BOATERIFIC 'BARRACUDA' SPORTS FISHERMAN

 Here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'Barracuda' Sport Fisherman.

Mine comes in a plastic display case, plastic moulded base and carded backdrop showing a painted coastline scene showing a lighthouse, and a swordfish leaping from the sea.

It's held in place with a metal spring clip.

The 'Barracuda' is one of six, and later increased to eight 'Marine Classics' motorised toy boats  brought out by Ideal during 1966/67 using their unique removable electric motor also used in their 'Motorific' Cars and 'Zeroid' Robot range.

Like I mentioned in my previous Boaterific post on the 'King of the Sea' boat, the 'Barracuda'  has lots of delicate chromed detail, as well as a couple of outriggers pointing upwards,  which are unsurprisingly prone to being damaged.  The only part I can see is missing from mine is a mast which should be attached to the rear deck, but in spite of that, how this toy could have survived relatively intact for so long is beyond me. Just taking it out of it's plastic case needs a certain level of dexterity!

ELF TOYS THUNDERBIRDS LAYOUT

 

I was sent this snap by a reader who found these Elf Tracy Island parts in his parent's loft. Luckily it still has its paperwork too.

It always amazes me when one of these sets surfaces like this.  We've seen them before on MC and years ago at that but its always great to see and gives me a glimmer of hope that one day a reader will unearth a Project SWORD Moonbase Play Set somewhere!

Do you like the Elf Toys lay out?

AKIMOTO BOOSTER

 

I love this Booster rocket art by George Akimoto from 1960. Its fabulous!

Do you like it?

TREE AND LEAF

Maths today involved Stem and Leaf tables. The name reminded me completely of an old tome I have from my teenage years, Tree and Leaf.

Tree and Leaf is one of the lesser known tales from JRR Tolkien. Like Tom Bombadil and Farmer Giles of Ham it forms part of the wider Middle Earth mythos.

I think my paperback copy was published by Unwin. I imagine I got it at Sweetens bookshop in Preston in the late Seventies, along with the other stories I mentioned.

My copies of Lord of the Rings are battered things now. Three paperbacks I adored back then and read them ferociously wherever and whenever I could, even at my first job of paid work! I hid the book in the top drawer of my desk and pretending to scribble I had a sneaky read!

My Missus' late Grandma bought me a paperback copy of The Hobbit in 1980 for Christmas too and somewhere I've a biography by a chap called Humphries. The paperback Silmarillion too.

I still have some of the Athena Lord of the Rings posters, which are quite collectable now. Alas my beloved Athena woodblock picture of Gandalf has gone to Mordor as has my Bo Hanssen album inspired by the book.

With the school holidays looming I plan to re-read Tree and Leaf in the sunshine of the garden and like Bilbo at Rivendell relive those glory days of my youth and my absolute love of Tolkien back then.

Have you read Tree and Leaf readers? 

BOATERIFIC 'KING OF THE SEA'

Here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'King of the Sea' Cabin Cruiser.

Mine comes in a plastic display case, plastic moulded base and carded backdrop showing a painted ocean scene.

It's held in place with a metal spring clip.

The 'King of the Sea' is one of six, and later increased to eight 'Marine Classics' motorised toy boats  brought out by Ideal during 1966/67 using their unique removable electric motor also used in their 'Motorific' Cars and 'Zeroid' Robot range.

The motor and the batteries are stowed below decks in the deep hull. This also houses the 'automatic bailer' which is designed to pump out any water resting at the base of the hull so the motor and batteries are protected from shorts.

All the Boaterific boats have lots of delicate chromed detail which is unsurprisingly prone to being damaged. Thankfully, my 'King of the Sea' is relatively intact as far as I can see, with only a slight repair to the stern flag pole.

More Boaterific tomorrow, shipmates!

VINTAGE MILITARY TRUCKS AT SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW

While I was at last weekend's air show, I took a few photos of some of the vintage military vehicles  displayed by the Mid Lancs Military Vehicle Trust which some of you might find of interest. 

WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOATERIFIC!

 As my Zeroid posts proved reasonably popular with many of you, I think it's time I dusted off some of my Boaterific toy boats, the marine motorific relatives of the Zeroids!  

The summer weather is still holding up, perfect for a sail boat ride - more photos tomorrow. 

O T H E R W I S E

First of all I apologise if I haven't got back to readers' comments and emails over the last two or three weeks. 

A combination of house improvements, the hot UK weather and the toad work have made Woodsy a dull boy. I have been collapsing into an armchair at night desperately trying to stay awake to watch Stranger Things with the Missus.

Thankfully things have settled down now at Moonbase and carpets are being toe-tested, books restacked and rooms generally rekindled after 6 weeks turmoil. Best of all the hundreds of subsidence cracks have been dealt with and gone.

Here's one bedroom halfway and after, fresh and uncluttered. But will it stay like that!

The hallway halfway and after, full of light and little else. But for how long!

The chest of drawers in the hall still houses my small stash of Ebayable toys for raising further Project SWORD toy funds.

Now the telly room is done as well, where the comfy sofa is, my own normal Moonbase blogging service will resume soon. 

The one outstanding improvement is a full repair of the broken loft ladder. Its more or less done but until its fettled fully I can't access my toys!

In the meantime a couple of things have been happening on the Project SWORD front and I will bring you news of two vehicle rarities this summer. Once items have landed safely here in the UK and in the far North and photos have been taken I will update you.

Meanwhile frogs have taken residence in the pond, mosquitoes are out to get me and a Lancaster Bomber flew over the house momentarily taking us back to 1942 in a moment straight out of the Philadelphia Experiment!

As said me and the Missus have been Stranger Thinging and it has to be said we have binged. A Stranger Binge no less, ha ha. Tonight we sit down to Series 4! Have you been watching the monstrous town of Hawkins?

What things are happening in your neck of the woods readers? You home improving? You busy working? Busy holidaying? Busy collecting and creating?

Let us know.