NO TIME TO BUY!

Here's a few photos of my Corgi No Time To Die Aston Martin DB5 (CC04314), with it's effective, but implausible headlight-mounted multi-barrelled mini guns, and seemingly impenetrable bullet-proof glass!

Obviously, Corgi, has the adult collector in mind these days, so no innovative gimmicks  like the original 1965 gold 261 model. (I know Corgi, under different ownerships, and currently  owned by Hornby Hobbies Ltd.  have released several repackaged versions based of their slightly larger scaled 270 gimmick laden  DB5; I must have about half a dozen , myself)

Now, without giving away any spoilers, (Sadly, I'm aware the internet does make it virtually impossible not to have the film spoilt by some people desperate to give away the story once they've seen it!)  I'm fairly confident the world knows that this is Daniel  Craig's last outing as Bond, and It occurred to me whether this will be the last 'unique' version of the Bond DB5 we will get. By unique, I mean it's different to the previous versions, even if its just something as small as a specific number plate.

                                                        Burlington Arcade: London.

The next incarnation of Bond will be another reboot; While older collectors, like myself still enjoy the  DB5's enduring nod to the Bond film series' past, as maybe a simple cameo film appearance, or a die-cast toy, some fans on social media are thinking a change is due, and that Bond's signature DB5 is in need of an update, too! 

In keeping with today's progressive values, will the blink-and-you-miss-it in the film Aston Martin Valhalla hybrid be the next Bond's vehicle of choice? Ask Q or M !

                                                             Odeon Leicester Square.

When I saw the film, the same week it opened at London's Leicester Square, I noted that most of the audience were predominantly younger than me. Maybe I'm over thinking things, and it might be simply down to the understandable reluctance for some older people to go to the cinema with Covid 19 still a danger, I can't really say for sure.

One thing I can say for sure, and, again no spoilers, as its part of one of the film's trailers. The action featuring the Aston Martin DB5 doing donuts in the Italian village of Matera, with smoke pouring out of the back, and its Gatling guns blazing was certainly one of the high points for me. 

 

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ROCKETS AWAY! KEV'S NEW THUNDERBIRD 1 LAUNCH BAY

Hi,

Got this AIP kit of the Thunderbird 1 launch bay. My local model shop had a window display of Thunderbirds kits in 2021!

It needed a lot of work, I made a new floor, roof, side ramp and observation room! I also added lights.

Pleased with it though.

Thunderbirds are go,

Kevin

UK

STAY SAFE THIS BONFIRE NIGHT!

This is how we were warned about Sparklers on TV in the 1970's!

Ouch!

MIZZY NIGHT

There is an unfortunate tradition here in the UK tonight called Mischief Night.

Unlike Halloween, which I have a instinctive like of, Mizzy Night, as it's called round here, is a lame excuse for nocturnal unpleasantness and anti-social antics.

 Many windows will be egged this evening and no doubt worse. Moonbase is on High Alert and our Moon Ranger fleet stand at the ready to disperse any yolk-fingered bands of urchins.

Now I have no recollection of Mischief Night whatsoever back in the Sixties and early Seventies when I was kid. I first came across the idea in the Brandon Lee movie The Crow when gangs rampaged the  streets of LA. It was called Hell Night and was the night before Halloween.

Mischief Night is the night before Bonfire or Bommy Night here in the UK and as such can trace a heritage of mayhem right back to arch-anarchist himself, Mr. G. Fawkes. Despite this tradition I really dislike the idea of calenderised yobbery akin to The Purge.

I would like to propose that we ditch Mischief Night in favour of a rekindling here in the UK of the European-Scandinavian festival of Walpurgis Night. Usually the last night in April it was traditionally a time of witchcraft and festivity. Oddly enough, Walpurgis or Walpurga was an English saint no less!

What do readers think of Mischief or Hell Night?

ED VALIGURSKY ART ON US TV

 Artist Ed Valigursky was a regular blog icon in MC's early years when we were discovering new things about Project SWORD and Triang SpaceX toys' box and card art.

He hasn't featured much recently so here's a video of an American antiques roadshow episode where some of his original art was discussed.

What do you think?

WILL TODAY'S YOUNGSTERS COLLECT OLD TOYS?

I know its natural for our generation to collect the old toys we had but will today's youngsters do the same? As far as I can tell toys are on the wane and computer games have taken over. So will they collect old computer games and blog's devoted to them?

Are we the last generation to collect old toys? What do you think readers?

JEEP MISSILE INTERCEPTOR

I dunno. I liked the look of this old plastic cheapo jeep and its simple card art so I saved the pic for MC.

Its a Park's Missile Interceptor and somehow captures the UFO vibe for me.

Park's hail from Linden, NJ. Do you know it?

There's a hint of the SpaceX Apollo Tracker too and maybe Major Matt Mason's Satellite Launcher.

Have you anything like this readers or did you have as a kid?

ARE HALLOWEEN AND BONFIRE NIGHT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

These two occasions, which bubble up just before the Christmas season kicks in, have waxed and waned  in popularity in my opinion. Halloween is on the rise and Bonfire Night is going out. I might be wrong though. What do you think?

Personally I do engage in the spirit of Halloween each year, at home, with a few monster toys and some spooky TV, but I don't bother with Bonfire Night in any way anymore. It was however huge when I was a kid and was a big deal for my family in early November.

Are these two events important to you readers? 

Is there something else happening before Xmas in your neck of the woods?