PUTTY IN MY HANDS

This set has appeared before on MC but I couldn't resist some more shots borrowed from Yahoo Japan.

Talk about Supermarioplasticisation!

I loved plasticine as a kid and that Zero-X mould would have made my day.

Yours too?

THE SPATANK

This is a new one for the blog.

This is the "Spatank" battery operated space truck from Chrin Fong toys of Taiwan.

Its designed to drive forward, with free wheel bump-n-go action, and rotating turrets. 

There are lights in the engines and guns. The side guns also can be extended forward. 

It came in black too.

Do you like it?

SEE-THROUGH MOO: THE VISIBLE COW

Part of the Renwal Anatomy series was The Visible Cow Assembly Kit. Number 816-598 was priced at $5.98, and was released in 1960. Like the other kits in the series it included All Vital Organs - Skeleton - Transparent Skin. It's Easy to Assemble - Take Apart - Re-assemble. 

There was the usual informative Handbook on cows. The finished model stood on a black plastic base, with name plate. This was a large model, with a length of 13 1/2 inches, and a height of 8 3/4 inches. Scalemates give the scale as 1/4th, which is clearly far too big. Cows vary in size, but I would guess about 1/7th or 1/8th.

     It seems only one half of this model was clear, with the right side finished in brown and white. Although this does not match the box top, which shows the right side being transparent. Confusing. The skeleton parts were moulded in a suitable 'bone' coloured plastic, with the internal organs in the usual Renwal pink.

     The Box Art Den has Renwal catalogues for 1966, 1969, and 1973. The Cow is listed in the 1966 catalogue, but not the 1969 edition, so it was retired fairly early, compared to some of the other kits in this line. This page is from the 1966 Catalogue. The kit is described as being part of the Visible Nature Series.

renwal 66 09-960 (boxartden.com)

     In 1994 Skilcraft re-issued a number of old Renwal anatomy kits, including the Visible Cow, as 74627. There were a couple of different boxes, some carrying a 1996 copyright date. The box side said 'Study Anatomy as You Build Your Visible Cow Model'. It seems both sides of the cow were now moulded in clear plastic.

A copyright note on the side of the box says Craft House Corporation, of Toledo, Ohio. So presumably Skilcraft was just the name given to this range of kits.

From Worthpoint, a cardboard store display card.

Renwal Vintage The Visible Cow Model Kit Cardboard Store Display | #1980521322 (worthpoint.com)

Scalemates listings for these kits:

The Visible Cow, Renwal 816-598 (1960) (scalemates.com)

Visible Cow, Skilcraft 74627 (1994) (scalemates.com)

Other large scale cow models include the Bachmann Snap-fit Cow and Calf kit from the 1960s. But this was a normal plastic kit, and did not contain any clear parts.

VINTAGE BACHMANN ANIMALS OF THE WORLD COW AND CALF MODEL KIT W/ BOX 7201-198 | #2001868479 (worthpoint.com)

All photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Buzzin'

Ive now got the four available Pixar Lightyear ships from Mattels Hyperspeed range, just need to find Zurgs ship and the Armadillo in advance of the next wave in July.

They are really nice models considering they are based on an animation, with a good level of detail. Each ship normally comes with a Buzz figure, but the twin pack only came with one figure and a cannon accessory.

Zurgs ship is piloted by what would be a 12' android and the action figure is much larger in comparison. My friend Charles in Canada supplied this shot compared with other small figures.

My favourite so far is the XL-07 vehicle, with large side mandibles, but all of the four ship are very well designed.

The cannon accessory from the twin pack has a detachable stand and can connect to the base of any of the XL series craft.

The Zyclops warrior drones come in two packs in drop pods and are mid way between the small Buzz figure and the giant Zurg android.

 

THE TROUBLE WITH ALTER EGOS

Two alter egos I've seen of late. One a disappointment, the other intriguing.

The disappointment was Dark Phoenix, the latest X-Men flick, which I saw on Disney +. I usually really enjoy X-Men movies but this just didn't cut the mustard at all. Everyone seemed tired and docile and the Jean Grey/ DP actress herself was just not a screen grabber in either guise in the way Famke Jansen was in previous films.

OK, there's enough mutation - Magneto, The Beast etc - to keep you sort of interested but given that Dark Phoenix was the most powerful being in the galaxy it really didn't live up to the possibilities. Compare Cate Blanchett's Galadriel in Lord of the Rings when she's offered the Ring of Power. Now that is a terrifying transformation worthy of a phoenix darkening!

What do you think?

So to the the intriguing thing I saw. Moon Knight, a newish series on Disney + again I think. I know nothing about Moon Knight from Marvel comics so it was all new to me, the double personality, the black outs, the time shifts. The underlying glimpses of Egyptian Gods are interesting too, so I shall try to persevere with Moon Knight, although I'm fickle at best when it comes to super hero series.

Have you seen Moon Knight?

KEV'S K9

Kevin's scratchbuilt K9 from Doctor Who. How cool is that!

Gerry Anderson and Star Cars

Hi

Max's Models Livestreams: I thought you would be interested in this one. The entire first half is devoted to film and television models, and the shows they appeared in. Much of it is on Gerry Anderson, especially UFO. Well worth a watch.

Maxsmodels Livestream 36 The After Hours Soiree - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THUNDERBIRD 4 CAUGHT ON FILM

 Messin' with my phone and a Matchbox TB4!