Plan 9 From Outer Space Flying Saucer

Hi all,

Flying Saucer time. Let us start at the beginning, in 1954 US model company Lindberg released a plastic kit of a Flying Saucer. Some of these kits were used by low-budget film maker Edward D. Wood Jr to represent the alien spacecraft in his masterpiece, Plan 9 From Outer Space, originally called Grave Robbers From Outer Space. 

Some have claimed this is the worst film ever made. In my opinion, this is not true, and the movie is certainly fun. It stared Bela Lugosi, who managed to appear a few years after his death, thanks to the use of old footage, shot for another film. 

Also, Vampira and Tor Johnson, who have been modelled in HO scale by Noch, in their Vampire and Zombie sets. The Lindberg kits were modified somewhat for filming, with the engine nacelles being omitted, and the transparent dome in the centre being painted over.

This kit has been re-issued a few times over the years. This Polar Lights version dates from 2019, according to the site Scalemates, which covers the family tree of various kits. 

It has been issued as the Plan 9 From Outer Space version, with great box art, and stills from the movie on the box sides. It is described as A Bizarrely Authentic Scale Model Flying Saucer. 

This You Tube video covers building the kit, which can be assembled as per the original 1954 kit, or as the revised movie version. The box-top photo is from Amazon.

Polar Lights Plan 9 From Outer Space Flying Saucer 1/48 Scale Model Kit Build Review POL970 - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

KEV'S REAL SPACE MODELS AND TOYS

Hi,

Since there was recent mention of real spaceships, here are some pictures of my toys or models of them. These are mainly made by Dragon but the Gemini is an old friction toy.

We have cleared the tower,

Kevin

UK

IN FOR A PENNEY

 

I've always liked this 60's Penney's catalogue page from the States, largely because it pictures two distinctively different Golden Astronaut colours, namely the yellow Space Command and the blue Nuclear Pulse.

Personally I prefer these Penney colours. Do you or did you have them?

SUFFERING SATELLITES!

 I'm having  some minor issues with Blogger at the moment. It's a bit of a mystery, but I'm sure Colonel Woodsy will solve it as he always does.

Anyway, I just want to check I can still post, so here's apt photo of  that villain from Venus I took at the Dan Dare exhibition in Southport in  pre-Covid times !

CORPORAL HICKS'S TOY RIFLE OR NOT?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gordy-toy-alien-aliens-hicks-gun-toy-gun-Knock-off/254862261381?hash=item3b56f97c85:g:8sEAAOSwyuNgIyp1 

I was amazed when I saw this. Is this really an ALIENS knockoff toy rifle? There's no mention of it on the blister card. But is there even an official ALIENS toy rifle so this wouldn't be a knockoff at all. It would be it I suppose! What do you think readers?

The Corgi Lincoln Continental: A Report by Paul A.

Here's a short report on the Corgi Lincoln Continental Stretched Limousine. It is certainly a very large and impressive model.

Some cars were made in different lengths to take different types of bodywork. The American limousine, with a higher seating capacity than a normal sedan, usually had the longest wheelbase. Even so, this was not long enough for some people. Real stretched limousines were therefore produced by taking a standard production car, cutting it in half, adding extra bodywork, and joining everything back together again. Over the years the amount of stretch has grown considerably.

The Corgi 262 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine was released in 1967, and withdrawn in 1969. It was based on a lengthened version of a standard Lincoln Continental, with Lehmann-Peterson bodywork. According to The Great Book of Corgi, by Corgi Chief Designer Marcel Van Cleemput, sales were 516,000, plus an unknown number in 1969 - there was a factory fire and records and stock for that year were lost. Original price 14/11, which I think is about 74 or 75 New Pence (although the model was retired before New Pence came in).

This model was a real monster - 5 7/8 inches (149 mm) long. It had a host of special features. It was the first die-cast model with a light-up television set in the back, powered by a single 1.5 volt AAA battery (U16 in Britain). It was a colour set and was bang up to date, as Britain only got colour television in 1967, although it had been around in America for some time, and this was an American car. 

The miniature TV screen was illuminated by a small bulb, and there were a total of six small colour pictures that could be inserted into the model from beneath. One came already fitted, with another five on a strip which was to be cut up for use. The pictures were: a clown face; Mexican bandit face; F1 racing car; rocketship; Viking longboat; and a boxing match. I should imagine most of these were lost long ago, and survivors would be rare.

This item from Planet Diecast has information on the different types of on/off switch for the TV set, and the small colour pictures that could be inserted.

How many different "TV screens" did exist for the Lincoln Continental? (planetdiecast.com)

Yes, I know this refers to the Cadillac ambulance in its title, but the Executive Limousine is also covered in detail.

Superior ambulance on Cadillac chassis. (planetdiecast.com)

Other features were an opening hood/bonnet with detailed engine; forward opening front doors; rear opening back doors; opening trunk/boot; chrome plated radiator and bumpers; textured roof top; jewelled (multi-faceted) headlights; highly detailed interior; the floor of the model, and the interior of the boot, were even 'carpeted' - sprayed with a flock finish. There were two colours, gold with a black roof, or light blue with a cream roof. It now went without saying that the model also had clear plastic windows.

The photos are mainly from Ebay, with the colour ad showing the features from Pinterest. Most are of the Corgi 262 model, but one is of the Dinky Lincoln Continental, to show what a normal length car looked like, compared to the stretched Corgi version.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Did you have one of these models readers?

Lights! Action! Will Osborne's Robots and Spaceships

Hi, further to your post on light-up tinplate, here's some of my tin spaceships and also some robots.

Will O.

UK

Mmmm, Milkshake!

I've been enjoying a milkshake when I got home since I was a kid. When I got home from school I'd reach for the Nesquik and now when I get home from work I do the same. Like pancakes, there's something simply delicious about milkshakes.

What's your treat when you get in? Was it the same as a kid?