MOONBASE CENTRAL

Tuesday, 5 January 2021

NOT SOLYENT

I've been thinking about a film where the rich eat the poor. I had thought it was Solyent Green but it isn't that. Everyone get's those biscuits.

Anyone know what I'm on about?

THE TOWNE OF SMITHVILLE NEW JERSEY WHERE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS STILL GLOWS

Hi Woodsy. Hoping you had a happy holiday. I have put away all the decorations but I am still reluctant to let the holidays go.

Last night I went to the Towne of Smithville to look at the lights twinkling on the water. The lights are programmed to dance to Christmas music.

There are also shops and restaurants there, open but socially distant.

I should also mention that Smithville is only a stone's throw away from Leed's Point. Birthplace of the Jersey Devil!

BrianF NJ USA

16/12 EAGLE EPISODE SETS : BREAKAWAY PART 2 REVISITED

Another look at the Sixteen 12 Collectables, Breakaway Part 2 set which features the orange V.I.P. Eagle Pod, and one of the Alpha Tanks which to be fair, first appeared in the Space:1999 Infernal Machine episode, as plans to release all three tanks in a single set had been shelved at that point in time. (The Infernal Machine Eagle Episode set, which features the other two Alpha Tanks is planned to be released soon) I really like how the way the orange pod colour gives the overall look of the Eagle model.The original Product Enterprise V.I.P. Eagle release had just the pod side panels painted orange, while this later release has the sloping top section coloured as well. The jury is out as to which is technically the correct paint scheme. Special Effects man, Brian Johnson can't recall, and screen shots of the model, and the full size studio sets are open to some interpretation. Personally, I don't mind either version, but if pushed I'd probably go for the full orange look. With regards to the Alpha Tank in the set, Sixteen 12 have added a driver, differing slightly from the original Product Enterprise release. A small point, but a nice touch.

LOCKDOWN LIBRARY

Well its lockdown number 3 in England and the virus does not seem to be going away. We're heading for a year of all this soon. I imagine I might have even mentioned it in January on the blog last year. I remember watching it unfold in China and then Italy with horror back then.

I've just done a morning shift looking after keyworkers' schoolchildren and I'm back home now. Just time for a cuppa and some dinner before a virtual staff meeting, the new way of communicating at work.

It also gives me chance to read a chapter of my current novel, which is so topical its untrue. Lockdown by Peter May, which I picked up second hand last April, but never read it.

I must say I'm enjoying it tremendously. Without giving anything away it concerns the discovery of a small skeleton in London during a worldwide Bird Flu pandemic. Peter May wrote it years ago but it was rejected back then as an unfeasible scenario. No, there's no such thing as a global pandemic!

As Julia Roberts said. Big mistake, BIG mistake!

If you like crime thrillers and damaged detectives then this is for you as long as you can cope with the familiarity of some of the lockdown stuff that May predicted so well!

What are you reading readers?

Remco Ads

Hi Woodsy

Here is a batch of three old Remco TV ads. First up is a Flying Fox Airlines prop-jet (the American term for a turbo-prop), which is a Lockheed Electra. With working engines, landing gear, lights and sounds, all operated from a child-sized instrument panel. Then the Whirlybird Rescue Corps helicopter, which is a Piasecki H-21 Workhorse (Shawnee in the US Army), complete with troops and vehicles. The real H-21 could carry a light vehicle, but not a 30 ton Sherman tank. Finally, Mr Kelly's Automatic Car Wash, which really washes toy cars. All these are battery powered. Wow.

REMCO TOY COMMERCIALS 1959 - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

POLAR LIGHTS SPINDRIFT

Taking a break from my revisited Sixteen 12 Eagle posts, which I'll continue later today, here's a few photos of a Polar Lights Spindrift kit. This one I bought completed off eBay very cheaply, with the intention of taking it apart and using bits to complete my old Aurora kit. Alas, another project that is still on the back burner!

Monday, 4 January 2021

V4 - The Gamma Solution: a Radio Story on Celtica Radio

Bill Everatt, Station Manager of Celtica Radio and Moonbase reader, has let me know that there is a new radio story on Celtica Radio that may interest Moonbase redears: V4- The Gamma Solution.

You can hear it here online: http://s124347079.websitehome.co.uk/audio/circle.mp3

Can you spot the Fireball XL5 connection!

EXPLORER 12 FROM BRITISH HOME STORES

Its always interesting reading other toy fan's lists of fave toys. I stumbled across flatuswalrus' list this week and was pleased to see BHS's Explorer 12 range at number 28.

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/flatuswalrus/my-top-35-favorite-childhood-toys/

We've covered it many times on Moonbase like here on Wotan's excellent https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-evolution-of-explorer-12-toys.html

Joe Lang also has a brilliant blog devoted to the BHS range. Its now sadly dormant I think. http://explorer12s.blogspot.com/

There's a great Mike Noble connection too.

Do you remember Explorer 12 toys?