ANDY'S CHINESE MOON ROCKET

Hi Woodsy,

This was a Christmas present to myself, a modern Chinese copy of a 1950-60s tin toy "Moon Rocket", which now sits in my workroom.

Having looked on the 'net, I think the original was Japanese, by Masudaya. 

It's not a bad copy (I could never afford the original version), although some of the metal parts are now plastic, and there is a paper sticker on the fin bearing the name. 

I suspect the original was rather larger, and that the body shape was designed to hold batteries. The lights on the side have now become just coloured hemispheres.

It came with a large chromed plastic radar dish, on a long (and damaged) stem - I shortened the stem when repairing it, which I think gives a better appearance. 

Surprisingly, one old toy has the figure of a spaceman (looking rather more like a diver) looking through a periscope here - not sure if this is authentic, it certainly doesn't make much sense! 

The Chinese regularly make copies of older Japanese toys, I'm not sure if this is because it saves them having to create a new design, or because having the appearance of an old toy makes their products more attractive to the 'nostalgia' market -maybe both!

all the best,

Andy B.

UK

RICHARD GREGORY R.I.P.

Sad to hear that puppeteer  and special effects man Richard Gregory passed away suddenly last week.

As most Gerry Anderson fans will know Richard worked on Terrahawks and Space Precinct, as well as the fan funded Thunderbirds 1965 episodes and the brand new 'Firestorm' minisode.

Here's Richard on stage with fellow puppeteer, Judy Preece holding Zelda from Terrahawks.

Richard also worked on many feature films designing and working on animatronic effects and designs including the Bond blockbusters 'Skyfall', Quantum of Solace, and 'Casino Royale'.

Our sincere condolences to his family.

Target Hot Wheels Sizzler Set Re-Issue

Hi Woodsy,

I saw the recent posting about the Hot Wheels Sizzlers set and found my reissue set. 

I had the original cars, charger, and track back in the '60's. Like most of my childhood toys, none survived my parents! 

Target Department store reissued some of the cars, chargers, and track sets in 2006. 

I picked up several cars, chargers, and one track set. 

Below is a photo of the track I bought. Somewhere in a box I have the cars and chargers. They actually are a lot of fun. 

Just above it is a reissue of the Snake/Mongoose set from the same time, I think it was a KMart Department store reissue. 

Jim 

Henderson, NV 

USA

Found in the Boneyard

Hi all, go to the about page.

You'll find production size models cgi'd into an airshow environment! 

Absolutely genius!

https://stevenlylejordan.blog/2014/10/23/found-in-the-boneyard/

Mark J
Southcoast Base

JOHN SISSON'S DREAMS OF SPACE

A true cosmic inspiration .... and John's been blogging 10 years old this month!
https://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/

MYSTERY STINGRAY SUBMARINE TOY PROP

This picture is from my old photo archive and is labeled Stingray Sub Base Toy.

Is there a submarine in Stingray, which uses this racing car as its basis?

ARE YOU GOOD AT PACKAGING TOYS FOR POSTING?

Are you a good packager?

You know, packing things up to put in the post like old toys that you've sold on Ebay and the like.

I take forever packaging, largely because I'm slow and I'm paranoid about stuff breaking in transit. Despite this I still have had some breakages over the years.

My technique is to use any boxes and inner material lying about the house: shoe boxes, bigger supermarket boxes, smaller boxes like tea, toothpaste and oxo for fillers and lots and lots of shredded newspaper and magazines. We have a small stock of bubble wrap as well for fragile stuff. I always finish with brown paper wrap and parcel tape.

Over the years I've had some right rubbish packages sent to me. Fragile carded blisters simply stuffed in a jiffy bag all the way from another country; items placed in a box with no inner material at all and items wrapped solely in brown paper and nothing else.

Still, some things are unpredictable. I recently sent a DVD to someone in a jiffy bag, which was all fine. What I didn't expect was the DVD to detach inside the case and slide around in transit getting scratched allover. That was unexpected when the buyer told me.

What's your packaging experience been like readers?

WHO'S ON FIRST FOUR CANDLES

Taking another trip down Memory Lane, I've been watching Abbott and Costello monster movies online.

I saw reference whilst reading up on them about Who's On First, their most famous sketch, which they developed in the 1930's!

Now Who's on First and all that rang a bell with me. I'm pretty sure I'd heard it mentioned in the movie The Rain Man by Dustin Hoffman's character. Not knowing the original Abbott and Costello sketch though I checked it out on You Tube. Here it is, Who's on First. What do you think?

This signature sketch  is part of a long tradition of such sketches for every comedy double act there ever was. The British equivalent of this has to be Fork Handles by the brilliant Two Ronnie. Like Who's on First, its a classic play on words and one which I always think of when I see a box in our cupboard which simply says Biscuits for Cheese! 

Here it is courtesy of You Tube once more. What do you think?

Which signature sketches from comedy doubles do you know of?