SPANISH 6 IN 1 SET

This is like the blog legend from years ago, the wonderful 3 in 1 set that Wotan owns. Click on Mortoys and Six in One on the labels.

This set is by Spanish outfit Payva https://youtu.be/js_SxhGTP4Q seen on Todocollecion.

What do you think?

COULD STAR TREK HAVE BEEN AS BIG AS STAR WARS?

I tuned into Film 4's all day Star Trek Movie Marathon last night and caught The Wrath of Khan.

I've seen it before [sadly not at the cinema in the early 80's!] and I must say I enjoyed it a lot. The Khan character was really well acted and the eventual lethal dilemma had a great build up. 

Spock's demise was touching and the return to the Kobayashi Maru scenario was clever. The Genesis planet gave lots of room for the sequel, The Search for Spock, which was on telly next but I fell asleep, no fault of the film I might add. It was nearly midnight!

Watching Star Trek I was struck by the thought, could it have ever been as big as Star Wars? Its already a big franchise but it isn't the behemoth that is the Gorge Lucas/ Disney franchise.

What does Star Wars have that Star Trek doesn't readers?

MIRROR MIRROR

Further to the recent comments on light, and whether light reflected from a mirror can illuminate things, here are a couple of photos of a friction-powered Lockheed P-38 Lightning toy that I just picked up. Unfortunately, the starboard propeller has lost its blades, but everything else seems OK. The oddest thing about the toy are the rockets (?) flanking the cockpit - those must have made it difficult for the pilot to get in and out.

Photo 1 - top - was taken only with the light coming in from the right hand side, leaving the left side of the P-38 in shadow. 

For Photo 2 - bottom - a mirror was used to reflect the light coming from the right, back on to the left side of the toy.

Hope that helps to clear things up. Mirrors reflect light as well as images, and can be used to reduce shadows, at least in model photography.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

COLLECTING JANET AND ANN GRAHAME JOHNSTONE

 

Macdonald's Greek Myths and Legends was one of my favourite books as a kid in the Sixties. I still have a copy to this day [sadly not my original].

One of the huge draws for me was the artwork, which was done by the wonderfully talented twins Janet and Anne Graham Johnstone.

Their style is instantly recognisable, with tall muscular nymph-like figures with mod hair cuts. I love it and still do.

Another book they illustrated was the bigger hardback Jason and The Golden Fleece. I still have my childhood copy from a Zodiac Toys shop.

One of my favourite paintings in the Golden Fleece was of the Gorgons. I was mesmerised by the tusks!

Checking this artwork online I was amazed to see that this original illustration is actually for sale at the Book Palace! How cool is that! Not that I could afford the price but its great too see! How marvellous it would be to collect original art. Do you readers?

As you would expect the Grahame Johnstone twins' art is beloved worldwide and there is a lot about them online. One nice website is Daisy's online shrine to the pair https://beautifulbooks.info/illustrated-bibliographies/janet-and-anne-grahame-johnstone-a-complete-illustrated-bibliography/

Do you like the Grahame Johnstone twin's work?

have you any of their illustrated books?

Light Entertainments

Sun Dog

Continuing on from Woodsys post about the eerie noctilucent lights over his hometown, here are a few photos I have taken over the years which capture some fleetingly beautiful sky effects. As I have become more and more obsessed with photography and with the predominance of phone photography, having a camera with me constantly, means I am always able to capture odd moments in time. Historically, the whole process of analogue cameras meant that by the time the device was wound on, focussed, exposed correctly and ready to click, the moment had passed. Autofocus on cameras and the digital revolution meant that a photographer could point and shoot great quality photos in seconds, without having to worry about aperture, exposure, film speed or available light.

Golden Hour in Austria

Camera phones take this experience even further, with modern phones being sold on the basis of camera sophistication and quality alone. Anyone can expect to take a good to great quality photo, anywhere and at anytime with the most basic phone camera, due to the complexity of the software and the quality of the hardware.

Blue Hour on Cornish Beach

Apps on the various phones exploit this technology, some even approximating the look and feel of an SLR style analogue camera, giving control over every aspect of the traditional film process. I use an app which prompts me to take a photo every day, with various challenges of theme, but also reminds me of one of the crucial times of day to shoot.

Rainbow light over Beacon Hill

In order to maximise the best light available for landscape photography, photographers aim for two periods during the day - the 'Golden Hour' occurs just after sunrise and before sunset, when the sun is low on the horizon, creating a warm glow. The 'Blue Hour' arrives shortly before sunrise and after sunset, when the sun's position just below the horizon produces cooler blue tones in the atmosphere.

Classic Rainbow

I can't admit to being prepared enough or capable enough to get good shots in these ideal periods, but occasionally, I have found myself with camera or phone in hand and able to grab brief moments, such as rainbows or sun dogs or the zodiacal light in the night sky.

Partial Sun Dog with iphone

One of my favourite pastimes is shooting at night with a long exposure and picking up the sodium lit glow from the streetlamps, streaked by the lights of passing cars.

Light painting from the back of the Woodsymobile

Light Streaks on the A59

LOTS OF LOLLIES

This Ayreshirehistory.com page on lolly wrappers is superb. So many to mentally lick. So many frozen memories. Have a bite yourself. Which were your fave lollies?

http://www.ayrshirehistory.com/sweetie_papers_ice_lollies.html

FOBBED OFF

 

Seeing this pen key ring from the Sixties or Seventies on the Bay really brought back memories.

I adored key rings probably as much as toys. I think I got a few at my Dad's cash and carry place but always tried to add to my collection wherever I was.

I had loads: a floppy metal fish, an eiffel tower, a toilet, a metal book with concertina pages, a spanner, a wrench, a rubber footballer, a globe and many many more. I so wish I still had them and often rummage at car boots to see of there are any I had.

Did you like key rings or fobs?

CECIL COLEMAN AND YOLT JAMES BOND DOLLS

Have a look at this collector's gallery of unusual Cecil Coleman and Yolt James Bond and Man from Uncle action dolls. There's a Kissy Suzuki! What do you think?

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jamesdougert/cecil-colemans-007-uncle-action-figures-of-the-196/