MOONBASE CENTRAL

Friday, 6 April 2018

BRAZIL'S TROL TRACY ISLAND TOY

I've featured this toy before but I like the look of it so much here it is again.

Its the Ilha Secreta Dos Thunderbirds by Trol of Brazil from 1969.

I suppose its the plasticcy and uncluttered look of the thing that appeals to me. It reminds me of the bright colours and feel of the original Imai UFO Moon Base model where the vehicles are different colours. I wonder if there is an Imai Tracy island kit like the Trol set?

Here's Richard K's clip.

and Fabio Maximus's [with the same music!]

have you got this Trol Tracy Island toy?

The Other Nova

I've always been fascinated by the Boy Racer phenomenon. Not so much the teens themselves but rather their cars.

I suppose it began in the States in the Fifties with the first dawn of the teenager and their love pf Hot Rods.

Hot Rods became a staple of popular culture there and influenced music, fashion, toys and models, art and films. Just look at the movie poster for the Giant Gila Monster!

Looking closer to home I have been admiring the vehicles of boy racers since the 80's.

I think what has always appealed to me is the fact that all the trim and fuss on most cars is stripped away from them tp create a minimalist look.

I'm not sure why boy racers do this. I assume its to create a non-branded brand by removing the makers' marks and any other lettering.

The cars themselves were always sort of low-slung boxy hatchbacks and as such only certain makes would make the cut.

The one that sticks in my mind is the Nova.

I can see it now with its darkened windows, low-suspension, fat exhaust and a body bereft of any lettering. They were also customised to create a road-hugging look.

Now I'm not condoning the racer culture, the rat runs, the fast driving or the meetings,

Its the simplicity of the vehicles that appeal to me. I suppose its the last gasp of customising cars in the UK, which was once so popular.

I wonder if this type of custom car ever made it as a model or a die-cast toy?

Have you come across custom cars readers?

Thursday, 5 April 2018

MAC AND ME ANYONE?

I was watching a run-down of the worst Sci-Fi movies of all time and a flick called Mac and Me came up.

Its about a small alien.

Is it really that bad? I've never seen it.

Mystery Action Figure Toy Skull Shield

Whilst on pond cleaning exercise this morning I found this small plastic toy shield under the water.

I recall it being part of a job lot of swords and accessories I had for action figures about 10 years ago. It must have rolled off the table into the pond!

The front has a sort of horned skull sticking out.

The rear has a bar which an arm or hand could go through.

Any ideas readers? What's it from?

Lance has it! Read his comment below

Weird Paul's Mini Spacemen Collection

I like this guy's You Tube stuff. Unpretentious and easy. It's Weird Paul.

Here he's talking about his mini spacemen collection. There's some Ajax, SpaceX, some Tim Mee Galaxy team and some mystery figures amongst others [more on Tim Mee later this month].

Made in 2015. Looking like Peter Tork from the Monkees, it's Weird Paul. Enjoy.

HAS DOUG McCLURE HIT A DINOSAUR?

I caught 10 minutes of the old flick At The Earth's Core this morning in between gardening duties.

It starred Peter Cushing and Doug McClure.

There were some rubber dinosaur birds and a huge boar man. I suppose I have to admit even they were Kaiju.

Doug McClure hit everyone on screen. He pounded them with a shower of punches and then looked surprised.

Does he hit everyone in all his films? Was he a good leading man do you think?

Have his run of flicks like this and The Land That Time Forgot and co ever spawned any toys or models or collectables?

MORE PLASTIC EXPLORERS

BHS Explorer 12 is a firm favourite on Moonbase. I've covered it several times and Bill B is a keen fan too having helped another site devoted to the line.

Never bored of Explorers and their relatives here's a few more!

First up is this mystery. We've featured this red Blue Box monster before but its name is unknown.

Other than this new picture I found of a green version I'm none the wiser regarding its name. I understand that underneath it says Blue Box Patent Pending.

What is it?

Here's a toy new to MC i think, the M-12 Explorer. More akin to the Galgo line than BHS it's still related I think. The 12 certainly connects them and refers to the number of wheels.

Its has tons of actions and features and came in 3 colours.

I can't see a maker's name other than the model number HK 208.

The cars on the front box art are interesting. I recognise a black Pontiac Trans-Am in the Explorer's claw but not the other. Which toys are they?

Anyone know any more?

Next up is another newbie. This is a relatively modern Japanese Space Crawler. It has 14 wheels and a remote control.

At the rear of the blister pack is a leaflet depicting the vehicle - coloured a sort of military green-yellow - in action.

Here's the same vehicle in blue [top right] in this montage from Unusuallocomotion.com

Having perused You Tube as well here's an Explorer - style articulated truck. Again its more in the Monster style but still recognisbly Exploreresque.

Here's two stills of the same make of truck again from unusuallocomotion.com. It says FAUN on the cab. Is that a real make of trucks?

The picture above of the striped monster brings me to Galgo proper. An Argentinian toy company, Galgo released several different multi-wheeled monster-style explorers called Multiruedas or multiple wheels.

Here's the pale blue version with the make's distinctive cab-roof gear-stick.

You Tube offers us this short action clip as well.

Then there's the red version.

With a little video action as well to finish.

Another Explorer range was the Star Explorer. These had grabber arms and came in window boxes or loose from a shop display box.

This one is Neptune in purple.