PERFECT THINGS

I watched Man of Steel and Justice League again this week. DC stuff is just ace.

I must admit I adore Man of Steel. I think its a masterpiece of filming. The global hope that Superman brings is palpable and maybe its because the last two years have been a covid nightmare I am noticeably susceptible to beacons of hope, even when they're on film.

Snyder, Cavill, Adams and company strike just the right tone to make this a serious bash at bringing Supe to life on screen. No high camp, no daft jokes. Its like entering a glorious Alex Ross painting. 

And the score is just terrific; the snarling world-engine rev keeping us on our toes and the two-note Superman melody reminding us not to give up. Its just superb.

Justice League is good but not the icon that is MoS. Having said that I haven't seen the JL Director's Cut.

Absent here is Dawn of Justice, as its not on Netflix. I saw it several times last year though on Prime I think. It is without doubt one of the finest Super Hero films ever made and as Batman says in the first minute, it is a perfect thing.

What do you think readers?

Have you any DC toys and games?

ALPHA EXPLORERS

Here's another Explorer 12 relative, the Alpha Explorers.

Unusually its coloured black.

Looks it was released by Supertoys.

I've also seen Manley Toys involved.

Do you know either of these companies?

B-25 Group Build Photos

Hi

Did you know that there is a real Fireflash ? It was an early British Air to Air guided missile, test fired from the Gloster Meteor, Hawker Hunter, and Supermarine Swift. Weird looking thing.

The B-25 Mitchell Group Build is now up, from Max at Max's Models. My photos are in the first of the two clips, but there is a great model in the second - Max's Minions, which has had a few modifications from a standard B-25 - note the wings. Great fun.

Hope you enjoy them.

B-25 Group builds - YouTube

B-25 Group Build Part 2 - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

 

THUNDERBIRDS GUMMED PAPERCRAFT: THUNDERBIRD GLUE

 This is the sort of Thunderbirds set I would have had as a kid but I just don't recall, dammit.

Gummed Papercraft, which I saw on auction so saved the images a while back.

The thought of cutting out gummed pictures of Thunderbird 2 and sticking them down in a scrapbook is even now supremely appealing. You even got scissors and a sponge!

Did you have this set?

There can't be many around intact.

LEGENDS OF BATMAN

The other day I nearly bought a loose Legends of Batman figure at an outdoor sale. I say nearly because for a moment nostalgia overcame me and I was right back in the thick of my collecting bug, when I first discovered the wonders of plastic super hero action figures.

The figure itself was the Power Guardian from Kenner's Legends of Batman line 1994. Not particularly old but for me very nostalgic as it features in my loose Action Figure book I bought at Memorabilia 2000 at the NEC.

Here it is loose and incomplete like it appeared on the stall.

This is how Bats looks complete and poised.

Here's the original Power Guardian TV ad from 1994.

Do you like the Legends of Batman? 

COUNTRYCIDE

I watched Torchwood's Countrycide last night on BBC iPlayer. Have you seen it?

I can see why this Dr. Who spin-off was originally on at 9pm after the TV watershed here in the UK. Gore, swearing and violence. I doubt if anyone ever told someone to F Off in Dr. Who!

The story reminded completely of a monster of the week X-Files episode. A lonely farm, a family of cannibals and Government agents caught up in it all. It had Mulder and Scully all over it.

I liked it though and the Torchwood team make it there own. Captain Harkness revealed some very nasty traits as a torturer and the team's doctor and welsh bombshell Gwen began a steamy adulterous affair. I wonder if it lasts?

The family of cannibals were well done [excuse the pun] and for horror buffs out there it had a definite whiff of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre about it.

All in all I enjoyed Countrycide so thanks to the reader who recommended it.

I'll return to the last couple of parts of Children of Earth next, though I don't relish seeing Harkness making life or death decisions for the human race. He's somewhat unhinged!

Have you seen Countrycide readers?

Godzilla Movie by Mr. Max

Hi all

Over at maxsmodels, Mr Max made a Godzilla movie back in 2018. Godzilla vs die Wehrmacht 1946 is the best Godzilla movie ever made, and great fun. A mix of wartime newsreel and 1950s monster movie. 

He combines model shots and wartime or movie footage perfectly. In case you have not seen this before, have a look. It will lift your spirits. There is also a trailer, and a gag reel.

Godzilla vs die Wehrmacht: 1946 with required muting. - YouTube

Trailer: Godzilla vs Die Wehrmacht 1946 - YouTube

Godzilla vs die Wehrmacht: Gag Reel and Out Takes - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

A FEW MORE 16/12 SWIFT PHOTOS

 Here are a few more shots of the great looking Sixteen 12 prototype Swift, the featured guest spacecraft in the Space:1999 episode ‘ Brian the Brain’.

As it’s a prototype I imagine, like several of the other 16/12 models there are bound to be improvements and alterations until its official release.

I’ve no idea what those modifications might or might not be, that’s up to the 16/12 team to decide. We know the final model will be die-cast and will come with its own launch pad display plinth.

I don’t know whether it’s planned, but I’d love the large rear engine bell to be alloy like we have on the 16/12 Eagles.

One thing that we don’t see on the prototype is the small green and silver mechanism fitted in between the two top mounted storage tanks. Maybe that’s something else that might be added.  We do get a look at this briefly in the episode. I can’t say what its purpose is. It looks like it’s got small rocket nozzles at the back so maybe it’s intended as some guide clamp when replacing the tanks while in space.

This garage kit appears to have overlooked them too; I have to say the build still looks good though!

These photos I took of the original Martin Bower built prop shows it with the tanks removed. This was apparently how designer Ron Burton originally intended the model to look as the Altares spaceship landing craft if the one-off pilot show, Into Infinity- The Day After Tommorrow had made it to a series.

Finally, here are some of the publicity flyers that Sixteen 12 has created using some of my photos.