ZEE TOYS FIREBIRDS

 

Check out the Zee Toys Firebirds! Ever seen these designs before?

THE SANCHIS CANNON

I like this old large cannon by Sanchis of Spain. They were prolific toy makers and released an amazing output of plastic vehicles.

This is the Self Propelled Cannon and is quite a remote-controlled beast by the looks of it. It could easily have worked on a Gerry Anderson show do you think?

Have you got anything like it or did you have?

Johnny Lightning Big Switch Track Sets and Carry Case

Here is a new item from You Tube, featuring an old Johnny Lightning ad for the Big Switch track system. Towards the end is a beautiful carrycase in the shape of a foot and a half long racing car, with compartments for 16 Johnny Lightning cars. 

This is based on a real racing car from the Indianapolis 500, and is described as the winningest car of all time.

This is not a regular TV ad aimed at consumers, but appears to be a company promotional production intended for salesmen or distributors, as it refers to a planned multi-million dollar advertising campaign for the JL range. 

Ads would appear on television, in print, on radio, in boy's magazines, and major spotting events.

Johnny Lightning Road Racing Set Topper Toys - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

JUNK DRAWER XL5

I saw this old image of an auction lot and thought it was a great bundle.

What can you see in there readers?

Transport through the Ages

Another Brooke Bond classic album, from 1966, illustrated by Richard Ward. A bit before my collecting bug took over, as I was only 4 at the time, this one is from my dad's collection again. A little bit dull by comparison, to the others, but interesting from a historical perspective, as it gives a snapshot of the current technological achievements of the day. The highest of which appear to be the Mercury Atlas Rocket on the last card, but interestingly the X-15 rocket plane is shown on the inner front cover and the early tilt rotor aircraft near the end. For me, probably the most interesting card was Donald Cambell's Bluebird, who's sleek lines looked so removed from even the Le Mans racing cars as to appear almost science fictional.

 

Santa Claus Friction Toy Snowmobile

I saw this Santa Snowmobile earlier in October on American Ebay so I saved the pictures.

It struck me as a possible relative of the Space Blimp at Christmas released by LP.

It's 4.5 inches long. The Ebay description didn't mention how it works, just that it does work, so I assume the deer's head bobs back and forth as the sled is pushed along.

There's no sign of the LP logo on the photograph from the listing.

The deer's head looks similar to the one on the LP Space Blimp at Christmas toy.

Santa may be a similar design too. That needs checking.

All in all a festive bit of fun and an LP style conundrum don't you think?

THE YELLOW SUBMARINE BARES ITS TEETH

The animated Beatles film Yellow Submarine came out in 1968, and Corgi released a die-cast version in 1969, which has been re-released several times. This was a normal Corgi-sized model - there was no small Juniors version.

In 2016 Hot Wheels finally released a mini version of the Yellow Submarine in the Mainline toy range. In 2018 it was also included in the premium Replica Entertainment series. The colour scheme is basically yellow, with a white top, twin propellers at the rear in red plastic, and coloured trim.

The Mainline releases of this model are of mixed metal and plastic construction (only the upper portion of the hull is metal). The more expensive Replica Entertainment versions, aimed at adult collectors, also have a metal lower hull, with just the smaller details in plastic.

The Beatles Yellow Submarine | Hot Wheels Wiki | Fandom

Hot Wheels like to re-issue their models over and over again in different colour schemes, but with some of the film and TV tie-in models they are limited to the official, on-screen colour scheme. I assume this is a condition of their licence from the film or TV company. They can vary the wheel types, but not a lot else. Some versions do have more colour detail printing.

This version of the Yellow Submarine, part of the 2021 Replica Entertainment line, is a little different. It has a snarling mouth on the bow, showing off large, square teeth. The Hot Wheels Wiki page for the model describes it as grinning, but it does not look very friendly.

This is a screen accurate version, as this US theatrical trailer for the film shows, at 1:03. The 2019 Replica Entertainment version also had teeth.

Yellow Submarine US Theatrical Trailer - 2018 (Beatles Official) - YouTube

Beware of Dates. There are two copyright dates on the underside of this model. The earlier one is for the copyright holder for the submarine design - © 2014 Subafilm Ltd., and © Mattel 2015. The model itself was part of the 2016 line, and this version has a copyright date of 2021 on the back of the card. Confused yet ?

Most of the card designs for this model show both the submarine, and the cartoon versions of the Beatles. This one however only shows the submarine itself, underwater, but it is not snarling. The first Replica Entertainment card also showed only the submarine.

Did you or do you have a Yellow Submarine?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THE ATTACKING JEEP

What do you think of this Japanese KY wind-up Attacking Jeep readers?

I quite like the chromed features and the blue soldiers.

A stylish and slick jeep!

Do you like it?