IS IT EASTER YET MUM?

Easter is fast approaching and like a lot of folk I shall be having a fortnight off. I can't chuffin wait!

These days time off is exciting for me simply because I won't be at work. That's enough in itself.

But what about when I was a kid?

I've been trying to think back as to what I thought about Easter back in the Sixties. I imagine I was even more excited at the prospect of two weeks off school. I'm pretty sure I would have been ecstatic!

So what was the build-up to Easter like back then? Being from a RC family Lent was celebrated but I can hardly recall anything about it now.

I know Good Friday involved something fishy.

I also think I remember that TV went into a bit of a holiday mode over the four main Easter days showing lots of family films and old series like Flash Gordon. Does that ring a bell?

I do remember Easter Monday and I'm pleased to say it involved some toys. Easter toys! But more on that nearer the day.

What was your Lent/ pre-Easter like readers. Was it important to you and did you get any early presents?

WHAT IS THE JETGARRY?

I saw this toy vehicle on Yahoo Japan.

It looks like a transporter straight out of Thunderbirds!

Anyone know anything about the Jetgarry?

THE TRUMPTON RIOTS

Tony K has reminded me of those cheeky Liverpudlian Trumpton fans, Half Man Half Biscuit.

Here's their post-punk take on civil unrest Gordon Murray-style in Trumpton Riots from 1986 - courtesy of You Tube!

Anyone got the EP?

For more Half Man Half Biscuit's Eighties irreverence and obvious passion for Gordon Murray's genius here's their X-rated version of Time Flies By When I'm the Driver of a Train.

https://youtu.be/bpx7uM-5Y3Q

Codeg Camberwick Green Village Set

Here's something lovely for a window box.

I saw this on an old auction listing and saved the snap.

Its the Codeg Camberwick Green Village Set.

There's a beautiful little Bakery, Fish Shop, Post Office, Bank, 8 Village People, Lamp Post, Bench and Tree.

I assume they're all plastic. Maybe they could be used for a train layout too?

What do you think?

TIME FLIES BY WHEN I'M THE DRIVER OF A TRAIN

There seem to be very few Chigley toys and bits of merchandise.

It seems to be the least successful of the three shows.

To redress the balance on MC here's the iconic train song punctuated with that wonderful cotton wool steam!

Did you like Chigley?

TRUMPTON TALKING FIRE ENGINE

Flexing the plasticene a little further here's another bit of Trumpton merchandise [Trumptonalia!] and just the way I like my toys, large chunks of plastic.

Its the Trumpton Talking Fire Brigade by Bradgate [of Little Big Man fame I think].

There's a short clip on YT as well were you can hear the button-activated talking, the classic roll-call of the firemen. Its on one of those iconic watery-sounding mini-records buried somewhere deep in its workings driven by a think rubber band,

Have you got one?

A T O M I C R O C K E T S: T O P S I T E

This is an amazing site I've seen before but just in case you haven't check out Atomic Rockets chapter on Ground Cars and Flitters. Its amazing!

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/flitters.php

Each chapter on different space vehicles is like seminar in design and mechanics. Really great stuff!

TONY K'S MARX TWISTABLE CAMBERWICK GREEN FIGURES

Hiya Woodsy

Great to see Gordon Murray's wonderful work get a mention on the blog!

So many of us have lasting memories of his productions.

Please find attached pics of a complete set of 1967 Marx Twistable Camberwick Green figures. 

Originally they would've been sold individually, in clear plastic bags stapled with header cards. 

The figures turn up on eBay, but are difficult to find in good condition.

Apart from the occasional broken wire, they're often missing accessories, 

such as chimney brush, fishing rod, etc.

It's taken a couple of years of upgrading to piece together this particular set.

Rivals, Cowen de Groot also produced their own versions of these characters,

as well a six figure boxed set called 'Camberwick Green Village Folk'. 

All the best

Tony K :)