Looey's Fender Shop 4: Hey, Hey, Now We're Mobile!

With the UNCLE Piranha out of the way, I'm moving on to the Monkees' overpowered custom Pontiac GTO (true story! They had to put a weaker engine in to help with the road handling!)

Having got a larger Corgi version on a previous trip to Blighty, it seemed a perfect opportunity to fix up both at once.

1) The white rag top on both models was only painted in the center panel, so first up was cutting some thin strips to mask them. The open panel at the rear was especially tricky as I didn't want any paint on the interior upholstery or passengers!

2) It took a couple of passes to build up a solid enough flat white coating.

3) Touching up the red colour was also difficult as it is neither Crimson or Scarlet. After a lot of messing around, I mixed up the two and applied it by brush. Although the colour match was pretty good, the finish was flatter than the original paint which created a rather patchy effect.

4) More masking to allow a gloss overcoat and again not as plain sailing as I'd hoped. The final effect is adequate, but not the showroom shine I'd been dreaming of.

5) Some touch up work on the chrome and hubcaps and white parachute packs finally brings this song to a harmonious ending.

6) SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

Until it got heavily into research, I'd never noticed this similarity between the Monkeemobile and Captain Scarlet's SPC. The Monkeemobile is 1966, so just maybe, it might have played some influence in Mike Trim's design process? I'd love to meet him in person and ask a whole bunch of questions, modelmaker to modelmaker!

What do you think?

Looey

Oz Base

ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!

I've messed up with this Rocketron for our Junior for Xmas.

An Ebay bargain, it did have some pesky foxing inside the window. I tried to remove this with a long warm soapy bath.

It didn't work and even worse it stopped the neat internal compass dead!

I've tried to re-magnetise the compass. It does move but it doesn't suspend on a pin like it should.

As I'm trying to get Junior all 4 of the Exploratrons on the Big Day and this Rocketron is the last one I need.

I've bid on another one!

James Wrong

There's something about this box art. The chap doesn't look like Bond. He's more Get Smart or My Favourite Martian. Do you know what I mean?

THE TOP THIRTY X-FILES EPISODES: DO YOU AGREE?

I'm still embarking on watching all the X-Files. I've realised its a massive task. I'm currently on Season 1, episode 5.

To inspire me I look at lists that have been created: the scariest episodes, the monsters of the week and this one, the best episodes, just one of many online.

I'm interested what readers think? Would you agree, especially with the top 5 here?

30. "The Post-Modern Prometheus" (Season 5, Episode 5)

29. "Irresistible" (Season 2, Episode 13)

28. "The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat" (Season 11, Episode 4)

27. "Drive" (Season 6, Episode 2)

26. "Hollywood A.D." (Season 7, Episode 19)

25. "Field Trip" (Season 6, Episode 21)

24. "Je Souhaite" (Season 7, Episode 21)

23. "Roadrunners" (Season 8, Episode 4)

22. "Quagmire" (Season 3, Episode 22)

21. "Memento Mori" (Season 4, Episode 14)

20. "Beyond the Sea" (Season 1, Episode 13)

19. "Folie à Deux" (Season 5, Episode 19)

18. "Pilot" (Season 1, Episode 1)

17. "Colony"/"End Game" (Season 2, Episodes 16 and 17)

16. "Tithonus" (Season 6, Episode 10)

15. "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" (Season 3, Episode 20)

14. "Small Potatoes" (Season 4, Episode 20)

13. "Duane Barry"/"Ascension" (Season 2, Episodes 5 and 6)

12. "Monday" (Season 6, Episode 14)

11. "Humbug" (Season 2, Episode 20)

10. "Triangle" (Season 6, Episode 3)

9. "One Breath" (Season 2, Episode 8)

8. "Home" (Season 4, Episode 2)

7. "Paper Hearts" (Season 4, Episode 10)

6. "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" (Season 6, Episode 6)

5. "Ice" (Season 1, Episode 8)

4. "Never Again" (Season 4, Episode 13)

3. "Pusher" (Season 3, Episode 17)

2. "Bad Blood" (Season 5, Episode 12)

1. "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" (Season 3, Episode 4)

A Different Kind Of UFO: Menards M&M's Party Bus

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Menard's, they are the country's third largest Big Box store next to The Home Depot and Lowe's. 

