Watch "Everything you need to know about Megaforce (1982)" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/u5pWUMyxTsY 

Hi Woodsy, my sentiment here is summed up in the title of the video! Anyone coming to the blog collect Megaforce vehicles??
Regards
MJ 

Southcoast Base

UK

SHAUN WHITTACKER-COOK R.I.P.

 Just read that A.P. Films & Century 21 special effects director, Shaun Whittacker-Cook, sometimes credited as Shaun Whittaker-Cook,  who worked on Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, The Secret Service and UFO, has sadly passed away aged 85.

Our sincere condolences to his family.

D A R K E A S T E R

 BULBS

GARLIC DEAD

IT'S MINE!

NIGHT ROSES

Bug Stomper

I've posted about Galoob Action Fleet before, but having recently brought a few models out of storage again, I thought I would look at the Aliens series vehicles a little more closely. There were only three of the models in the series, with the fourth release being the ultra rare Predator Dropship.

These three models are absolutely brilliant, with a great level of detail and considerable playability. Each model has opening hatches, weapons and bays and comes with two figures relative to each vehicle.

The Narcissus comes with a classic Alien and Ripley in her fatigues and even features a tiny catbasket inside for Jones, the hapless ships cat.

Action Fleet found favour with the Star Wars line and branched out briefly with Aliens and Starship Troopers, but seem to have finished around the star wars prequel era of tie ins, which is a great shame.
 

AQUATIC ANTICS!

 Some photos of my second Comet Miniatures Stingray build.

What better place to photograph super-sub Stingray than under the ocean waves.

But like the original TV series, the Stingray model doesn’t get wet. Most of you will be well aware that Stingray was filmed in action through a glass water tank with strategically placed air tubes providing bubble effects, and even few small fish.

I’ve attempted to recreate that effect, minus the fish, on a somewhat smaller scale.

Although the effect is relatively easy it took me a little bit of setting up with the right lighting to avoid reflections, and adjusting the camera settings to cut down on photographic ‘noise’, and avoiding too much of a grainy look in the photos.  

I think the photos turned out reasonably well, and a bit of underwater fun made a change from my usual Space 1999 Eagle shots on the lunar surface.

I wanted to build this second Comet Miniatures Stingray model with these photos in mind.

My first build didn’t have proper moulded rear hydro- jet exhausts and lighting, both of which I wanted to incorporate in this model. I did toy briefly with the idea of fitting a motor to the clear Rate Master, but as I’m only really interested in still photos of the model in a suitable diorama, the effect would have been minimal for the additional work involved.

I wanted lighting for the two front headlights, the rear of the Rate Master and part of the cabin. I didn’t want the cabin lighting to be from an obvious source like it is in the series, so my only option was stowing it in the lower deck which does limit the brightness, and helps to create the effect I wanted.  

Even though most of the inside of the cabin is obscured once the cabin cover is glued in place I still like to add a little cabin detail.

The battery and switch are accessible via a small removable hatch on the underside of the hull.

                                       The model did need a few alterations.

The Comet Miniatures Stingray came out at some point during the eighties, and was one of a series of various kits produced with assistance from others by Tony James, proprietor of Comet Miniatures. It was officially licenced by Anderson-Burr Pictures Ltd, and copyrighted to ITC Entertainment Ltd.  The receipt for this one in my photo is dated 1987, and cost the princely sum of £15.99.

It’s a reasonable size for a display model, around 13”, giving it a convenient scale of about 1:72. Although it was a limited run I don’t know how many were produced, as there appears to be a fair few of unmade kits about on eBay and the like. There are variations in the colour of the vac-formed moulded plastic which is either white or silver. The clear rate – master, or let’s give it its proper title, contra-rotating antistorque eddy damper has two different moulds, two as far as I can tell. One is a better finish and fit than the other. My first build has the better finished version; my second build had the other, which needed some alterations to fit properly, not easy on clear plastic. I should mention that the kits do have a few minor blemishes on the plastic and the clear acetate. The white plastic blemishes are easily covered with light sanding and filler, but on a clear section of acetate it can be difficult to disguise. The clear acetate also yellows with age. In spite of these drawbacks, I enjoyed building the models, and when completed I reckon the overall shape is pretty accurate comparing it to the various screen-used models.

Comic Book Flat Figures

Hi Woodsy

Regarding the ads for toy soldier sets to be found in American comics in the 1960s, here are a few items I found which give more information on these sets, and photos of the models. 

All very interesting. The figures and other items look to be very thin, with small bases (so they probably were not very good at standing up), and many were in odd poses. Scale was clearly not a consideration.

This one covers the modern army set, with troops, vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Even a few female Wacs (Army) and Waves (Navy), which is unusual in a fighting set. All US troops, who have no one to fight.

Vintage 100-Piece Toy Soldier Set With Footlocker Storage Box by Lucky Products, Inc. - HobbyLark - Games and Hobbies

This one has a range of different items, but does have a photo showing just how flat the figures were. I have attached a copy of this.

Comic Book Rip-Off Ads: Charles Atlas, Sea Monkeys, X-Ray Specs, And More (groovyhistory.com)

Here is an interview with Kirk Demarais, author of Mail Order Mysteries.

Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books | Collectors Weekly

Shots of some other sets, including the American Civil War models - in blue and grey of course. It seems not all the figures were flats, and sizes did vary.

Yesteryear (hat.com)

The American Revolutionary War set, moulded in red for the British and blue for the Americans, seem to have been solid figures, but in a much smaller size, about 1/72nd scale.

1960s COMIC BOOK REVOLUTIONARY WAR TOY SOLDIERS - HELEN OF TOY PLAYSET MARX ARMY | #504258542 (worthpoint.com)

More ads, and history. In sets that included two opposing armies, the different sides were moulded in different colours, so you could tell them apart.

Toys in the Attic: Comic Book Toy Soldiers - Defending Truth, Justice, And The Plastic Way Of Life | News From The Front (michtoy-from-the-front.blogspot.com)

The Roman set, in blue and yellow.

70+ Vintage Lucky Products 1960s Comic Book Mail In Flats Romans Toy Soldiers | #1832823696 (worthpoint.com)

There were also sets covering Knights, Vikings, modern warships, and I suppose others. I do not recall ever having seen any of these figures, much less the full sets, but even if I had, I would have had no idea what I was looking at.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

BUNNY FACE

 

Mmmm, yummy!

Happy Easter Monday!

E A S T E R I S L A N D

 

I'm looking but still "zero eggs"!