16/12 WARGAMES SET: BEHIND THE SCENES

 

As an addendum to my previous 16/12 Wargames set post here’s a few behind the scenes phone snaps I took while doing my 16/12 ‘Wargame’s set photo-shoot which might be of some small interest.

I wanted to create a diorama for the photos that might look like the inside of a space station hangar, taking inspiration from some scenes in Space: 1999.

Bearing in mind the models are the ‘stars’, I don’t spend a whole lot of time on dioramas as they’re not intended for displaying purposes, only for temporary photo backgrounds, but I do try to plan them out to get the most out of them.

The diorama base and sides are made from MDF, and detailed with wood, hardboard, card and screw head covers. Finally, a coat of green spray paint and some dark panel detail.

The lights are plastic blocks with a string of clear Xmas lights fitted behind.

The curved side was made by wetting the MDF and leaving it in a bent position for a few days.   

Lighting is important, of course, and once the diorama is lit it’s ready for the models.

Even though I’ve been doing this sort of thing for a while now I still like to experiment. I am, after all just an enthusiastic amateur. I like to use at least three separate lights, occasionally using different coloured filters depending on how I want the photo to turn out.

I don’t always get it just right of course, but it’s always fun trying!

JFK: HE REALLY ROCKS!

Woodsy, seeing your old post about JFK reminded me of what I had in my bedroom as a young 'un back in '65!

Here you can see a model of PT-109 as well as JFK sitting on his rocker in front of the fireplace that - I'm guessing - was meant to be in the Oval Office.

BTW both models were pretty poorly done as I recall. I used that horrible gloopy Testor's so-called 'flesh' paint for his face and he looked like a zombie hahahaha

Cheers

Ed

Nevada

USA

A MYSTERIOUS MILLENNIUM PLASTIC MASH-UP

 This is an interesting mystery bundle of joy I saw on Spain's Todocolleccion!

It's a right mash-up of styles. You've got the Millennium Falcon up top on the header, not to mention the 2001 Space Odyssey astronauts on the backing card!

The plastic spacemen look a bit cheapo but I love the trio of those fish-tailed space cars we've seen here and there on Moonbase. How cool are they and where is that design from!

All in all I love this unbranded mess!

You?

BANDAI'D

 

I noticed this comic strip type artwork for a Bandai Terrahawks advert and liked it enough to save it and post here.  I used to love artwork in a cartoony style like this in my weekly edition of Look-In in the Seventies. The Corgi Technocrats? had a similar look I recall.

Do you like this style?

ROB'S HOBBY SHOP MEMORIES

Woodsy,

Your recent post about old toy stores, and vintage toy stores like Uncle Tim’s, reminded me of one of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting your local toy or hobby shop back in the day - seeing row upon row of mouth-watering boxes for stuff you certainly wanted, but most of which you never got. 

That’s the main reason I save most of my boxes after a model is built, so I can put it on the shelf and recreate the look of a dream hobby shop from the 60s-70s. Here are a few snaps of my model boxes on the shelf, a combination of built and unbuilt kits.

Rob C

USA

YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND A SENSE OF HUMOUR!

Car boot sellers are in the main a friendly bunch and I have met thousands over the years.

However I was once at a city market boot sale, where I met the exception. My friend Wotan was with me and as we ambled happily around the stalls we came across a large black bin bag of tat, knelt down and started to rummage.

The first salvo of utter rudeness from the seller, who was smiling at us with her grinning chum, was when I pulled out a small modern Zero-X bagatelle, like a plastic party favour. Showing it the seller I as per normal asked the price. Unbelievably she took it out of my hand and said - it wasn't for sale!

Stunned by these bad manners  I buried myself in the bag again along with Wotan - it was a big sack - where we continued to move tat around.

It was this point that the seller delivered her coup de grace and said to us " Keep looking you two, you might even find a sense of humour in there!" to which she and her associate burst into laughter.

I wasn't laughing. This was a local sale and Wotan was my guest. I was appalled at this yobbish behaviour and we swiftly left seething at this unusual car boot sarcasm.

Have you had a similar experience readers?

UFO BOAT TOY

 I sort of like this toy.

I saw it online and saved the pics.

I think its by Orion. Its says UFO among the characters on the box. Is it Japanese?

Its an odd looking thing but seems to hang together somehow. 

Judging by the propeller I assume its a boat.

Anyone know?

Hot Wheels Raving Bonkers Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Cars!

Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots was an American boxing game for two players. Two plastic robots, the Red Rocker and the Blue Bomber, in red and blue plastic, do battle in a yellow plastic boxing ring. They were able to slide about the ring, and their arms were controlled by plungers at the side of the arena. The aim of the game is to knock your opponent's block off, or at least make his head pop up. I have never played the game myself.

It was first sold by Louis Marx & Co. in 1964. According to Wikipedia the game was called Raving Bonkers in Britain - what a totally daft name. I did find a photo on Pinterest which shows a game carrying this name. A smaller version of the game is still made today by Mattel.

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots - Wikipedia

Mattel released a robot/car hybrid called Zombot as part of the 1987 Hot Wheels line. Oddly, the robot was lying down on the car chassis, but could also stand upright. It carried a blaster rifle across its chest, which seems to have been a separate part. In 2018 (copyright date 2017) a new version was released that was very similar to the old model, but with a more solid, less open chassis, and the rifle now forming part of the separate chest moulding.

The 2021 Hot Wheels line includes a sub-series of five models devoted to Mattel Games. Model number three in this series depicts RESER, and uses a modified version of Zombot. It has a different chest piece, without the rifle, and much shorter forearms. The centre of the chest carries the RESER and Hot Wheels logos. The copyright date on the base has been revised, and now reads © 2017,'20, along with the Zombot name, and Made in Malaysia.

The RESER Zombot has been released in two versions. Both have a yellow metal chassis, matching the colour of the original boxing ring. The plastic robot is either red or blue, with extensive cream detail printing, and black eye slits in the helmet. The red version came out first, followed by his opponent in blue.

Paul Adams from New Zealand