The owner is a big train fan and for years now has offered a line of 3-rail O-gauge trains (and some HO scale as well) and accessories through his brick-&-mortar stores and website. Since 2020 Menard's has been offering railroad cars, trucks, vans, buildings, and accessories in licensed M&M's graphics and livery.

Since September, I've been featuring M&M's trains and accessories on my train layout out in my Room of Requirements. It's been a heckuva lot of fun and I thought I'd share this one particular accessory with you all. 

 This Party Bus is a re-make of an earlier UFO that was done in all silver and lettered for "The Greater East Martian Cow Abduction Co." and featured the saucer next to a barn with a cow being pulled up into the craft while a couple of aliens look on. 

My M&M's version is yellow, features a lit cockpit, blinking lights on the exterior, and 'Yellow' being pulled up into the craft while the others look on.

 You'll notice a German Shephard growling at the intruders. That's Jack The German Shephard - Menard's owner's personal dog and a feature found on nearly every structure they make. The photos show the craft while the YouTube video shows it in action.

https://youtu.be/REtjLw7jdoI

From M&M's Central Las Vegas

Ed

USA

Truly Scrumptious!

 I picked up a scrumptious Mattel plastic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car recently.

Completely new to me. Mines incomplete but here's a complete one online in all its glory.

Are the four figures from any other Mattel toy?

Has anyone got those four figures going spare? A swap?

HOT WHEELS BATMAN FIVE PACK

In addition to the Mainline Batman sub-series of five models each year, and usually a 5-pack, Hot Wheels have done several Batman sets on special cards.

These are more elaborate than the Mainline cards, and the tampo printing on the models is often more detailed. Naturally, they are also more expensive than the Mainline models, but are still of mixed metal and plastic construction.

There are also the premium ranges, which are largely metal. But these are more expensive still.

This set of five models is part of the 2022 Hot Wheels range. The models are numbered 1/5 to 5/5 in the upper right corner. The full range of five models is shown on the back of the card in black and white. By Batmobile standards, they are a pretty colourful group.

According to the Hot Wheels Wiki page this set is a Walmart exclusive in the USA. But that does not apply in New Zealand, as I have seen these in a number of different shops.

https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/Batman_Series_(2022)

Identifying Hot Wheels Batmobiles can be a problem, as most are simply labelled Batmobile - including three of these models. Which film, cartoon, or video game do they come from ? I do wish Hot Wheels would tell us.

1/5 TV Series Batmobile. The 1966 TV car, made by the Barris Kustom Shop, and based on the 1955 Lincoln Futura show car.

Metalflake very dark blue, with red stripes, and medium blue pinstripes. Silver-grey interior, and blue-tinted windscreens.

2/5 The Dark Knight Batmobile. The Tumbler, appeared in three Batman films: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.

Silver-grey plastic body with medium grey camouflage pattern which is very hard to see, metal base, and dark windows.

3/5 Batmobile. This is the car from The Batman, the one that looks like an ordinary US sedan.

Matt black body, chrome trim and interior, clear windows, with silver/grey/black scratches down the side of the body.

4/5 Batmobile. The 1989 movie car.

Gold plastic body, with black markings. Black metal base, and black plastic windows.

5/5 Batmobile. This is the car from the film Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Dark metallic red upper body in metal, clear red windows, and black plastic lower body.

All the cards have the same background, with a city skyline, and a swarm of jagged-looking bats coming from the right. The main picture of the Batmobile is cropped, with the Batman insignia from the featured film or TV series at the top.

Six photographs, in three batches.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

SUNDAY WITH SCULLY

Today's catch at Donny car boot. A decent bag. See what you reckon.

LtoR:

Back: unknown figure, two Nacoral oldie cars, Scully

Middle: Gen1 Optimus, two mini Gen1 Transformers, unknown figure, Gen1 Optimus

Front: Speed King Cougar, Mattel 1968 Plastic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with raft

Any good?

Any idea about the two unknown figures?

The Mattel plastic Chitty is a new one on me. Alas it's missing it's grille and figures but I was chuffed to find it with its inflatable raft. Is it a toy you know?