Coming Clean

The Hot Wheels collection inches closer to closure this week with the arrival of two more choice pieces - The Revvers 'Haulin Horses' and the Redline 'Mantis'

The Revver was in quite good order, with only the rubber elements on the wheels needing attention, as like most models, the rubber has perished over time. Luckily a small O ring fitted nicely on the motor wheel and two each on the back wheels, bringing Haulin Horse nicely up to scratch.

The Mantis is still in need of work, but is looking considerably better than when it arrived in a coat of red enamel.

Some patient work with T-Cut scratch remover took off the top coat, leaving the spectraflame aqua paint still looking quite nice for its age.

A bit of oxidisation and some scuffs, but good enough to not warrant a full respray.

 

THE BLACK WAMPA

I'd never heard of a black Wampa toy figure until I read this old article this year.

I've owned a few normal Palitoy Wampas and sold them on my old toy stall but I've never seen this Mexican Lily Ledy variant.

Having read the disjointed article I'm still not sure if its real or not!

Is it news to you readers?

https://thevintagetoyadvertiser.org/category/black-wampa/

THE PROPER MOON BUS: NASA'S FLXBLE STARLINER

This is brilliant! What a coach!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pMAgz1fj74

Have any of you travelled on a NASA coach readers?

RAY LIOTTA RIP

I was saddened to learn of  Ray Liotta's death at the age of 67. Far too young these days.

For me Ray will forever be Henry Hill, the young mobster in the Scorsese scorcher Goodfellas made in 1990. Ray's portrayal of a young Italian-American mafioso in the Fifties was and is simply electric and his amazing acting holds together the sweeping saga of De Niro, Pesci and Bracco as Henry Hill weaves his way through the storyline.

Easily the best Mafia movie since the Godfather and that's largely down to Ray Liotta's fabulous talent.

Sleep well Ray.

RIP.

THE BIULDERS ARE COMING!

Its the start of the half term Jubilee week's holiday here in the UK and the sun is shining. The blue skies of early summer are overhead and long hazy days are in the air. Fabulous car boot weather for rummaging for Hot Wheels and Action Man.

No car boots for us today. We're looking at sofas [do you say sofa, settee or couch?] and having a late breakfast somewhere. Then back to Moonbase to continue boxing up our entire existence in lieu of builders descending in early June.

Not much time for collecting toys at the moment although I'm looking forward to re-stocking my two toy cabinets again in July with my collection that's currently boxed up and sad.

Have you had builders in the home? How did it go?

Tarheel SST Concorde

Arto spotted this cool SST toy.

Appearing only once before on MC it's a fine airliner and by Tarheel too!

There is another plane with a similar kind of name on our Tarheel checklist

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/10/bloggiversary-extra-tarheel-and-johnny.html

Have you anything like this?

ITS BUGGIN' ME: THE RENWAL INSECT SCIENCE KIT

I thought this interesting set in this post deserved a closer look.

MOONBASE CENTRAL: PYRO MONSTERS BY MAIL ORDER (projectswordtoys.blogspot.com)

The kit was made at a time when the educational value of plastic modelling was being heavily promoted by model companies. Doubtless in an effort to convince parents that modelling was not a waste of time and pocket money.

Renwal was a US company, based in Mineola, New York. This set contained six plastic model insects, mounted on a display stand that stood an impressive 16 inches high. There was a large cut-away model of a Field Cricket, showing the internal organs of the creature, and smaller models of the Blue Bottle Fly, Malaria Mosquito, Red Admiral Butterfly, Giant Water Bug, and Polistes Wasp.

 The set came with an illustrated Handbook on insects. The set was Created in Consultation with, John C. Pallister, Entomologist, Dept. of Insects and Spiders, The American Museum of Natural History, New York City. The kit was moulded in several colours, including brown, turquoise, and clear plastic for the insect wings. Kit number 801:298; the suffix means it had a US retail price of $2.98. Scalemates give the release date as 1960.

Other firms have also done insect kits. Due to the small size of insects, most of these have been several times life size. Given the rarity of these kits, and the lack of re-issues, I would assume they were not big sellers.

Here is a detailed look at an assembled set, and its box. From a site called Time Passages Nostalgia.

Large Boxed Educational 1960 Renwal Insect Science Plastic Model Assembly Kit - TPNC (timepassagesnostalgia.com)

An entry on Old Model Kits.

Renwal Insect Science - Cut Away Field Cricket-Blue Bottle Fly-Malaria Mosquito-Red Admiral Butterfly-Giant Water Bug-Polistes Wasp, 801 (oldmodelkits.com)

The entry on this kit from the Scalemates site.

Insect Science, Renwal 801:298 (1960) (scalemates.com)

From Sturgis Antiques and Collectables, a look at the kit parts in their box.

(11) Sturgis Antiques & Collectables – Posts | Facebook

From Max at maxsmodels, a history of the Renwal company.

Renwal: a quick history (re-upload) - YouTube

Two photos, both from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

STRUCK BY JOHNNY LIGHTNING

I really am.

I never had any as a kid and only really discovered how cool they are this month!

Like classic Hot Wheels redlines, the greatest Johnnies from Topper are from the late Sixties/ early Seventies and perhaps THE greatest Lightning design is the Stiletto.

What do you think?

I am sorely tempted to start collecting Johnny Lightnings but heavy weather is brewing in my piggy bank. 

Have you got any?