CHRIS FOSS TURBULANCE

Hi Woodsy

Here's the Chris Foss - Gillan album art from your recent Celtica podcast

http://www.chrisfossart.com/2011/04/clear-air-turbulence/

Cheers

Jim P

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Have you got a fave Chris Foss artwork?

KEV'S KATE BUSH

Hi,

Re. the recent post on drawing etc. Here is a (poor) photo of one of the few aurbrush paintings I've done. It is Kate Bush, by the way!

Kevin

HARLAN ELLISON R.I.P.

Just read that the brilliant author, screenwriter and essayist, Harlan Ellison has sadly passed away aged  84. 

Photo from New Worlds Weekly.

Most  readers here will know of his prolific contributions to Burke's Law,  Voyage to the Bottom of The Sea, The Man from UNCLE, Outer Limits and Star Trek amongst , many, many others. In fact the Star Trek episode, 'The City on the Edge of Forever' has been considered the best of the 79 episodes of the series.  For the cult series Babylon 5 he was creative consultant. 

Our sincere condolences to his family.

Flaming June

The wildfires on Saddleworth Moor seem to be accompanied by breakouts closer to home. From my window the BBC transmitter on Winter Hill is usually clearly visible, but plumes of smoke are issuing from its slopes tonight. Nevertheless, it doesn't stop the sightseers moving in.

HIATUS UPDATE

Gas leak is fixed for a second time.

More serious, Moonbase Grandson has pneumonia. Its been a harrowing 24 hours in hospital but he's in his own home again and responding well to antibiotics.

His parents and Grandparents are all keeping an eye on him.

I'll be back in action on the blog and email soon I hope.

I hope all MC readers are well.

HIATUS

Various crises have hit Moonbase at once in the last week - persistent gas leak and Moonbase junior falling ill - so emails and comments are queuing up I'm afraid. 

As soon as things settle down I'll  get back on track. Sorry for the delay.

TIGER CAPTAIN LIVES!

I like this Japanese footage of a motorised kit.

It looks like a Tiger Captain, which is a sort of SPV tank.

Have you got anything like this?

CENTURY 21 S.P.V.

The Century 21 Toys Spectrum Patrol Vehicle, certainly a thing of beauty and one of Derek Meddings finest designs. 

It’s a reasonably large toy, probably in the region of 1/32 scale, and unlike the SPC and the Angel, its fairly robust, although some of the gadgets have mechanisms that use rubber bands which unless replaced will perish.

The rear tracks fold down, but in a slightly different way to the Dinky version. The tracks are something that some people like to ask about. Their benefits never featured in the TV series, but an explanation for them appeared in the first 1967 Captain Scarlet annual, and artist Ron Embelton utilised this in his TV21 strip.  I tend to speculate that they are obviously there to give additional traction.

As is usual with all the Captain Scarlet C21 toy vehicles there's a spring loaded missile. On the SPV it's fired from the top air intake by pressing down the fragile top fin. There's also a small pull out piece at the front, which I have no idea what it is. The box say's there's a 'Radar Moniter', so maybe that's it. 

 The side door slides open revealing Captain Scarlet. Inside the cabin the rear view screen can be seen, and also a few control dials. One the other side is an opening hatch which reveals an ejector seat. A figure of Captain Blue should sit there, however my Captain Blue has long since disappeared behind the couch somewhere. I suppose there’s  repros out there but I’ve never looked. Same with the aerials , which are fake. I cobbled them up using a couple of Lego aerials.  

There's also spring suspension which does add a quality feel to the toy.