Big Taxi, Little Taxi

Here is a Dinky Austin FX4 Taxi with a Hong Kong made plastic copy that has warped slightly with age.

Regards,

Terranova47

CT USA

To be continued!

2001 IN 1967

There's a great article on 2001 Space Odyssey in the Popular Mechanics magazine from April 1967. Have a read.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wNMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA109&dq=%22moon+base%22+popular+mechanics&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJnfviq978AhXbgVwKHSqXB6MQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q&f=false

OPERATION SOAP DISH: MAKING A HOME-MADE TRI-ANG SPACEX MOON BASE HQ

 Fifteen years ago I scratch-made a Project SWORD Moon Base in 2009. more or less when I kicked off this blog.

One and a half decades later, I thought it was about time I had a crack at the other Moon Base, namely the Triang SpaceX Moon Base HQ.

image: Ed B, Toys and Stuff blog

The inspiration to have a go came from this bag of computer and circuitry parts I bought years ago at a scrap store. So many lovely little white consoles!

My reference points were the fabulous coverage of the Moon Base HQ by both Paul V on his Triang SpaceX site and Ed B on his Toys and Stuff blog [HQ picture at the top courtesy of Ed].

Such brilliant photography and information made research a pleasure.

Good job too; could I find my own example of the toy? Forget it! Buried in the loft somewhere!

 I spent a few days gathering scraps, bits and bobs for possible parts.

Cheap travel Soap boxes for the 4 modules

Plumber's Pipe connector for the cross-way

The kitchen chopping board for the 4 red floors!

and cut to size!

Beads for legs

and tiddlywinks for the end caps

and so, Hi ho! Its off to work I go!

See you on the Moon!

Watch this Base!

IVY AND BANE WALKING IN THE RAIN

This year's resolution is doctor's orders. Get fitter! So with that in mind the Missus and me headed to picturesque Hebden Bridge in the Pennines for a country walk.

Here are a few snaps of beautiful Hebden Valley; light rain, sleet and ice came too.

 

I loved this glass bottle fence!

At the end of the walk we went into the ever-welcoming Hebden.

In one charity shop I saw this interesting plastic space plane. It had a pull-bag landing gear, which pumped a friction motor. I've seen toy Galaxy Warrior motorbikes that do this as well. Have you got anything like this?

This Lanard 12 incher from 2003 caught my eye too.

I did pick up an old friend, Flairck's Variations on a Lady. I loved this Dutch LP as a teenager and played it to destruction. I've a second copy now! Is this one you know?

I've put it next to Gryphon's Red Queen to Gryphon Three. This was an LP that I wanted as a teenager but never got. My Son-in-Law, Daughter and Grandkids got it me as a late Chrissie present and I'm glad they did. Its great! Do you like Gryphon?

The Missus spotted these in a bargain bin in another Charity too. Ivy and Bane. From one of the worst superhero films ever made, Batman and Robin, 1996. George Clooney, Arnie Schwarzenegger et al. No wonder they look glum!

So, clutching these bad guys, Flairck, Gryphon and an old Mandolin, we left lovely Hebden having racked up ten thousand steps for the Doctor.

BIG PLASTIC CARS: WILL'S JOHNNY SPEED

Hi Woodsy. My favourite of the large plastic cars has always been the Topper Toys Johnny Speed. 

It’s big, battery powered, and came wit a range of accessories. I see that sometimes it is called an E Type Jaguar, but of course it isn’t ! It looks more like a Corvette to me. 

Does anyone know what car it was actually based on ?

Will O.

UK

MADE IN JAPAN

Japanese Glico toys always amaze me. Just look at this lot I saw on a Japanese auction. See anything you like?

ED's TIN: THE TT BOEING 727 MADE IN JAPAN

Woodsy and gang,

Here's another one of my small airliners. 

I have several of these made with a tail wheel instead of having proper tricycle gear. You can tell by looking at the plane that the rear portion would be heavier causing it tip back on its behind, but I suppose it was cheaper to put a wheel back there vs. adding more weight to the nose. It measures 10" (25.4cm) L 3 3/8" (8.6cm) H 9 3/8" (23.8cm) wingspan.

From Vegas Air Field

Ed

Tamiya Space Kits

Here are a couple of recent videos from Max, of Max's Models.

Livestream 114 has a look at kits related to the US space programme, especially the Apollo models.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqbb0Saqorw&t=6051s

Then a close-up look at the late 1960s Tamiya Apollo 1 and Jupiter 2 kits, which have nothing to do with either the US space programme, or the TV series Lost in Space. But they are still great kits, and both are motorised.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljPi8H8UuQw

Paul Adams from New Zealand