Carving out my Future

Its a long way from Star Wars, but published in 1963, this neat little book shows the growing interest in space modelling, as the space race began to accelerate. I first found it in the local library while I was at school back in the seventies and during that immensely long hot summer holiday, tried making a few models from it. Its interesting to note that the cover has plastic kits of the Stilletto and Revell Moonship, but the content doesn't relate to kits at all.

On the face of it, its pretty simple boy scout type crafting, balsa wood, craft knife and a lot of sanding, but some of the results are quite respectable

Its interesting to see some of the early representations of the newly proposed Saturn Rocket are still way off the mark and even the massive Nova launch vehicle gets a mention.

The bulk of the models are purely hypothetical, with nods towards Ehricke, Braun and Ley, and some are entirely fictional with play in mind.

I recall buying a pack of balsa wood from the local hobby shop and rather than following these particular plans, whittling out my own designs for various gliders and spaceships, which were (mostly) successfully launched out of the bedroom window!

This particular copy appeared on ebay recently and i was really pleased to be able to read it again and enjoy the memories of those heady summer holidays.

 

ITS STAR WARS DAY!

 May the Fourth be With You!

What are you up to today?

AIR TANKS FOR SINDY

 My modest car boot haul was a lot of fun to find this morning. See what you think.

LtoR back row: 2007 Hasbro Transformer bot, 2000 Bandai Power Rangers Timeforce bot, Kibbutz souvenir doll.

LtoR Front: Sindy-like doll, 2 Number bots, Action Man Frogman tanks, Matchbox Carabo and Iso Grifo and a little souvenir Canadian Mountie doll.

Large Martial Arts book beneath.

The front bundle are mostly mini mystery items except for the silver Corgi Cyberman. 

Dunno about the other small items, the 2 figures, the green binoculars, the skull ring, the red Spiderman? bag and the 2 red swords. 

You readers?

It was fun!

Anything you like?

ZARGON JARGON

 I saw this rocket-shaped vending unit on an American auction list at the staggering price of $25,000!

Listed as a Star Wars vending machine, the only link to Star Wars I personally can see is the inclusion of a Darth Vader knockoff, the Action Man Captain Zargon Space Pirate!

Is this over-priced?

PANTHRO ON THE ROPES

 The local boot sale was a fine affair this morning on my day off, with plenty of stalls and plenty of May sunshine.

Before I photograph what I did get, here are a few things I passed on, owing to either price or condition [these are photos from the internet and not the actual examples I was seeing].

Boxers

Asking price £15

I liked this a lot and have seen a version with Mohamed Ali. Alas, the set I inspected had two of the levers missing, one with the corner housing torn away, which would be hell to replace. I don't know the name of this toy or its maker/ year. Do you?

Manta Force Command Ship and Accessories

Asking Price £20

This loose set seemed to be all there and I have bought and sold several over the years including complete boxed versions. This was just too dear for me today but nice to see.

Panthro

Asking Price £20

This loose figure was the most over-priced today. I have always had a soft spot for Thundercats and have bought and sold tons of the 80's figures over the years.

The boot sale Panthro had a weapon but not the correct one, which should be a set of nunchakus.

Would you have passed or purchased readers?

SLOT CARS FROM BATMAN TV SHOW episode 94 season 2.

 

I mean, Wow!

Like it?

OFF THE CUFF

 This is a strange mash-up of a toy I saw on Ebay. 

I really like the old fashioned header art showing a British bobby in London [not sure which street] with a double decker bus. Its unpunched too!

But then the toy is odd. OK, the handcuffs and whistle go well with the bobby but surely not the Marshall's star with the cowboy picture? Is it Roy Rogers?

This was on Ebay in the US. Overall I like the 60's feel of the whole thing.

*

From Ed B

Las Vegas

Woodsy, Here's a flipped and cropped copy of the image you posted. I have to admit I'm having a heckuva time trying to figure out who's image this is but it's not Roy Rogers. Attached also is a photo of a Roy Rogers badge in my collection.

Ed

*

From Terranova47

NYC

To my memory that cowboy face belongs to actor Dick Jones who played Dick West the partner of the RANGE RIDER played by Jock Mahoney

This TV show was on the BBC about 1954.

T.

*

From Paul A.

New Zealand

I do not know if this helps with the Marshall star, but here are a few items I found on Worthpoint. Some are listed as Roy Rogers, but the photograph in your example seems to be different, and holding a revolver ?

Said to be a Roy Rogers set, but the card is not shown

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/roy-rogers-marshalls-badge-set-1960s-134679587

Also Roy Rogers

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-roy-rogers-marshall-badge-1806213546

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-roy-rogers-deputy-toy-jail-3785009236

One of these looks like your badge. Listing says Hopalong Cassidy, if so then it would be William Boyd. But is it Boyd ? The others seem to be Roy Rogers.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-badges-pins-marshal-hopalong-429030978

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-badges-pins-marshal-hopalong-420121722

Different star and photo

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/57634/HOPALONG-CASSIDY-PICTORIAL-ENGLISH-BADGES-ON-DIE-CUT-DISPLAY-CARD

Lone Star badge

https://www.theodorebruceauctions.com.au/auction-lot/sheriff-collection-tin-plate-plastic-power-rif_0244A03AF7

Just not sure!

Paul Adams.

We Land on the SpaceX

These line drawings in the vintage We Land on the Moon colouring books are always a thrill, as so many are vehicles we know and love, especially from Triang SpaceX/ Golden Astronaut toys.

See what you think. Links to the fabulous and long-running Dreams of Space blog.

http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2017/07/we-land-on-moon-coloring-book-based-on_7.html

http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2017/07/we-land-on-moon-coloring-book-based-on_4.html