MOONBASE CENTRAL

Friday, 7 December 2018

LANCE'S MULTIMACROSSINGS: MACROSS AND MULTIMAC

Woodsy, your plastic space tank ATV is a mosh of sources

[Woodsy adds: its the silver and maroon vehicle at the very front of this car boot haul]

and up close ....

The front half is a copy of the cockpit portion of the Macross SD Valkyrie toy.

The cockpit bubble is missing, probably to make a seat area (based on empty slot behind the large opening in your picture which probably was an attachment point for a windshield bubble that opened and closed) and not try to duplicate the rotating cockpit of the original.

Here is the Maximilian Jenius version in flight mode

http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/toys/jokemax2.1.jpg

but the cockpit is rotated to the shield side for when it is actually in battroid mode.

The Max and Fokker versions in battroid form are also similar with the cockpits in flight mode revealing the interior.

I've got my SD (super deformed) VF-1S off in storage so here's a bunch of pics off the web, hope these work.

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0418/30/robotech-bandai-1984-sd-macross_1_da15ea315395f8362ea97421b6b7ab64.jpg

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/wpimages/images/images1/1/0418/30/1_da15ea315395f8362ea97421b6b7ab64.jpg

https://d9nvuahg4xykp.cloudfront.net/-2062868313646340412/5535851908609841495.jpg missing arm

https://d9nvuahg4xykp.cloudfront.net/-2062868313646340412/5148617121973712825.jpg backside of the above Valkyrie

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/1217/25/bandai-macross-vf-1s-hikaru-valkyrie_1_018888ff154f9d6cd1a0dbd77b21bd54.jpg This is how the original Japanese version was packaged

I'm not sure if Matchbox ever released the SD toys. They were responsible for a lot of original toys for the Robotech series although the ones they used the original molds for (SDF-1, Monster) they cut corners on.

The SDF-1 lacks all the launcher mechanisms and the Monster is all in 1 color.

Lance
USA

Thursday, 6 December 2018

SAWN-OFF DYNA-SOAR

I had to smile when I saw this on the Bay recently.

At first I thought it was a custom made Dyna Soar from my beloved Project SWORD range.

It is Project SWORD and it is a Dyna-Soar but its been trimmed and trimmed severely!

Oddly enough I quite like it! But would it fly?

Do you like it? Have you any trimmed toys?

This is the full Monty by the way.

DISNEY SPACEX AND THE INVESTIGATOR CAR TOO

Disneyland has always had interesting vehicles.

Here are some from an old attraction called Autopia.

The long flat cars are reminiscent of the vehicle in the Gerry Anderson TV pilot The Investigator shown below.

Another Disneyland vehicle is this 1971 Mickey Mouse space car. I think its inspired by Tomorrowland.

The overall clunky look of the rear box and the wheels reminds me of that other moon car we know well, the SpaceX MEV -2 pictured below.

Finally we have these Disney Star Jets. There are tons of pics of these flying spaceships online so they must have been popular. They may still be around.

With their sleek lines and rear tail fins i couldn't help thinking of the Rescue 2 craft from SpaceX toys, the red vehicle below bottom left. Maybe even the Project SWORD Nuclear Ferry shuttle as well!

Tokyo Disneyland even issued their own die-cast toy version of the Star jets vehicle.

What do you think readers?

have you been to Tomorrowland or flown on the Star jets?

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

MEMORIES OF OUR PAL, KEN HOLT

A few more of my photo memories of our blog friend and all round top man, Ken Holt, who sadly passed away last Sunday.

Most Gerry & Sylvia Anderson fans will know that Ken served as Studio Production Manager at the Century 21 building at Stirling Road, and naturally had much personal insight into the day-to-day running of the studio. In fact, Ken was apparently the man who turned out the lights and locked up when Century 21 finally left the buildings.

Ken chatting to Georgina Moon

Ken chatting to Prentis Hancock

He was certainly a popular guest at various conventions, and on top of that he was a member, and an active commentator on many of the Facebook groups dealing with those Century 21 days. His enthusiasm and love for the subject really shone through, especially when he reminisced about 'the boys and girls' as he called them, working on the special effects. He was , of course especially fond of Derek Meddings.

He was 'friends' with many fans on Facebook, and his genuine and personable style made him so well liked with everyone, even if the technology occasionally frustrated him and he would vent his annoyance at it over several posts. Thankfully, I suspect his daughter, or one of his grandchildren would quickly sort it for him.

I did take a video of Ken, along with his pal, Focus Puller Robin McDonald and AP Films Director Alan Perry at RAF Cosford in 2014. It was only filmed for my personal use simply to check facts for my blog posts, and it was never my intention to post it, as the sound is quite low. But, it is just about audible, and I feel I'd rather share it as it does feature our Ken in full flow chatting about his days at the studio.

I know it's an obvious thing to say but, what the heck, I think I speak for everyone when I say you will be missed, mate.

TOY RACERS: CAPTIONS NEEDED!

This line up of classy toys made me smile.

Captions needed readers!

MINI SPACE TOY SERIES BLISTER CARDED SET: NEW APOLLO MOON EXPLORING!

I saw this on the Bay this Autumn so I saved the pictures.

Its an unusual blister card of what appear to be the flag, capsule and stand from Apollo Moon Exploring sets.

There are also two astronauts.

The most interesting aspect for me is the header art. It depicts further vehicles from Apollo Moon Exploring and a rather startling animal astronaut. Is it a rat or a maybe bear?

All in all a very appealing set new to the blog.

A fabulous Christmas prezzie back in the day and now as well!