Andersonic 27 - New issue out Now!

Hi,

I'm dropping you a line to let you know about the new issue which is now available.

Issue 27 comprises 44 pages and features the following:

Airfix's 'Starcruiser 1' kit - Jeremy Briggs looks into the history of this well-remembered plastic kit from the late 70s.

Nebula 75 - Producer Stephen La Riviere talks about the evolution of the new Supermarionation series which began during 2020's lockdown.

The Clip Episodes - Produced to save time and money, but is there more to episodes such as The Inquisition and Security Hazard than that? We take a look.

Top Strips! - Our writers talk about their favourite Anderson-based comic strips and artists from TV21, Countdown and Look-In.

Episode Reviews - Space: 1999/ Collision Course and UFO/ Court Martial

Joe 90 and Airfix - Jeremy Briggs turns up something interesting in the Airfix vaults...

The Boxtree Years - Chris Drake talks about writing his two books, Captain Scarlet and UFO & Space: 1999 for Boxtree in the 90s.

Part 1 of our new Stingray comic strip - and more.

To buy the new issue, head over to our blog at andersonicfanzine.blogspot.com

The blog also has details of all back issues which we have in stock.

Payment can be made via Paypal.

The new issue can also be purchased via eBay - just search for Andersonic 27 in the Thunderbirds section of Sci-fi collectables.

Apologies for the price rise, this is due to the costs of postage and printing having risen since our last issue.

Thanks as ever for your continued support of the fanzine, I hope you enjoy the new issue.

Regards

Richard Farrell

Andersonic

Blizzard Beasts in Jersey

Hi Woodsy. As you can see, Blizzards bring out the best in wildlife at Monster Base. This bipedal fellow was found nosing around my trash cans looking for a bite. Some yelling and a waving of arms sent him on his way.

 Now, how do I get rid of this Saber Tooth Tiger?- Brian F NJ USA

SWORD TASK FORCE REVISITED

 Seeing as how Woodsy posted a couple of photos of a pair of  SWORD Task Force craft earlier in the week, here's a a few photos of my set that I took and blogged a while back.

MORE WEIRD-OHS BY PAUL A

Hi

Plastic kit companies are not as well served with company histories as the firms making die-cast models, but there are a few good volumes out there, at least on the bigger companies. 

Finding much information on the smaller kit makers is more of a problem, so I recently decided to order myself a copy of a book on the Weird-Ohs kits by Hawk, mainly in the hope it would contain some background information on Hawk. 

Having now received the book, and read most of it, my verdict is - Wow. As you mentioned being a fan of these kits, I thought you would be interested. It is a great book. Remember, Christmas is coming up, so treat yourself to an early present.

The Weird-Ohs were a range of bizarre monsters with big heads, bloodshot eyes, and sharp teeth, designed by commercial artist Bill Campbell, who had been doing box art for various Hawk kits since 1956. 

The Weird-Ohs were launched in 1963, and have been re-issued several times, under various company names. There were even glow in the dark versions at one stage. Most were driving various vehicles, a boat, and a jet plane, as well as several sports figures. 

The Weird-Ohs were followed by the Silly Surfers and Frantics, which were not designed by Bill Campbell, although he did do the box art. These were more human caricatures, based on surfers and the 1960s music scene. These kits have been mentioned and illustrated a number of times on Moonbase Central.

The book starts off with the early life of Bill Campbell (born 1920), his service in the US Army in WW2, and art career. His work for Hawk, including many box tops and instruction sheets. 

For the Weird-Ohs there are concept drawings and paintings, final art, and box tops, showing how the designs evolved. Then the models themselves from various angles, the re-issues, and in a later chapter such items as the one-piece plastic figures by Marx, toys, and other items. 

There was even a set of Weird-Ohs model paints by Pactra in Crazy Cool Colors. According to the caption, one of these rare sets was sold by Hake's Americana & Collectibles for $554.40 in 2013. 

There is a vast amount of information, artwork, and prototype models for Weird-Ohs and other models that were planned, but never produced. There are chapters on other aspects of Bill Campbell's career. There is some good material on the Hawk company.

The Weird-Ohs were too way out for me, but even I loved this book. It is certainly a very useful addition to any collection of kit company histories, and covers a part of the 1960s monster craze that tends to be over shadowed by the Aurora movie monster kits. 

For a Weird-Ohs fan it would be an essential purchase. I certainly recommend it if this is your subject. I bought mine from the Book Depository, which I find gives very good service. The photos should give some idea of the contents.

A Weird-Oh World - The Art of Bill Campbell, by Mark Cantrell, Schiffer Publishing, 2014. Large paperback, 192 pages, printed on heavy gloss paper to ensure excellent reproduction of the artwork.

Paul Adams from New Zealand



Five photos in total, in three batches.

DINKY PROJECT SWORD?

I had a thought today. What would a die-cast set of Project SWORD vehicles have been like from say Dinky or Corgi? Maybe even Imai, Grip or Popy?

I personally think they would have looked great! Imagine a metal Probe Force 1 or a die-cast Moon Ranger. 

We can get an idea of what it might have been like from Imai's small die-cast Scramble Bug.

What do you think? Would you have wanted them?

SPACE BOAT

I love this little white space boat I saw on auction over a decade ago. I saved the pics back then and I haven't seen another one since.

Anyone got one?

SPACEX LOT WINTER 2021

I saw this neat bundle on Ebay last year and saved the pics.

I like the white chinook with double P3 rotors! I think its a Golden Wings toy. These are covered in detail on Paul V's cool SpaceX site http://www.triangspacextoys.info/SpGAderv/OTHR/OTHR/GWngCptr.html

Interesting that the Chinook is with all this SpaceX. I wonder of they were always together since the Seventies or is this a bundle put together just for Ebay?

I like that little silver space car top right. What's that anyone?

Is this a bundle you won?

THE TWO COLOURS OF TASK FORCE TWO

 

I saw these two old Century 21 Toys Project SWORD Task Force 2's on Worthpoint and thought I'd blog the image.

Its a good example of both the body colour variation and the base colour variation too. 

The base can be red or white.

The body can be two shades of red, one darker than the other.

Which one have you got readers?