THUNDERBIRDS ROBOT. REALLY?

Here's a Getty Images picture that intrigued me.

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/puppet-from-thunderbirds-television-series-which-was-shown-news-photo/90756549

That's a Thunderbirds robot! Its a new one on me but I imagine you may know about it readers. I'm hoping so!

A LOOK AT THE PRODUCT ENTERPRISE FIREBALL XL5

 

Following on from my previous post on the Product Enterprise Supercar, here’s a few photos I’ve taken of their stunning die-cast Fireball XL5.

It’s just 10” (255mm) long, but nevertheless a fine model with plenty of detailing, and some subtle weathering.

It features a detachable Fireball Junior which is held in place by a powerful magnet.

I particularly like the retro packaging which definitely has that sixties vibe.

The box design is credited to Graham Humphreys, and the model maker is Ian Crichton.

The model, which comes with it’s own ‘v’ shaped display stand, is dated 2005, and like the Product Enterprise Supercar, was based on a much earlier previous die-cast model release which was available through Comet Miniatures.

Unfortunately as I don’t have access to an original Comet Miniature XL5 to photograph, I had to reluctantly use a photo I found on the web, so credit to the original photographer. Here’s a comparison photo; the Comet Miniatures XL5 is the one at the bottom.

This earlier Comet Miniatures XL5 looked to be fairly good, although I don’t know whether it has a detachable Fireball Junior. It comes with a display stand made from MDF similar to the C.M. Supercar stand, and like the Supercar had a limited run of not more than 100.

However, it looks to have slightly less detail than the superior Product Enterprise model, and lacks any weathering.

A simple sticker attached to a plain cardboard box makes up Comet Miniatures packaging for both the Supercar and Fireball XL5 die-casts.

Unsurprisingly, both models are well out of production. I don’t know how well the Product Enterprise Fireball XL5 sold at the time. I was lucky enough to purchase mine at one of the Birmingham NEC Memorabilia events when the model was first released.

I’ll resist the temptation to say ‘my heart is still a Fireball!’

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.