FAIRYLITE STINGRAY

 This is probably my favourite Stingray toy. I had one as a youngster and considered  it a carbon copy of what I saw on screen, as did Troy Tempest - but then I was only 6!

Gerry Anderson Returns

 Good news for TV viewers in Britain, as the new terrestrial streaming channel ITV X is showing almost the entire catalogue of Anderson shows.

So far, the list includes Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray, Supercar and Fireball. They are also showing the live action series of UFO, Space:1999 etc, but also several documentaries and the three new Thunderbirds episodes recently created. Tucked in amongst these goodies are one offs such as Day After Tomorrow, Space Police and the Investigator too.

Some of the material is free to view, but most is regarded as Premium and is accessed by a subscription of £5.99 a month, with a weeks free trial!

Television is Go!

I BLEW IT!

 

Cor! this deep sea diver brings back memories.

You blew the pipe to move the sub or the diver up and down in the sink or the bath.

Great fun, I may have had this very one one Christmas long ago.

You?

HAVE YOU GOT A SPARE £100K FOR A CENTURY 21 PROP?

This is the most expensive prop the Prop Gallery has for sale, a cool £99,995! It also happens to be from Gerry Anderson's output, namely the Crablogger base station in Thunderbirds and the ambulance in Captain Scarlet. 

Here's the Prop Gallery's listing, which is an interesting read.

https://www.thepropgallery.com/crablogger-base-control-ambulance-filming-miniature

I assume this vehicle was designed by Derek Meddings himself. Does anyone know?

I wonder who would buy this? Who could afford it? What a Christmas gift it would be!

SUPERTOYS LAST ALL SUMMER LONG

 I saw these Supertoys [of New York] EXPLORER III toy vehicles on auction a while back so I saved the images.

Being a sort of 80's type of SpaceX, the BHS Explorer 12 toy line has always found a warm welcome on Moonbase and these Woolworth specials have too.

Looking at the price stickers, they were clearly in a sale way back when and half price!

Mike Noble did the original BHS books artwork that went with the line. These Woolworth jobs look to be too simple to be Mike's work.

Did you have anything like this? Do you still? Does anyone collect them?

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