HOT GOTHAMS: THE BATMAN FIVE-PACK

Hot Wheels begin releasing their new models before the end of the old calendar year. That means that the first 2024 models are in the shops in late 2023.

This Batman 5-pack is part of the 2024 range, but I got mine this December - in time for Christmas. These Batman 5-packs are in addition to the normal Batman sub-series within the Mainline.

Each pack usually contains one or two actual Batman models; a Gotham City Police car; and two or three fantasy models in the colours of various Batman villains. Thankfully, Hot Wheels now identify the models on the back of the packet.

Arkham Asylum Batmobile in black and grey. From a video game.

Boom Box in dark grey, with Gotham City Police markings.

Power Pistons in white, with markings for Harley Quinn.

Hi-Roller in purple, with a clear green top showing off the engine. Markings for the Joker.

Batcopter in semi-metallic blue, with black plastic, and clear orange parts.

The Gotham Police cars and villain cars are unique to these sets, and some of the Batman models also come in colours unique to the sets.

Is this a pack for you?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

MAKING A MRS. TOPO GIGIO

 My latest fixer-upper from Bill is a Century 21 Toys Topo Gigio Ice Cream van.

Before I attempt the van I've been down a rabbit hole, one marked 'creating a figure'.

The van needed a female Gigio sat in the back serving.

As luck would have it I had a spare rubber Topo kicking about.

Making it up as I went along, this was about half-way in the transformation. Topo's now got long Papier Mache hair and after going under the knife, bent knees! The Christmas clown looks pleased anyway!

and so, the final result.

I give you Mrs. Topo Gigio!

I've never doctored an existing figure to make a new one before so it was a steep learning curve and it took ages, It was also a lot of fun! Have you done anything like this readers?

Now to the Ice Cream Van!

Friction Long Distance Jetliner MF 105 from the Kang Yuan Toy Factory Shanghai China

Appearing as part of my JR21 alerts, I saw this tin jetliner recently on the 'Bay, a fine old Chinese plane.

It's clearly related to the Chinese tin Moonship that a few of us own. Its from the same factory.

The box art is even better than the toy. Looking long and sleek it's got Fireflash vibes galore. The toy looks shorter than the illustration.

Is this a toy you own?

TADA! Tommy Buster! JR21 legendary Toy Rifle

I'm always interested in the Tommy Buster, ever since it first appeared here on it's TV21 offer page.

Here's the Japanese TADA version - yes, more TADA! - I saw on auction. There's an M logo too, presumably the Miura in the listing title, but it's new to me.

Did or Do you have a Tommy Buster?

Imagine coming down to this on Christmas morning! TADA!

Safari, So Good!

 

Looey's recent comment about an obscurely glimpsed toy on a shelf, named 'Space Safari' has prompted a dusting off of a cool little toy, which I am hoping is the toy he recalls. Made by Miniflex in the mid sixties, it's clearly influenced by Major Matt Mason and other contemporary toys.

Packed neatly into a compact box, we have the Ten Hoof Space Crawlwr, Astro Prime Mover, Lunar Personnel Carrier, Solar Generator and the Computer Motivator.

The Computer Motivator is a little battery unit with a motor inside that can be swapped between the crawler and the Prime Mover, which powers movement, while flashing a light and spinning the radar dish.

The Prime Mover can tow the personnel carrier with twin domes and the Solar Generator, which has a rotating screen on the back, displaying a moire effect, not unlike the communicator on Star Trek.

The set comes with three astronauts and a gang of exotic aliens to be gathered up by the safari mission and held in the observational security modules for study.

A great little set all round, with the figures just under 3" high and the Prime Mover at 7" long.

I can't wait to see Looeys interpretation of the toy!

THE MIDORI SPACE TANK SUPER BEETLE

Woodsy,

Here is a terrific recent sighting of the Midori ‘Space Tank Super Beetle', in working condition, from famous Japanese toy collector Teruhisa Kitahara:

https://youtu.be/L7dl8O41Obk

Brings back so many fond memories of my Paramount “Astro Car”!

Rob C

USA

WILL'S MIGHTY TIN PLANES

I’m really enjoying the tin plane thread started by Ed And Bettina. Here are a couple more of mine. 

The Cragstan 727, coming in at a mighty 24 inches!

Also this Tomy Viscount. A complicated one with even a stewardess walking up and down the aisle!. 

Cheers. 

Will O.

Northants Base

DO THE HUSTLE: THE ARROWHEAD LOGO ON THE B-58 BY ED AND PAUL

At first, I wasn't going to send these out fearing we've been 'Hustled' enough! 

But after taking a better look at the photos it occurred to me that the logo on the vertical stabilizer resembled the Project Sword logo! It's the same size as the Linemar Hustler but is only marked 'Japan'. The jet came to me pretty cheap as the bottom of both outboard nacelles are missing.

From Vegas Air Field

Ed

*

Ed Berg kindly sent me these photographs of his beautiful Made in Japan B-58 Hustler toy. He mentioned the similarity of the logo on the tail to the Project Sword logo.

I just had a look to see if the markings on the toy are accurate, and they are. It was a scheme used on the early test aircraft.

I am not sure about the serial number. The only Hustlers that had serial numbers beginning with a 5 were the two XB-58 prototypes (55-0660 and 55-0661), and the eleven YB-58A test aircraft, some of which were later converted to TB-58A trainers (55-0662 to 0672).

The serial on the toy is 50682, which is not a match for a real Hustler number, but it is close. The arrowhead design on the fin is repeated on the forward fuselage, it is just a little harder to see against the natural metal finish.

A big thank you to Ed for the great photos.

The attached photograph is from the Wikipedia page on the B-58, and shows 55-0661, the second XB-58 built.

Paul Adams

New Zealand