MOONBASE CENTRAL

Sunday, 22 November 2020

Chuffing 'Ell! Xmas is Coming!

With Xmas bearing down like the proverbial express, its time to break out the decorations for the house. Every year I toy with the idea of having a little alpine train running around the base of the tree, or chugging back and to along the windowsill, but each time I either get outvoted or just can't find the time to fix it up.

I bought this nice little western train from John Lewis a few years ago, nice solid construction, with plastic track and metal engine, it runs off batteries in the tender. The loco itself is about three inches long.

So far its only had one outing round the tree, as subsequent trees got bigger and taller and hid it under the branches. As we have also seen cereal premium cars and margarine flats recently, here are some of the margarine train toys that Woodsy gave me from Germany.

Each single piece model is about 2.5" long and has a hook arrangement at one end. Some of them have printed labels on the tops.

Similar in style, but smaller, this blue loco has running wheels underneath.

Back to R & L Kelloggs models now, the railway series from the later sixties, with passenger coaches, Westerns Steam and Transcontinental engines, a cattle truck and a lovely Santa Fe Diesel engine.

These marvellously detailed little models came in kit form on a sprue - like the Space Age and Motor Car models.

Finally some smaller premiums, possibly from soap or other food, a small continental electric loco and rolling stock.

Kinder Surprise have made a lot of different train toys and models, such as this tiny red diesel shunter and three wagons, each less than an inch and all packed into one chocolate egg.

Later models were more complex, such as this diesel and wagons and the continental goods train below, ideal for making tiny dioramas on a table top.

I think I may have to ask Santa for a few more miniature trains myself!

LOVELY CHRISTMAS PREZZY: WORLD PEACEKEEPERS

Hello Woodsy,

This is something I came across by chance at Amazon. I bought it in case my Grandson took a liking to my Dan Dare which I would rather not give up.

I've no idea what World Peacekeepers are or why they need an astronaut but I'll sacrifice him in the blink of an eye if need be.

Keep well,
Terranova47

USA

Sunday Driver

While I got the scenery out for the Kellogs shoot, I realised I had an old Esso Garage model in there too, from a lot of railway scenery models I bought on ebay, so I decided to use it conjunction with another gift item I received recently from Paul V.

As I expressed an interest in his recent post about the early Lego model city and the wonderful vehicles, He sent me a couple of spares to start me off down that road.

The Lego Esso Trucks would normally carry oil barrels, so I decided Esso would have to branch out into renewable fuels and made a couple of lumber loads from toffee apple sticks.

Its interesting to see the similarity between the earlier Lego cars and Minix vehicles, such as the green Simca above. Both have metal wheels and silver bases with some chassis detailing.

The Esso Service Station is possibly an old Faller product, but in a pretty rough condition. However Paul kindly provided me with a new set of Lego pumps, signage and the important rare elements to build the original Lego garage. Meanwhile, i'm happy with this quick mash up of three different model lines, just to show off the cars.