Lost in Space - Gemini 12 Miniature

Hi

          Here is another You Tube clip. This one is on the spaceship from Lost in Space, and is called the Gemini 12 rather than the Jupiter 2. Gemini 12 was apparently the name used in the original pilot for the series, with the revised Jupiter 2 being used in the actual series. 

Shots of the Gemini 12 were sometimes used in the series, as the two were very similar. There is a list of the craft used on the Lost in Space Wiki.

Transportation List | Lost in Space Wiki | Fandom

The You Tube film covers the miniature, which was four feet in diameter. It covers how the model was flown on wires, how it was filmed in a meteor shower (hung vertically, and the meteors dropped past the ship), and the colour of paint used - dull aluminium. 

The changes made to the Gemini 12 design to turn it into the larger Jupiter 2. Then the use of the miniature as a prop on Lost in Space, and its conversion into a futuristic building for the movie City Beneath the Sea. Finally, its sale and restoration. A great video.

RESTORING THE GEMINI 12 - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

SEA SERPENTS 40 YEARS APART!

 1926

1967

How cool is that!

POLAR LIGHTS BLACK BEAUTY

Although I've already done an in-depth post on the Green Hornet's Black Beauty a while back I  thought I'd repost some of the photos of my Polar Lights Black Beauty kit.

Here's my original Black Beauty post.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2019/03/polar-lights-black-beauty-lets-roll.html

Batman Soap Box Derby Crash!

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

Check out this spectacular Batmobile race and crash!

What do you think?

Regards

MJ

UK

Eldon Scenics Photos: Moon Survey

Hi

I asked Max, from maxsmodels about the Eldon scenic kits, and he said that someone had sent him photos of the Moon Survey set, which had appeared in one of his Viewer's Builds videos. I looked through these and found the one he was referring to. It was the first in the series (now up to 13), dated 26th July 2020.

Max's Models viewer's builds - YouTube

This is an 18 minute slide show of still photos that people have sent him of their models. At 9:56 is a very clear photo of the Eldon 3-D Scenics Moon Survey box top. Then three close-up shots of the completed model. Very nice.

The set came with a brown wood-grain picture frame, moulded (vac-from ?) lunar surface, printed backscene with the Earth in clear view, two Astronauts, and a Moon Beetle robot with legs. It came with Testors brand paints, cement, thinners, and brush. Overall size 19 inches by 12 inches. These are the best photos I have seen of this set.

The Lunar set seems to have been released in late 1966, in time for Christmas. Therefore well before the real Apollo missions, so the spacesuits and equipment do not show what was actually used on the Moon, but an early vision of what they might look like. The Sea Lab set was available at about the same time, but I am not sure if the announced Prehistoric set was actually released, as I have not been able to find anything on it besides a mention in Eldon advertising.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THE MARX HONEYMOON COTTAGE

Woodsy,

I visited a friend’s house recently, and we played “Show and Tell” with some of his vintage toys, all saved from childhood. I thought MBC readers would like to see pics.

Honeymoon Cottage: From 1966 comes this groovy Marx import, and the Honeymoon train goes around and around. These were maybe $1 at dime stores like Woolworth’s back in the day - I had one very similar, called Honeymoon Express.

Rob Craig

USA

A WHOLE NEW REALM OF BODGING AND SCATCHING DOWN UNDER

Hi Woodsie! I was intrigued by your post about bodging and scratching. Since I started down the rabbit hole of 3D Modelling and printing, my finish quality has gone to a whole new level.

Here is an x-ray version of R2 D2 that I created in Sketchup. This was all printed as a single piece (although I'm working on joints that will allow me to create a poseable action figure)

I wanted to create something that looked exactly like a manufactured toy, so I tried to simulate a vacuum metallised finish. The toy is painted in high gloss black, then a thin coating of Aclad II chrome paint is airbrushed on to create the lustrous shiny effect. I followed up with brush painting details with Tamiya Transparent Blue.

The package was inspired by the fact that one of my prints partially failed, resulting in a club footed robot! I took one of my printed robots and pressed a folded sheet of aluminium foil over it. I then poured plaster into the foil mould and sanded and sealed the resulting plaster plug. I vacuum formed a plastic blister from it, using a vacuum former I built from an old vacuum cleaner!

I then laid out graphics in CorelDraw and printed them on to transparent A4 sticker film using my laser printer. I then laid the sticker onto a sheet of chrome finish card that I bought at my local newsagent. This resulted in a chrome printed backing card that I attached the bubble to with Weldbond PVA glue.

I admit the 3D printer is a fairly high tech investment, but everything else fits on quite well with your bodging and scratching theme!

Lewis

Oz

TINPLATE GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER

Woodsy,

As said, I visited a friend’s house recently, and we played “Show and Tell” with some of his vintage toys, all saved from childhood. I thought MBC readers would like to see pix.

Greyhound Scenicruiser: Don’t know the brand on this one, it wasn’t readily visible on the sides or bottom, and condition is less than good, but saved from original childhood!

Rob Craig

USA