Kev's Blakes 7 Fan Club Flyer

Hi,

As requested, I've found an image of that flyer ( that recently popped up on eBay) that I illustrated all those years ago.

Teleport now,
Kevin

CLIM EVERY MOUNTAIN

 Its not often you see a vehicle built around just one or two wheels that isn't a bike.

Here's a good one, Clim's Explorex from Spain, perfect for ascending craters and hills.

Its a remote controlled double-wheel rickshaw with space for 2 figures at the front.

These 2 guys remind me of Iron Eagle action figures a bit. I assume they can come out and be played with.

Clim did some amazing toy space vehicles. Have you got any or did you?

There's a single wheeled space rover on the cover of the Project SWORD Annual, which I always thought would have made a great toy. But would it have stood up without falling over?

IMAI SPECTRUM COPTER

Imai made some magnificent model toy kits in their time and this Spectrum Helicopter is no exception! Here's some footage of it working in its Japanese home.

 Have you anything like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6US7sOT5aY

Congost Autocross Roadway

Hi

         Here is another toy by Congost, which I think is a Spanish company. Called Autocross, it consists of a three-dimensional road system, around which you drive a small toy car. There is a steering wheel, speed control, and various dummy instruments for the operator. 

This You Tube video shows it in action. I recall Matchbox had some similar sets in the 1970s, although I do not recall ever having seen these in the shops in New Zealand, only in the Matchbox pocket catalogues of the time.

Autocross Congost - YouTube

Yours Sincerely,

Paul Adams from New Zealand

A Brush with the Past

In the late 80's I was what was then called a house husband. I did it for a year, looking after our 3 year old daughter in Germany, whilst the Missus brought home the schinken.

I can't say I found it easy at all especially in another country but me and the kid got on with it. 

We did creative arty stuff on the kitchen table, potted up seeds, grew flowers and played things like Barbie and Ken climbing up chairs on ropes with small karabinas, an attempt to relive my Action Man glory days!

I was young back then. Still in my twenties. I hadn't discovered toy collecting yet. Too soon I suppose. When I got time off with the help of two Oma's, to occupy my still curious mind I discovered two things, English poetry (yes that!) and painting watercolours. I'm kultured me like!

The poetry thing was largely to do with being away from Blighty I think now. I read all I could, buying books from back home and raiding the German library's poetry section. Poets of the Fifties and Sixties became my thing - Larkin, Gunn, Lowell, Ginsberg - but above all I fell in love with Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

The watercolouring was done on the kitchen table too. Huge splashes of mad colours flecked with realistic birds more often than not - I was still a keen birder too back then. I did Snipe, Crested Lark, terns and Nutcracker to name a few. 

I know one of my Snipe paintings used to hang in the administrator's office of the British Ornithologist's Union. Don't be impressed. The administrator was my nephew! I sent him it! 

I know most of the pictures I did from my 'bird period" (ha ha) are rolled up with a laccy band and gathering dust in the attic. Nearly 40 years. That's a lot of dust!

So I was amazed to see one of them hung in our friend's house where we are staying at the moment in Germany. 

It's of a poppy (no bird this time) and is even framed! I know it's mine from back then coz I signed and dated it. I gave it our friend as a gift in 1988 so I made extra effort not to splash paint everywhere and produce a decent poppy for her.

Weird being transported back like that by an object you made in the past. Alas, my paints all dried up in the early Nineties and I haven't touched a single brush since then.

Have you been surprised by your old stuff popping up readers?

Dinky Toys TV Space Blogger on Vectis' Scouting for Toys TV Show

I received this as an update today, Dinky TV Toys Space and Specials blog owner is on the new Vectis Scouting for Toys TV show in the Gerry Anderson bit. Way to go!

https://wp.me/p5HSNg-1jD

FLEETWOOD RACK

These are so cool. Do you like them?

I have the Fleetwood Ghost Rider motobike toy on card.

http://www.plaidstallions.com/racktoys/fleetwood.html

Vroom in the Boot

Hi,
Here is my corgi MGBgt with its case.

Vroom!

Kevin