CROMFORD MILLS EVENT: A VIDEO BY DAVID SISSON

 Here's a short video compiled by David Sisson, mega modeller and organiser of the recent Cromford Mills Sci FI model display showing some of the highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGhY16jhHsw

TOUCHING-UP SUPERFAST

Does anyone have any method for colouring small scratches on toys?

I'm having some good results with blue and red Sharpies on Matchbox Superfast cars. 

The red on the red Rolls Royce worked reakly well.

Lighter colours don't work but the dark staining colours do. I imagine black would work as well.

They buff up well too when coloured.

I was thinking about using paint pens next for yellows and greens. 

What's your method readers?

LANCE'S BLAKES 7 CORGI LIBERATORS

Hey Woodsy!

I hope all is as well as can be for you all.

The recent posts showing costumes and props from Blake's 7 sparked a memory.

Back in 1980-81, in a quest for D&D stores I came across a small mom & pop type store that also had a small case with a few assorted ordinary Dinky and Corgi toys in it. There was a loose odd spaceship that I bought for $1 as it had no packaging. 

Flash forward to 1983 and I'm at my first sci-fi convention in Dallas (my third con to work). I was invited to a hotel room to watch a show called Blake's 7 and when the Liberator was on screen I said "Hey, I have that ship!" I was called out on it, saying no one has one. I promised to bring it to the next con.

Jump to the fall, I presented my screen inaccurate Liberator and was promptly offered $75 for it. Sold. Other members of the Blake's 7 fan club asked me to get them one as well. Over the next 4 years I sold off a massive fleet of 25 Liberators on average for $50@. I was making more off anime items as this was the infancy of it and not many had reliable sources of items from Japan.

Jump to now. In my "space boxes" which I recently organized somewhat, I located the remnants of my Liberator fleet. They are Corgi model E44 which were for export to foreign markets and not E2 the accurate version.

Here's a few pics.

Did Moonbase readers have a Liberator?

Lance
Houston Base
USA

WAVE SKYDIVER: THE STORY SO FAR

 Over time some readers may remember I've been posting updates on my Wave Skydiver kit.  It's a vinyl kit, not the best material to use, but I'm persevering and its still coming along.

All the paint detail is finished now, so it's now waiting for a coat of sealer, then its the application of the decals.

JAMES BOND'S SUPER BALLS

 

Not sure I've seen this before, a 007 Superball by Italian toysters Baravelli. I suppose its a play on Thunderball.

I quite like the dark artwork.

Anyone seen this before? Was it licensed?

RANKING THE JOKERS

I was discussing movie Jokers with Wotan recently. The Joker always brings out strong opinions I think, its such an iconic character and was done so well by Cesar Romero in the original Adam West TV series.

For my vote I think the current Joker played by Jared Leno is the best so far, even better than the late Heath Ledger's masterful performance. Jared just pips him because his character's combo of bling, smile and deranged menace is simply hypnotic, despite not being seen that much on the screen in his movies.

I hope Jared's Joker has another crack at a movie. Does anyone know if he will?

An honourable mention has to go to Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 gothic Batman. he was the perfect foil to Keaton's grouchy knight and between the two of them instilled in me the collecting bug for the first time, after which I started looking for Batman toys in earnest!

I haven't included Joaquin Pheonix's award-winning stint here as I'm not sure it can be compared with his more comical stablemates. The Joker is more like Taxi Driver than a Batman spin-off, Travis Bickle in greasepaint. What do you think about the film The Joker?

So, who is your fave Joker readers?

SUMMER TOY FINDS

 

These were my recent Car Boot finds.

A Yone hot rod chopper, a Diaclone and a HW Mongoose.

What do you think?

Kitmaster Fireball XL5 Model Kit Page

Hi,

I have just come across a site devoted to the Rosebud Kitmaster kit range. 

This was a British doll maker that branched out very briefly in to model railway kits - locomotives and rolling stock - from 1959 to 1962. 

They only did two non-railway kits, a motorcycle and the Lyons Maid Fireball XL5 spaceship which is usually listed as an Airfix kit - Airfix did buy all the Kitmaster moulds in late 1962, but only re-issued a few of them. 

This is the XL5 page. The model was a true-to-life 12" model, and came with 50 parts, glue, transfers & stand. Also, a button hole badge. The kit was moulded in silver-grey plastic, with transparent parts, and there was a detailed cockpit and two crew figures. 

The kit was yours for only 4/6 (22 1/2 New Pence in modern money) plus two ZOOM ice lolly wrappers. The photos show the model, the assembly instructions, the badge, ice lolly wrapper, and advertising. 

The rest of the site is also worth a look.

Kitmaster

Paul Adams from New Zealand