ROB'S GLENCOE MARS LINER

Woodsy,

It’s been awhile! Believe it or not, this is my first model build of the year. The Glencoe Mars Liner, a 1990s reissue of the legendary Strombecker Kit, “Disneyland Rocket to the Moon,” from 1955.

This iconic rocket ship was a main attraction at Disneyland in California for about twenty years, and there are several webpages devoted to this great vehicle and its history.

Disney also had the famous “Man in Space” program, with many groovy spaceship designs by Wernher von Braun and others.

This kit was pretty crude to begin with, being basically a toy, and the repop was still quite rough. Lots of sanding! As you can see, the worst part were the crummy ink jet decals, but I did the best I could.

Still, a fun example of the golden age of impossible spaceship design...

Rob C

USA

BOATERIFIC 'PT 204' PATROL BOAT

 

Here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'PT 204 ' Patrol Boat.

This one of the two later additions to the Boaterific Classic Marine fleet.

Mine didn't come with a backdrop, although my guess is assuming Ideal didn't do one specially for it, it may well have come with the 'Mighty Blaze' backdrop, but I really don't know for sure, as I've only seen other examples in later generic packaging.  It might also explain why some backdrops had the specific model's name blanked out.

The 'PT 204' is one of eight 'Marine Classics' motorised toy boats originally brought out by Ideal during 1966/67 and 1970 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, or bilge, so the motor and batteries are protected from shorts.

The PT 204 toy has lot of delicate chromed detail which is unsurprisingly prone to being damaged. My PT204 relatively  unscathed considering, and looks to be just missing it's bow flag.

More Boaterific ramblings soon, shipmates!

ITS MAGICALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DOLL'S HAND!

Toy designers get carried away when they introduce space into the mix. Take this Mattel Buffatron, a sort of Barbarella-style boudoir for Barbie!

There's a beauty buffer and space-age bed!

What on earth - or space - does the the top line mean?

"Pink fur really turns to buff and shine spectral"

Just don't let Action Man, GI Joe or Big Jim anywhere near!

Can you beat this for wackiness?

RETURN TO SMALLSPACE

The 'Smallspace' Event is back ! 

This year's theme for Smallspace 9 is special effects, and features models and SFX guests from film and TV. 

The Event takes place tomorrow, Sunday 17th July from 10.00 am at Hanslope Village Hall, Hanslope, Bucks, MK19 7NZ

Here's some reminders of photos I took at previous shows.

THE BATMAN: ITS CARS

I'm just watching the recent movie The Batman.

Its long and slow and dark so there's chance to check for the film's toys.

Here's a cool video of the Spinmaster Turbo Boost Batmobile.

 

I like the black Corvette Bruce Wayne drives round in too.

I imagine there's a Hot Wheels version of this beauty.

Do you like these bat cars readers?

BOATERIFIC 'ATLAS' HARBOUR TUG

Here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'Atlas' Harbour Tug 

As with the others in my small collection it comes in a plastic display case, plastic moulded base and carded backdrop showing a painted harbour scene showing the hull of a large cruise ship and a cityscape in the distance. 

The toy is held in place with the usual metal spring clip. 

The 'Atlas' is one of a set of six, which was 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. As I've previously mentioned 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, or bilge, so the motor and batteries are protected from shorts.

Like the other Boaterific boat the Atlas has lots of delicate chromed detail and masts etc. which are all unsurprisingly prone to being damaged. There's no obvious signs of anything that's broken off my 'Atlas', everything appears shipshape to me.

 Unlike my other example of the 'Atlas' Tug which came in different bubble pack packaging, and is dated 1970. While I find the packaging attractive in a nostalgic way, I've got to admit it certainly gives the toy a bargain basement look, and to make things worst, the clear acetate cover isn't quite high enough to accommodate the Tug's mast, so it ends up bent and broken! I'm left wondering did Ideal really design the packaging in such a way? 

It comes with the motor already installed in the hull of the boat, and a new Boaterific logo.

More Boaterific ramblings soon, shipmates!

MING IMPERIAL

 

Here's a strange carded set. Its from Imperial, the folks who gave us Apollo Moon Exploring sets. 

The card art looks like the 1979 film and the bottom illustration looks like an animated version - was there one?

Is that Ming in the circular photograph?

But the toy figure looks ancient - from the original TV series - maybe Wilma?

I assume this is a knockoff.

Any thoughts readers?

Playing Out

There's a whole bucket full of reasons for modern kids staying indoors more than we did.

Their safety, mobile phones, computer games and social media are a few.

it has to be said that I did stay in to watch telly. Especially after Skool and on Saturday mornings. But I did go out a lot. 

Bikes on the park, going round to other kids' homes and gardens, walks along the canal and longer walks round the docks. There were lots of fun reasons to be out.

Were you out a lot as kids readers?