MOONBASE CENTRAL

Monday, 8 April 2024

Return to the Moon

A return to a familiar model for me this week, with another go at the Lindberg Moonship. I had this kit years ago, with the Star Probe reissued series version, but sadly, it didn’t survive the rigours of moving house and poor storage. This time round, I bought a newer reissue of the kit, with a lovely rendition of the original 1959 box art. The kit had been built already, without the windows or decals added, so rather than leave it as is, I decided to customise it a little and add a couple more modules to the very sparse frame.

The excellent site Fantastic Plastic shows how the kit is usually built here: https://fantastic-plastic.com/us-moon-ship-by-lindberg.html

Originally I went for the unpainted white version, but this time I opted for a more distressed look, which is just as well, as I managed to drop the model twice while painting it! The astronaut figures are tiny - less than a centimetre in height and impossible for me to paint, so I just lightly shaded them. I added pads on the feet and some extra modules, plus a little surface detail here and there. A lovely kit, which means I will have to dig its companion piece - The USS Explorer Transport Rocket out of the loft and try and restore that!

YOU GIVE ME A FEBER!

Searching for the BIG Explorer isn't easy. BIG is such a generic name for a brand! Anyone know the BIG brand?

I do love the look of their ATV though and wondered if it was Major Matt Mason compatible? Its hard to say but the boy's hand is a possible guide.

Googling the images further cool ATV's turn up but no more BIG ones.

ATV's like this nifty looking vehicle.

Could this be another one with a different grille and a trailer?

Checking Todocollecion of Spain I found a possible match, the MONTAR F1.

Or more likely the Montar F2

They are constructions sets from Spain by Feber.

Do you know Feber toys?

SPANISH FLY

This flying ship, Pioneer 2100, I saw on Spain's Todocollecion, is a red ringer for the Flying Sub from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

What do you think?

Strange Attractor

This Spanish carded set is odd. The attractive Space rocket art suggests a space toy but the game appears to be fishing for 'paper' boats!

and is that Thunderbird 3's red engine at the left hand side of the backing art?

Like I said, strange!

ED'S NEW DINOS

Woodsy and Fellow Moonbasers,

Here's a few shots of new age and golden age dinosaurs.

Right now, there's so many new dinosaur toys on the market it blows the mind. I am partial to the old stuff but there's no denying the new stuff is terrific!

The B&W photo was taken by me at Disneyland way back in 1980.

From Jurassic Park Vegas

USA

Sunday, 7 April 2024

ARTO'S UPDATED T IN A CIRCLE/ TAI HING TOYS CHECKLIST

Here's the updated Tai Hing Checklist.

If any corrections / additions come to mind, please let me know. I have tried to stick to confirmed sightings of names and markings on the toys & boxes.

Arto

Helsinki Base

OH ROMEO! WHERE ARCH THOU?

Slim Pickings at Leeds' Thorpe Arch boot sale today. It was a complete wash-out.

I did pick up one decent die-cast, a Corgi Rockets Alfa Romeo sand spoiler. 50p poorer and back home I touched it up with a purple sharpie and it ain't half bad. It has some residual decals on it - are they original? Did the Rockets Alfa Romeo have decals?

After filling my cabinets with tons of Superfast I'm now limiting myself to collecting Corgi Rockets and old Hot Wheels in the future. I've run out of space for any others.

In a Wetherby charity shop I went mad and lashed out a fiver on this 1978-1980 Matchbox Play Track, all loose in a placcy bag. I love the spearmint track livery. Having looked online the orange plates make up different levels of a high rise car park.

Anyone know the name of the set in the UK?