MOONBASE CENTRAL

Thursday, 16 April 2020

DRACULA COMES TO AMERICA PART 2

courtesy of Terranova47

USA

Part 3 tomorrow

DEVS

I saw Devs last night. Episode one. Its an American TV drama written by Alex Garland. There is something about computers and mystery that go together and attract me. I'm not a computer buff in any way but I've always been aware of the thin dark veil that hangs over computer code. It seems as if we could re-write the code of life itself. Become Gods of code.

This union of code and playing God has spawned some great sci-fi movies like the Forbin Project, the original Tron, The Lawnmower Man, War Games and probably the sub-genre's poster boy, the Matrix.

With the rise of global computer corporations mysterious magnates have emerged now; driven, separate and somehow smarter than the rest of us, the likes of Zuckerberg and Jobs have shaped the way we perceive the idea of computer bosses, the new Masters of the Universe.

And so too some films have re-focused onto these gurus and their private empires. Films like The Social Network, Jobs, Ex-Machina, The Circle and now the TV drama Devs.

I enjoyed the first episode. Everything's there. A God-like hippy boss, a bizarre Silicon Valley complex full of indulgent wackiness, a loyal misguided assistant and a programmer who mysteriously vanishes.

I shall be tuning in again tonight 9pm BBC2.

Will you?

OLD SCI-FI ON UK TV TOMORROW, FRIDAY!

Talking Pictures TV in the UK are showing, tomorrow Friday 17th April:

7.30am [morning] The Strange World of Planet X - from 1958

7pm [evening] Hangar 18 - from 1980

I've not seen either. Have you?

MY ZERO X COLLECTION

Being a fan of the mighty Zero X I thought I'd post a few photos of the ships I have in my collection.

The Aoshima TAG version, much sought after and a pretty accurate model. Just the right size for photos too.

My old Glenn Field diorama. It's still about leaning against the wall in the garage.

A great looking ship. Here's a photo comparing the TAG and Captain Scarlet versions.

Comparing the two M.E.V.'s

Next up, the fabulous Century 21 toy

Certainly a favourite with a lot of collectors.

The hard part is getting one complete, especially with the SWORD Supremo badge. Considered pretty rare nowadays.

The big drive wheels would have annoyed me as a kid, but now, all is forgiven.

The big Imai Zero X, or as Woodsy likes to refer to it, the 0 X. Imai and Aoshima do smaller versions which leave a little to be desired so I've not bothered to make them as yet. But the big Imai looks great.

It's a cross between a toy and a model. I tend to see it as the bridge between the Aoshima die-cast and the Century 21 toy.

The resin M.E.V. available from Anderson Entertainment. Very much in the style of a Konami toy.

A very nice addition to the collection.

And finally, the tiny Morinaga candy toy.

COMPUTER CAR MERCEDES C111

There were many computer cars released.

Computercars.de features many of them and their wonderful boxes.

There are also a few Mercedes C111's.

Here's Radio Shack https://computercars.de/car/radioshack_mb_c111?zoek=Hong%20Kong

And T in a Circle Tai Hing in the same box

and the East German Kybernet by Piko https://computercars.de/car/piko_kybernet

Do you have a computer Mercedes or any computer car?

ROB'S MAGNETS! THEY'RE SUPER MIGHTY!

Woodsy,

Inspired by your recent toy compass post, here is a pic of my tiny vintage magnet collection, and a pic of a painting I did awhile back of a vintage magnet toy package, "Super Mighty." I have that actual toy somewhere in the dungeon, but could not locate it for the photo shoot. There is something about the red-yellow-silver color scheme of a vintage toy magnet that really "grabs" me.

Rob C

USA

PHIL'S KELLOGGS MAILAWAY LARGE SPV

Heya Woodsy.

Snapped a few shots of my mailaway SPV nearly completed. Just sorting out extra detail for front bumper, which was entirely made by hand from a solid block of high quality industrial plastic.

Dremel. Fit. Dremel. Fit. Dremel. Fit etc.

Rear track mounts are likewise handmade from a block of Aluminium. Hex drive screws used to mount to body (easily removed and on original mounting holes for original PVC tracks).

Hex drive screws hold all track wheels. Wheels turn. Tracks move.

Decals were a mission. Fin handmade from thin blue industrial plastic. Pretty happy with the way it's coming together.

I particularly like the scale and profile of this Version of an SPV. Original "double" wheels look good too.

Did you find any more bits for yours?
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2015/01/kelloggs-large-spv-mailaway.html

Cheers

Phil