RICHARD DIXON'S SEASTAR 5: THE BACKGROUND

The project of SEASTAR 5 INVADERS FROM THE ABYSS....was written and designed by myself back in 2012.

Since then I have shown some of it over the years on my website and a few other places .....but due to work in the Toy Industry I put it on the shelf and there it stayed.

Until two years ago a TV Producer friend of mine was making a visit to my studio and he saw the original studio model of the super submarine SEASTAR 5 the big three foot version....he thought I should turn the project into a children's book.

So over the two years that's what I have done.....the original fifteen episodes of the saga as it was written and designed has now become six storybooks.

The first book is now available with the other five being released this year and into 2024 with Amazon Kindle Publishing.

The model animation style of the original story has been placed into artwork , it still has some elements of miniatures taking part , with model landscapes and sets which will feature....but overall to fit the saga into a storybook format I have had to go with artwork for the characters and some of the action sequences .

It still retains amazing ideas and the sci-fi action will I hope bring more people to see my work in this new version of SEASTAR 5 now available with book one " STRANGE ENCOUNTER " on the Amazon Kindle platform and other e readers devices .

I will send you some new publicity pictures for the series....and these will come across in three emails following this one . Hope you like the art-photostyle approach that I have taken on the production of these new picture story books .

In keeping with your "Toys" side of your website....I'm, also sending you some of my Toy work from past years.....hope your readers like these as well....

I will continue sending you more material in due course....and thank you for the opportunity to show my work to your viewers .

My studio "Home Page" has recently been updated.....you might like to check it out sometime when you are having a break with a coffee.....some interesting stuff from my archives is on there .

Best Regards

Richard Dixon

UK

The Bratz" - halloween poster image / photoshoot The Bratz Magazine . Photography and model set design by Richard Dixon Toys by MGA TOYS USA.....

Skeletor from Masters of the Universe - Photoshoot for the Toy Range Toontastic Comics / Mattel Toys UK - Photography and model set design Richard Dixon . 

Lara Croft / Playmates Toys - Photoshoot for Lara croft Tomb Raider Comic - Marvel Comics UK - Photography and set design by Richard Dixon .

Mighty Max - Bluebird Toys UK - Richard Dixon Photography and Miniature Set Design UK .

Action Man Formula One - Photography and set by Richard Dixon - Marvel Comics UK .

Storm - X-men - Photography and Set Design by Richard Dixon Marvel Comics UK 

More SEASTAR 5 to come!

SKYNYRD REMEMBERED

I was really saddened to learn of the death of Gary Rossington this winter, the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I totally adored Skynyrd in the early Seventies, along with my mates too. Their southern rock was the perfect foil to the harder rock of British bands we loved too like Budgie and Zep.

In February 1977 I was lucky enough to see Skynyrd live at Lancaster University. Ronnie Van Zant had no shoes on and all my fave songs were played from albums like Pronounced, Second Helping and Nuthin Fancy. Gary melted my face with his brill guitaring. It was ace!

Tragically by the end of 1977 most of the band were dead, having died in a terrible and cruel plane crash.

Amazingly though Gary survived, fought on and carried on the band's vibe, but 46 years on, has now sadly gone as well.

Its the end of a fantastic era and I tip my hat one more time to the final passing of that glorious band I loved in the Seventies. Gary has joined you in the big jam guys.

RIP Gary Rossington.

COVER STORY

Like books, LP covers are a fab store of vintage toys and props. There are hundreds on the net. We've covered a few before on MC over the years and here's a few covers more. Enjoy.

I love this Pink and Perky car. Is that a toy or a prop?

I always liked Burl Ives' snowman but that flying Santa and Reindeer rings a bell. Is it a toy version?

Which Action Man uniform is that?

That's one cool Nova rocket. Do you think they made it for the cover?

I think this is 1955. So what's that gorgeous Fire Engine? Anyone know?

This robot looks familiar. What is it?

Lovely robot collage. What is that bot?

Good Night? Good grief! What can I say! I thought Candy and Andy was bad!

Last but not least is this LP from my youth. It belonged to my older Bruvv. But what is that giraffe? A toy?

Do you know of any old toys on LP covers?

PS. Mentioned in Kev's comment, BBC Space Themes.

Hello Sailor

Terranova's fleet of wooden 'folk art' models were on the blog not so long ago and I asked for some further shots of them, to show them off. TB has kindly obliged!

 

THE HOME IN ORBIT

There is some amazing and fabulously old sci-fi art on Pinterest. You could lose yourself in there for hours!

This is just one that caught my eye!

ED'S CUT-OUT 707 AIRLINER

For many years I was hot and heavy into paper/cardboard models but in all that time only ended up with one airplane. 

Here's a nice Boeing 707 Cheerios offered up back in the '60s. I scanned the artwork, printed it out on heavy cardstock, then made my own version. Hope you like it.

Cheers

Ed Berg

Las Vegas

UDVAR HAZY AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM: SPACE JUNK HANGING OVERHEAD

Photographs kindly shared by Terranova47, USA

UDVAR HAZY AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM: THE DISCOVERY SPACE SHUTTLE

 

Photographs kindly shared by Terranova47, USA