on carols and Christmas tunes let rip later in the month.

project sword in tv21 issue 243

MC reader and fellow blogger Kid very kindly alerted me to the current sale of TV21 issue 243 this week. It is being sold seperately.

For fans of Project SWORD in particular it will be on interest as it contains a new text story and illustration. The story, Ring of Fire, was penned by Shaqui Le Vesconte [founder of the late Gerry Anderson Complete Comics History] and illustrated by Paul MCCaffrey.

The story and art represent the first 'official' addition to the Project SWORD literary canon since it folded in TV21 comic in 1969.

You may recall that Paul McCaffrey donated his original artwork to Moonbase Central as a competition prize and Network did the same with a copy of TV21 issue 243 a couple of years ago.

For those of you who wish to perhaps celebrate 50 years of Project SWORD or maybe add one final TV21 to your collection then consult Kid's article on the sale of the new comic on his fab blog here, Crivens! Comics and Stuff. No point me re-inventing the wheel.

Let Kid or me know what you think.

**

As an aside, I do recall Scoop saying that the TV21-styled programme from the latest Fanderson con, Special Assisgnment this year contained another project SWORD story, by Sam Denham, which I've yet to have a look see. 

The Fanderson cover is pictured below. Has anyone read it? The Fanderson sales link is here for this - scroll to bottom. Only members can purchase unless its on Ebay or similar.

project sword snow train model

Century 21 card model constructed and photographed by Joe Murray

Connecticut

2014

snow train: the only way to get to work this december 1st

Have you got any toys like this?

terranova47's dan dare, digby and tram diorama

Hello, 

As per your request here are pictures of the latest Dan Dare & Digby joining the rest of the gang in their display cabinet. 

The other picture shows the Smith's Crisps delivery lorry on my layout. Smith's were the brand with the blue bag of salt to add if you wished. 

I'm fascinated by the amount of space theme related toys your blog covers. In the sixties while in college I started collecting old toys originally because I was reading the Ladybird Book, Tootles the Taxi over and over again to my god daughter. 

It was getting too tiresome and since the cars, lorry's etc in the book were drawn from Dinky Toys I looked for old ones to draw from for to create my own version. 

As I was also buying gifts for small kids I was in toy shops a lot yet I don't remember all those space toys at all. There was a Tri-ang train with helicopter and missile launch cars, that's all I can recall. 

The one I did buy was the Budgie Supercar, which I gave as a birthday present to someone. 

Amongst my as yet unbuilt kits I do have a Marx Dalek, a Polar Lights Robbie the Robot and a Stingray that was going to be part of the harbor scene on my layout but I ran out of room for that diorama. 

I do have a Mint poster of Captain Scarlet that was the image from the backs of the bubble gum cards, I think the artist was Ron Embleton. 

Keep up the good work. 

Terranova47, NYC, USA