The Star is a Reasonably Priced Car

My latest die-cast addition to the exotic car fold is a Politoys Ferrari Pininfarina Modulo. Originally a pull back motor version, this example has had the motor removed. A good moulding, if a little chunky compared to the real thing, it still captures that rare italian flair for design.

This model comes with large decal plasterered all over it, which are a nightmare to remove. I could get the image element away with Brasso, but the base sticker wouldn't budge. Paintwork overall is fair, but I may strip it down at some point and re-spray it.

The windows were a little yellowed and one side light has a small crack. The headlights were missing, so I managed to replace them with a little piece of clear plastic. Modulo toys are quite stiffly priced usually, but I managed to steal this one for £3.00!

Engine detail is pretty minimal, with a plastic chrome cylinder head visible under the rear black panel, so more work is needed there.

Still a beautiful car, which I first came across in the seventies in the Corgi Juniors range, when they included some wonderful designs, both fanciful and realistic in their range.

The Corgi Juniors model is in an eye-catching yellow livery, so I may update its larger cousin to something brighter. Here it is with the Husky Extra 'Man from Uncle' Pirahna.

The actual Modulo vehicle can be seen to great effect at Veikl.com, as shown in this remarkable image.

ANDY YANCHUS AND AURORA

Hi Woodsy

I am not sure if I have sent you this before, but here is a very interesting piece from Max's Models on You Tube, about kit designer Andy Yanchus, Aurora models, and kit design and production. Well worth a look, if you have not seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luue2Xle4xQ

Yours Sincerely,
Paul Adams from New Zealand

YES, HERE'S MORE HALF-REMEMBERED TV!

Some more lost telly has risen to the top of my sagging loaf. See what you make of these readers:

Elephant boy - I have an old LP record of this in my TV-tie in pile but don't know the show at all. You?

Storm boy - my older Sister used to call her son this when he was a kid. I've always assumed it was on TV. Maybe not?

Kodiak - me and my bereaved Dad used to watch this in the late Seventies. he used to maon about Ugly women in it but I have no recollection of the show at all apart from mountains. You?

Baretta - one of many TV detective shows I think I saw but can't prove it. Did you?

Charlie's Angels - now I remember this and those high-kicking femme fatales. What were they? Private investigators?

Ironside - this wheelchair -bound detective/private dick was a staple for me in the Seventies. His voice was hypnotic. Did you watch it?

Nimble Bread Ad - Now I know I can't let Maggie go. I see a hot air balloon and a Anita Harris lookalike. remember it?

Canon - I see Ironside when I think of Canon. Did they have similar faces?

Mary Mungo and Midge - was this a cartoon? I hear a croaky voice. That's all. You?

Hey Petunia - this was a TV ad. It may have been about swimming when public safety was about swimming and not viruses. Recall it?

Swims like a Fish - another TV ad. Or maybe its the same as Hey Petunia. I think it was about swimming as well. I hear the word 'birds!".

Kojak - a weekly watch of the lolly-sucking lieutenant [?] was essential Telly for me in the 70's. I liked the antics of his real-life brother Stavros too and another cop in the team with a funny name beginning with C I think. I had the die-cast toy car. I still have the board game. Did you Kojak too?

Starsky and Hutch - a similar story to Kojak, one of the big hitters of American TV in the UK in the Seventies. I can never recall which is which. I think I had the die-cast car too. Was it the same make as Kojak's? A Buick? You?

Harry O - I enjoyed this gentle American investigator's cases. I think he wore cardigans like my Dad. You remember the O?

Dickie Henderson - a smoking singer I think and one who wore a porkpie hat a lot. Again he wore cardigans like my dad and my parents liked his TV shows. I did too I think. You?

McCloud/ McMillan and Wife - light cowboy-hatted detection was the key to these I recall but McCloud sticks in my mind more. he wore cowboy boots too. Yes?

Policewoman - I used to know the actress's name and enjoyed this show a lot. There is even an action toy doll. Did you watch it?

Cagney and Lacey - Another gem I remember, the tough-talking cops were on our family telly a lot. Yours?

Sapphire and Steel - I once bought a pile of mint sealed jigsaw puzzles of this TV show but I've never seen it. I think David McCallum was on the box covers. The puzzles sold well back in the Noughties. Do you know the show?

Madigan/ Banacek - no idea at all about these.

Andy Williams - the silken voiced American crooner was on every week on his own show back in the day. His smile was infectious and he was a family favourite. Can't recall anything but singing though. You?

Man from Atlantis - I think this was a sort of Aquaman type character?

Street Hawk - no idea about this at all either.

Manimal - again a complete mystery to me.

CAPTION TIME! AGAIN!

 

I saw this motley crew on Etsy and thought, yes, caption time!

Do your worst!

C'EST SIMPLE! IT'S A SPECTRUM HELICOPTER!

Hi Woodsie, I'm not even sure if I should be mentioning this in mixed company, but the wonderful world of Google can lead you down some very murky alleyways! 

 I discovered these 70s and 80s Italian and French Adult comics, they are pretty sleazy and also the king of rip offs! I think the artists must have been desperate to slap anything down to make a deadline, so shameless borrowing was the order of the day.

I saw one which was a horror story about an oil rig and humanoids from the deep, but look at the helicopter they are using...

Looey

OZ

BRIAN'S AMERICAN MONSTER BIRTHDAY SWAG

Hi Woodsy. My recent birthday was a quiet one, being in isolation because of Covid lockdown, but I have received many unexpected gifts left on my doorstep. Here they are!

BrianF 

NJ USA

WAITOR! THERE'S A GODZILLA IN MY SOUP!

Monster Base is freezing!!! Even the usually red hot Godzilla is turning Ice Blue. 

What's the remedy? How about Toasted Cheese and Tomato Soup?

BrianF NJ USA

Telstars in my Eyes

Andy B has just reminded me of another important satellite, Telstar. The first practical communications satellite, it relayed TV pictures around the globe in 1962, predating the more commercial Early Bird. Looking a bit like a Dr Who Mechanoid, the globe shaped satellite was feted in song too, by the british group, the Tornados.

I remember finding the old 45 in my family record collection and was amazed that anyone would write a song about a satellite! Its actually a great tune, with early synthesiser work and weird intro.

One of my favourite representations of the satellite is the Analog cover illustretion by John Shoenherr for 'Trouble wit Telstar', which you can read at Project Gutenberg:

 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30679/30679-h/30679-h.htm