Bring Something Back

 I've just read in the Fortean Times, that last month was the 70th anniversary of the Quatermass Experiment and this September, there will be a new live performance of 'The Quatermas Experiment' at Ally Pally in London.

It stars Mark Gatiss as the Prof and an ensemble supporting cast. With luck, it may be televised or presented elsewhere at a later date, but tickets are available here:

https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/the-quatermass-experiment/

THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT

 I've always liked air traffic control towers.

Here's a modern FWDP one in a blister pack I saw on an online shop!

It looks great on this airfield I saw online.

Do you think Derek Meddings would have used this?

Have you got an airfield or tower?

The Light Fantastic

In the Season 4 episode of Blakes 7, 'Stardrive' - A device designed by an ex-Federation engineer was reluctantly working with a rogue group called the 'Space rats'. Our heroes convince her to join the crew and promptly nick it and fit it into their clapped out freighter,  which turns it into an incredibly fast, clapped out freighter! When the Scorpio later comes under attack, the engineer is unfortunately killed in an accident as the drive is activated. Cheery stuff indeed!

Here is my scratchbuild of the Stardrive model from Blake's 7. Easy as colliding with an asteroid, 

Kevin

(Just don't turn it on when you're in the room!  Bill)

 

The Flash: Fwoosh!

I watched the Flash the other night in the Hull Ferry's cinema. 9pm till Midnight. The Missus was fast on in the ship's cabin and I couldn't sleep so Barry Allen's alter ego it was.

I like the idea of the Flash - it made me think of Hermes with his winged helmet and feet when I was a kid. I enjoyed reading the comics.

It's great that lesser DC heroes get the Hollywood treatment. Flash, Black Adam et al. The same for Marvel. Venom, Carnage etc.

As for Flash the movie, I enjoyed it. I like the DC world with the different iterations of JLA, so it's nice to see a nod to them on screen. Even Nic Cage as Superman got a look in! Go figure!

The film has it all: time reversal, speed force, many Flashes and best of all, Batman. Not just anyone but Michael Keaton no less! The Bat section is fabulous and makes the movie come alive. For me it was 1989 allover again! Like I said, time reversal!

I can't decide if the actor playing the Flash is just very geeky or intensely irritating but I can live with it. They need Billy Cruddup back as his Dad tho for some class. Oh and more Michael Keaton's Batman and his incredible toys!

Have you seen the Flash?

Truly Horrible Lindberg Monsters Update

Some years ago MC published my article on the Truly Horrible Lindberg monster kits. 

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2021/10/truly-horrible-lindberg-monster-kits-by.html

In it, I said I had come across what appeared to be a later mail order advertisement for the figures, possibly from a comic book.

The quality of the image was very poor and hard to read. I thought the name of the company selling the kits was Victory Specialties. That was incorrect, I have just discovered the name of the company was Victor Specialties, P.O. Box 151, Derby, Conn. (Connecticut, USA). No ZIP Code is mentioned in any of the ads I have seen.

Other mail order operations: World Wide Specialties, Shopper's Guide, and Hit Records, all have the same P.O. Box number, but with different Dept. numbers. All four names are used in different ads within the same comic. Monster Mailman has two different addresses, either P.O. Box 151, Derby, Conn, like the others; or Charlton Bldg., Derby, Conn.

Charlton Publications Inc., Charlton Building, Derby, Conn, was the publisher of such magazines as Horror Monsters, Mad Monsters, and Brides in Love.

Presumably, the ad for the Lindberg kits would have appeared in one or more of their publications at some point.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2021/10/truly-horrible-lindberg-monster-kits-by.html#comment-form

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Store Trekkin'

It's always fun checking out shops abroad. Here's a few snaps I've taken this week.

Proper shops, not my beloved Charidees!

First up, German Woolworths! It Still amazes me that Woolies exists on the continent but not in Britain anymore!

Have you got a Woolies?

Next up, TEDI, like a B&M, where they had BAZOOKA gum! It looks just like Bazooka Joe from the Sixties! Is that possible?

Kojak lollies!

Space spielset

Knock-off Bionicles

Hot Wheels everywhere

Zombie candy and gum

Zombie Dippers! Are those Airfix skeleton parts I see?

A gummi brain in blood sauce!

Oh, Halloween PEZ too.

Then we have the German Smyth's Toys and a few more Hot Wheels.

Fast and Furious

Special Twin mills, big and small redline versions.

Next up some food and drink in a great supermarket in Holland called Jumbo.

And to finish, some German Charidee shop stock - cool sofas, games and Kinder toys. 

and finally, a delicious schnitzel dinner for me and the Missus!

Lekker lekker!

What do you think?

REMOTELY CONTROLLED IN THE WINDY CITY

I dunno, there's just something about this Italian vintage toy Chicago police car by Ellegi. Seen online, I think its the overall shape and Dick Tracy-style graphics that appeal to me.

There's a feel of Blade Runner about it too.

Is it based on a real Italian car?

Schildkrot: Tortoise Man!

Another toy brand I'm noticing in Germany is Schildkrot.

I saw it on the back of a huge vintage doll's neck in a Charidee shop. You know the kind, hard brittle antique plastic heads.

I first came across Schildkrot in an old book I have called Male Action Dolls, which covers Action Man around the world. Like Palitoy did for Hasbro in the UK, different local companies released thier Men in their home countries. In Spain it was Geyper, in Japan Takara I think and in Germany, Schildkrot, although I don't know if it says that on the figures themselves. I've never bought a German Action Man.

Have you Action Man or GI Joe from different countries? 

Schildkrot is German for tortoise!