A LOOK AT CROMFORD 2023 (PART 1)

 A selection of photos from the Cromford Mills Model & Comic Con event yesterday.

Although I'll be posting photos of the various models and puppets that were on display over the next few days, to begin with I thought I'd share a few photos  of some of the people behind the displays, a couple of the cosplayers, and the odd candid shot.

Fanderson had a a table promoting the club, and people attending  could get a free goodie bag containing one of the club's magazines, cards and badges.

Here's a photo of part of the table display, and Fanderson stalwarts, Stephen Brown and Lynn Simpson, with Katie Bleathman  just behind them.

Here's artist, Graham Bleathman working on a quick sketch  of Fireball XL5.

Here's mega modeller, David Sisson  sat with Alison Thorn and Simon Rhodes. 

A photo of modeller, Doug  Stirling-Stewart discussing the intricacies of this impressive model of a 44" Eagle.

Mamas Pitsillis, here with his wife, Linda.

Third Doctor Who look-a-like, Scott Goodman seen here with Blake's 7 mega fan Gary Holland.

Scott was also accompanied by Mercedes Cook, who to complete the third 'Dr Who look came dressed as assistant, Jo Grant.

 The event has been rebranded as a Comic Con, and encouraged those who enjoy cosplay, to come along in costume.

I was particularly impressed with this Predator costume.

 These youngsters weren't totally convinced that this Dalek was much of a threat!

This youngster appears to be fascinated by the illuminated control cabin inside Richard Ashton's Starbug.

HOT MONSTER: LOCO PUNK

Back in 2021 MC mentioned the Hot Wheels Monster Truck called Loco Punk.

MOONBASE CENTRAL: MONSTER BUGGY (projectswordtoys.blogspot.com)

I have one of these, but in different colours. Mine comes on a card (copyright date on the back 2020), rather than in a semi-open box. The clear plastic bubble is shaped like a giant tyre. My Loco Punk is part of the Neon Shockers series. It also has different wheels, with a different tread pattern, to the one shown in your post.

The Monster Truck line has a limited number of chassis designs, each of which can be fitted with various body shells. Loco Punk being an old-time steam locomotive. Only the boiler is metal, everything else is plastic.

The inner chassis and engine are orange, with the outer chassis and suspension in blue. The engine is light green, with the boiler being a little darker. The front wheel hubs are blue, and the rear hubs red, both with gold rims. The metal axles are a very loose fit, so the wheels can move and pivot.

Moulded in to the plastic parts are the Mattel and Hot Wheels names, the Hot Wheels ribbon, and 'made in THAILAND'. There is no model name or date, as the chassis is common to several models. Length is just under 100 mm, slightly under 4 inches.

Included with the model is a soft plastic car, a red station wagon in this case, which you can squash and drive over in your Monster Truck - it looks as though it has already been run over a few times. Length 63 mm.

Many die-cast toy makers now have a Monster Truck series in their line-up. They seem to comprise a mix of real vehicles, and fantasy designs. Hot Wheels also do some larger Monster Trucks, some of which are radio controlled.

Do you like this toy?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Gilbert Bond Jet Pack

Jet-packs came up recently, and someone mentioned Gilbert having mae the James Bond version. A little digging turned up some photos, and it seems the Jet-pack used the same set of tanks as the Scuba diving set, but with different fittings.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2023/08/it-is-rocket-science.html#comment-form

I do not know anything about Action Figures, so these notes are all based on photographs. There may well be other variations.

The Jet-pack seems to have been moulded in light blue, and have a silver bar across the top for the exhausts. The Scuba tanks were either light blue or yellow, and had a gauge on the back of the tanks, with an air-hose.

Here are the rest of the Gilbert photographs. This time, of the Scuba tanks, for comparison with the tanks of the Jet Pack.

Four photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Paul 

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING GRENDIZER

 

I like this auctioned carded Grendizer set for a couple of reasons.

First of all it looks fantastic and I would have loved it as a kid!

Second I like the UFO branding, which I assume is coincudental and nothing to do with the Gerry Anderson series. 

Even so, the pistol even does have a look of the Echo UFO gun we've covered a few times on MC. The toy Echo gun was connected to Gerry's TV show!

Here's the Echo UFO gun so you can compare them. What do you think?

IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE

This vintage book cover for Leinster's Space Tug is another use of the rocket-pack astronaut motif.

Possibly the most well-known of these rocket-pack paintings is the late great Bob McCall's.

Do you have a favourite rocket pack?

CROMFORD 2023

 I'll be going to the Cromford Mlls event this Sunday to meet up with a few old mates, and hopefully might see one or two of you  there , too! 

THE BATMAN FOREVER HOT WHEELS

Batman is a very popular subject with Hot Wheels. Every year there is a Batman sub-series within the Mainline range.

For 2023 the Batman series contains the usual five models, some of which are available in different colours. From the 1995 film is the Batman Forever Batmobile, with three large fins. This is a New model for this year.

It is not really obvious in the photographs, but the model is in a two-tone black finish. There is a distinct difference between the painted gloss black upper body in metal, which includes the front mudguards and the central fin; and the matt black plastic lower body, which includes the rear mudguards and side fins.

The front grille and headlights, cockpit windows, the exposed engine, and the rear exhaust are all chromed. Black plastic base, with a 2022 copyright date. There is a light blue design on the nose.

The Hot Wheels Wiki page says there is to be a second colour for this model, but does not say what it is yet.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

MAD MAX

 Here's a bit of a teaser post.

As my MPC Cygnus posts went down extremely well, it's looking like this will be my next build.

And so it begins....