BUZZ LIGHTYEAR MONSTER TRUCKS

Apart from the main Lightyear die-cast range, Hot Wheels have also released a number of Lightyear models in other ranges. One of the odder ones is this Monster Trucks set.

The Demolition Doubles twin-pack features Buzz Lightyear vs Zurg (Evil Emperor Zurg, to give him his full title). Like the other Lightyear movie related models, these are part of the 2022 range. The chassis is the same for both models, but in different colours, and fitted with different bodies.

The Buzz Lightyear model looks like an enclosed racing car, in white and green, with black trim, and black/yellow stripes. The cockpit cover is heavily tinted. The chassis is black plastic, with a chromed engine, and purple wheel hubs.

Zurg is sort of van-like, but with extra sci-fi fittings, and a triple-barrelled gun or rocket launcher. It is based on Zurg's helmet. Purple and grey, with red and yellow trim, and red-tinted windows/eyes. The chassis is grey, with a chromed engine, and grey wheel hubs.

This time there are no cars for the two Monster Trucks to crush. Like the other Demolition Doubles sets, the two models are packed inside a clear plastic bubble, facing each other. The backing card features portraits of Buzz and Zurg, clearly about to do battle. The Disney-Pixar Lightyear name appears in the upper left-hand corner.

The Buzz Lightyear model is also available on its own, and this does come with a crashed plastic car. But it looks as though Zurg only comes in this set.

The two-vehicle set is mine; while the solo Buzz photo is from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

WILTON LEM: DESTINATION CAKE

I like this Wilton LEM I saw on Ebay. I've seen the capsule before but not their LEM. Wilton were famous for cake toppers, so I assume this was for a cake. And what a cake it would be!

Have you got a toy LEM? Maybe the SpaceX one or something similar?

MICHELIN DE JUYBA SPACE PLANES

Here's a fine display car of space planes by Michelin De Juyba of Spain. We've seen them before as part of the Blue Box range of space toys, among others. Do you like them? Do you have one?

William Heath Robinson

Here is a look at the long and varied career of William Heath Robinson. It begins with his original, serious illustration work, which often gets overlooked. 

It then covers his later humorous work, and bizarre 'Heath Robinson' machines. He wrote three children's books of his own, and provided both black and white, and colour, artwork for many more by other authors.

WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Geek Salad Noodling

It's been awhile since I did a geek salad, a mixed bowl of quirks and questions, so here goes.

A kid recently said to me that he had a lot of hole punches in his paper. I asked what he meant and he showed me lots of holes made by a hole punch. Surely, I said, those were punched holes and not hole punches. He looked at me non-plussed. What do you think the holes are called?

A new word I discovered is noodling. This is when you mess about on a musical instrument in-between jams in a band. Have you noodled?

Franking used to be a big deal where I worked years ago. We had an office franking machine. It was a sort of pre-paid postage stamp device. Do you recall franking?

I often find little bits of tat at work, which I put in my coat pocket. Small odds n sods like washers and little tyres. As I walk round the site I fiddle with them in my pocket. I suppose they relax me. Anyways, these pocket things must have a name. Anyone know?

So that's probably all my geek salad for this year. Till next year.

Spacex Christmas Cards

Model engineer and Spacex fan Kevin Davies set himself a daunting project a few years ago, to re-create the first series of Spacex toys, as authentic looking space models. To date, he has completed almost all the first series, with the exception of the Moonbase. While he was mid way through the project, he photographed the models for the blog, but then used his shots to create a stunning set of Spacex Trading Cards!

Completed in the style of the sixties Thunderbirds series, by Somportex, he made a set of 75 individually cut trading cards at the standard Mars Attacks/Thunderbirds size, in black and white, for added authenticity!
 

Kevins models are large scale scratchbuilds at different sizes, ranging from a few inches to over a foot long. You can see some of them mounted on faux backing cards here.

MONSTROUS ANIMALS

Seeing this awesome critter, Bemular by Acro Ltd, leering at me, I went in search of Kaiju and found ...

The Monstrous Animal Series by Imai, four fabulous plastic beasts - Nessie, Seauls [how do you say that?], Galba and Bagilla.

Digging deeper into the box art I like Galba's amazing looks the most [I had a jigsaw puzzle box cover - called Monsters - similar to this].

Bagilla too! Look at those teeth!

I've never seen these kits before and don't know the monsters other than Nessie.

Do you readers?

COOL COCHE

I like this plastic car I saw on Todocollecion. It has Gerry Anderson vibes all round for me, like the UFO taxi.

Not sure of the make. You like?