MOONBASE CENTRAL

Saturday, 10 October 2020

AS SHARP AS A BAT-PENCIL

Hello Woodsy

Luckily for me pencil sharpeners are just that and I have avoided collecting novelty ones.

The only exception being this BATMAN one that I bought in F.W.Woolworth when I arrived in NYC in 1974.

I bought it for the figure but it's an actual good sharpener!

Terranova47

Hot Wheels Olympic Set: the Ghosts of Tokyo

Hi Woodsy

I do not know if you think this would be a suitable subject for Moonbase Central, but in case you do, here is a bit more on the Hot Wheels Olympic Games 2020 set produced for a Games that has been delayed from 2020 to 2021, and may never happen.

I am not a sports fan, but this set appeals to me as it commemorates a historical event that did not happen. Even if the Games go ahead next year, they will be 2021 not 2020. I now have three of the models in this series.

The set of ten models are part of the standard Mainline. Most of this information comes from the very useful Hot Wheels Wiki site. Re-arranged to make it easier to follow, and with a few notes added to help those less familiar with Hot Wheels collecting.

There are 250 numbered models in the Mainline this year (a mix of new models and re-issues), but the numbering is rather confusing as there are two different systems in use at the same time. Each model has its own number, from 1/250 to 250/250, printed on either the front of the long card, or the back of the short card. Numbering seems to be entirely random, and models from different sets are all mixed up. Each set also has its own block of numbers, in this case 1/10 to 10/10. These two sets of numbers do not tie-up in any way, and do not even run from low to high. None of these numbers appear on the models, only on the cards.

Most of the models in the Olympic set are of fictional vehicles, but there are some real types as well. One of the models is a new release for this year. There is also a Treasure Hunt, which is a model produced in smaller numbers than most Mainline models, making it much harder to find, and therefore harder to complete a set. Apparently, there is also a boxed 10-pack, with all the models. I could not find a good photo of Surf's Up, so the description of this model may not be fully accurate - sorry.

The first number is the position of the model within the Olympic set.

The second number is the position of the model within the 2020 range.

The name of the model (some models have been issued under more than one name).

The year the model was first released, all appeared between 2009 and 2020.

The main colour of the model, and the sport it depicts. All carry extensive tampo-printed graphics.

1/10 216 Surf's Up (New) 2020 Blue/black Surfing

2/10 183 '10 Toyota Tundra 2012 Red Baseball

3/10 203 Fast FeLion 2009 Green Athletics

4/10 204 Mountain Mauler 2014 Green/yellow Sport Climbing

5/10 155 Hi Beam 2018 Pink Artistic Gymnastics

6/10 154 Skate Grom 2013 Purple/black Skateboarding

7/10 156 Sky Dome 2017 Purple Basketball

8/10 184 Toyota 2000GT 2013 Red Karate

9/10 167 Velocita 2014 Blue Swimming

10/10 205 Dune Daddy (TH) 2018 Pink Beach Volleyball

Paul Adams

New Zealand

Friday, 9 October 2020

METAL MINI BOOKS

God I remember these!

Metal covered miniature picture folders. that were seaside key-ring souvenirs. I had a few as a nipper and loved how the clasp popped open and shut on those metal book covers. I can't recall which pictures I had but I imagine it was Blackpool, Ilfracombe, Great Yarmouth and places like that. Maybe even Butlins itself. The one pictured looks like London and is one I borrowed from the net.

Did you have any of these readers?

Thursday, 8 October 2020

Fireball XL6 to the Rescue!

I can see you two have been moonlighting for the United Earth Space Patrol!

Bill Ev

Celtica Radio

Our new Autumn radio SWORDCAST is available to listen to anytime. Click on the link in the sidebar.

JELLY JUMBO

I'm pretty sure I remember this lolly, the Jelly Jumbo!

Ice Cream with jelly ripple! Yum-mee!

Do you remember this lolly?

Is this where the label 'Jelly Wobble Tester' came from?

THE PARAMOUNT THUNDER JET

Well, the Paramount Thunder Jet is in!

As I surmised, it’s a big (1/16 scale?) Pontiac GTO (I think?) with SciFi decals, plus a groovy remote control, which says “Aosima” on it, and the remote control also features a spring-loaded missile launcher!

IF I ever built this thing, I wonder if I could move the missile launcher to the top of the car?

Best decal: “Parfect Control” (sic)!

Rob C

USA