BLUE BOX BYGONES

 Last year I bought on a small fleet of miniature plastic cars, which struck a chord when I saw them.

I recall having similar cars as a kid, especially in construction and garage settings. I think mine came in three-layered window boxes.

These are all by Blue Box and individually numbered on the bases.

Beautiful little things.

Do you like them? Did you have any as a kid?

WHO KNEW!

There's some wacky stuff out there beyond Gallifrey! Look at this for example, Braised Hearts, a site dedicated to the recipes of ex-Dr. Who Jon Pertwee!

Have you followed one of the Time Lords' recipes?

https://braisedhearts.weebly.com/the-endorsement.html

Whip Creamer Clean-Up

 I treated myself to a nice redline Whip Creamer from 1969.

Not complete but dandy nonetheless for a tenner.

What a car! 

I made a new engine rotor, a little window blister and gave the whole thing a going-over with a pink Sharpie.

Whipped into shape, see what you think.

AUSTIN 1800 by HOVER OF HONG KONG

Another nice plastic toy I saw this year by Hong Kong copyists Hover, here's the Austin 1800.

Hover knocked off Project SWORD toys in the Sixties and they are now unusual and sought after additions to a SWORD collection.

Have you got anything by Hover or the related Hoover brands?

Otley Crew

Today the Missus and me visited the interesting and bustling town of Otley. Packed with shops of every kind we were happiest browsing the many charity and second hand shops. Anyone else been round Otley? Mi

This one had two large plastic US jets on the top shelf. No idea what toys they were. You?

The vintage toy store opposite, down Kirkgate arcade, was amazing and I had a long chat with the friendly retiree whose running it. So much great stuff it's untrue. We got Junior a Lunar Bug and a 007 Moon Buggy for Easter and I bought myself a redline Whip Creamer, which I'm so chuffed about.

The shop had tons of figures too. Here to the right is a fly-headed purple bodied figure, which I'm sure is a Bug Man from Insecta. Never seen one in the flesh before. You?

*I'm wrong. Not a Bug Man from Insecta. No idea who fly head is.

In a charity I saw this blast from my chivalrous past. This knight in armour wall plaque was one we had in my parents' house. I never knew if the ring was for anything useful or just decoration!

To round off our trip we drove through rustic Esholt village, where the UK TV series Emmerdale used to be filmed. Here's the actual Woolpack pub! You ever been in it?

ON THE FRONTIER

 Saw this on Amazon India and bam!

I recognised that rocket on the back!

It's my Frontier Rocket I had as a kid in the 60's!

Did you have one of these Frontiers?

WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBERBOTS

Grandson Junior collects plastic Numberbots and I was amazed to see online just how they fit together!

A very clever design I thought. You?

Heeeres Johnny!

Our old friend the Hot Wheels redline 'Swingin' Wing' is a classic example of the die cast designers art. From Ira Gilford in 1970, this is one of the iconic exotic cars which drew me onto the long road of collecting Hot Wheels. The cool spoiler, deep electric violet paintwork and dual cockpits make it one of the best redlines ever.

The Johnny Lightning car line made by Topper in the sixties clearly sought inspiration from Mattel and their 'Custom Spoiler' car is a clear example.

Although it has a standard single cockpit, the swept lines and high white spoiler, plus the violet finish surely  suggest a little plagiarism.
 

However, Corgo Rockets could well be guilty of pinching ideas, albeit for a real world car design. Their rendition of the Alfa Romeo Pinninfarina also takes the high white spoiler and violet finish and shares the blade like protrusions at the front like the Custom Spoiler. Either way, they make a lovely trio, followed up by the standard Corgi Junior version in Cobalt Blue.