SMALLSPACE 10 TEASER

 Currently sorting through the photos I took at Smallspace 10 at the weekend where I met up with some old and new mates, and saw some top notch models and props, including a brand new studio scale Blake's 7 'Liberator' build, a recreation of the space port from the classic Doctor Who serial, 'The Dalek Master Plan', and a rare appearance of the custom built 'Alien' car, better known to fans as the Whomobile!

Watch this (small) space!

RICHARD'S TOY PHOTO ARCHIVES

Hi

Here's some new images from my archives

Four images....

The first one....my first venture with Masters of the Universe....the early range shooting some images for Mattel ....just starting out with "Toy Photography in 1987".....learning what to do and not to do in those days....the direction my work would take then into now has been an adventure , a roller coaster career across the Toy Industry , Children's Comics , Advertising Photography and now into Films , TV and the Games Industry.....

Second image.....a self picture , with the "Bratz"....this miniature set built for a poster shoot on "BRATZ DO HALLOWEEN" , created for TITAN BOOKS publishing in the UK and MGA TOYS USA.....The haunted house set built on a five foot square model stage at my studio in Lancashire , England in the "2000's....

Third Image....."Bratz Treasures"....the Pirate Girls together...a small model set for this one....again a studio picture with artwork background.....also for Titan Publishing in England with the support of MGA Toys USA .

Finally image four...."Bratz Sports Range".....This was an interesting one ....the background is a real life image of a "Blackpool Sports Arena running track......I created a 30x20 colour print in my darkroom and mounted it on a board .

The model foreground set was built and the two were merged...."three red heads lighting used on this with balanced daylight filters to get the natural light look"......

Best Regards 

Richard Dixon 

TPD STUDIOS UK .

Where No Wool Has Gone Before

 

An odd snap of Star Trek on the telly with some of my Missus' wool in front! I couldn't resist!

Stalco Seattle Space Needle Hobby Kit: The Other Century 21

Hi

Here is something that might interest Moonbase. A plastic kit of the Seattle Space Needle tower, with a Century 21 logo on the box. Do not get too excited, this has nothing to do with Gerry Anderson, and the name is just a coincidence.

This kit was mentioned, very briefly, on Max's Models Livestream 67. Intrigued, I decided to have a look at its history.

It is a plastic kit of the Space Needle - the theme symbol for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Basically a very tall observation tower, with a revolving restaurant at the top. The box top describes it as an official Souvenir Hobby Kit from the Fair, and it is now rare. It does not seem to have ever been re-issued.

Made by Stalco Products Corporation, and bearing a Century 21 logo on the box. This has nothing to do with Gerry Anderson, but relates to the Fair. The logo reads Century 21 Exposition, with a globe symbol. Stalco also made a Coliseum Coin Bank (money box) souvenir.

The Century 21 Exposition, or Seattle World's Fair, was held in Seattle, Washington State, from 21st April to 21st October 1962. Construction work on the tower only began in April 1961. It stands 605 feet tall, or 184 metres. Diameter is 138 feet, or 42 metres. It has since become a Seattle landmark - although I should think it would be hard to miss.

Wikipedia entries for the Fair, and the Needle.

Century 21 Exposition - Wikipedia

Space Needle - Wikipedia

The kit Stock Number is SWF 298 (was that the retail price of the model ?). The finished model was an impressive 18 inches tall, and stood on a circular base. No scale is given, but that makes the model around 1/400th. The base is inscribed with the words Space Needle - Seattle World's Fair - 1962, with the Century 21 logo.

It came in a tall, narrow cardboard box, with a lift-off lid. Usually moulded in cream coloured plastic, but there was also an orange version. Cream and orange being the colour scheme of the real tower. According to the parts list on the instruction sheet, there are 23 parts. Testor's Paints were recommended for painting the model. Stalco Products Corporation, 11827 E. 165th St., Norwalk, California. Made in U.S.A.

There have been other kits of the Space Needle, in wood, cardboard, and metal from Metal Earth.

This is the Scalemates entry for the kit, and there is a photo of the instruction sheet. It is the only kit listed for Stalco.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/stalco-swf-298-space-needle--1257030

Some more photos from Worthpoint:

Stalco Space Needle Souvenir Hobby Kit With Space Needle Decal and PostCard | #1889075477 (worthpoint.com)

Stalco Space Needle Souvenir Hobby Kit With Space Needle Worlds Fair 1962 Mint | #1889344326 (worthpoint.com)

1962 World's Fair Space Needle Century 21 Plastic Model Kit Unbuilt VTG Seattle | #1979300375 (worthpoint.com)

Stalco Space Needle Souvenir Hobby Kit With Space Needle Worlds Fair 1962 Mint | #1899368088 (worthpoint.com)

Inscription on base

Vintage 1962 Model of Seattle Worlds Fair Space Needle 16" Plastic Model Kit | #1909424577 (worthpoint.com)

Orange version

Vintage rarer "Orange-Plastic" 1962 Stalco Century 21 Space Needle model kit | #2729747321 (worthpoint.com)

All photographs from Worthpoint.

Anyone got this kit?

Anyone been to a World's Fair?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Bodge Central

 Bodging abounds at Moonbase at the mo. Kevin very kindly donated a bundle of old toy vehicles last week and I've been busy and happy sprucing them up ever since! 

This was Kevin's bundle of joy to me.

So I got my tools together.

And sorted out what's what.

The Trident Starfighter got patched up and left to dry.

The glorious Kennet SSP Dune Digger got cleaned, the red patches were chromed and a plan formed regarding the missing side panel rods. Operation pen stopper to begin soon!

The lovely but patchy Dinky SPC was cleaned and touched up with a red Sharpie. I glossed the body with varnish for a shiny finish.

I couldn't solve the non-functioning jet noise but I made a simple aerial from this shampoo bottle.

Front wheels stolen from my Batmobile and voila!

Not perfect but scarlet enough for my cabinet.

Bill is supplying some repro decals and that will be it.

Thanks Kevin!

HMS VICTORY

Here is an amazing HMS Victory kit I was given as a gift - a giant wooden kit. 

Hope you like the look of it.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Magic Robot Knows the Answer

 A short summer mooch round the Charidees proffered just a few chattels today.

A 10 inch aircraft carrier made in China, with completely shot battery unit. A challenge for me for sure! Can anyone date it from the old Asda battery?

The Magic Robot seen at the top , a modern repro set, came home too for Moonbase Junior.

Tower of Brahma game by Waddingtons, for a friend who collects small puzzles like this.

The skittles came home too, for the Grandkids. I was tempted by the LBZ top, a lovely toy.

Passed on all these.

And these.

Even passed up on the talking Barbie dentist.

I thought this tree house would be dear and it was. £30. I Passed.

Similarly passed up on this gaggle of robots. Moonbase Jr. Already has the bottom two. Nice though.

Anything here you like readers?

WAS GARY SEVEN ALONE?

I recall a Star Trek episode involving a character called Gary Seven. Do you?

His mission was to tamper in some way with the first Apollo moon shot as the rocket stood ready on the gantry. I forget what he had to do.

It reminds me of something similar in the Men in Black films. I think its 2 or 3, where a young Tommy Lee Jones' character has to put something on the Apollo rocket.

I imagine there are more instances of this in film and comics. Did it ever happen in Gerry Anderson's worlds?