THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!

Way back in December, 1966, just in time for Christmas, the Daily Mail began serialising the 'Thunderbirds Are Go!' film in a small strip. Artwork was by the great Don Lawrence. Here it is in its entirety.

ARMOURED COLUMN

 Besides space toys, I have always favoured army and military toys too. There was always a set of the polythene Airfix Attack Force models at home and the later larger models of the Abbot SP Gun, Stalwart and Hanomag etc. But as far as diecast military models, I always went for Britains, as my family had all shared the toys from the Floral Garden, Farm and Zoo collections, handed down from my sisters to me. So my usual go to, besides the odd Dinky or Corgi toy, would be Britains. As my Dad was always picking up toy and model catalogues, I was browsing through his latest acquisitions one day in 1976 and found a large colour catalogue for the french brand Solido. I had never come across these models, probably as they were more aimed at collectors or the more serious market, as the production values and detailing was a good deal higher than most high street brands. Naturally, the cost of the models was a lot higher, so that, more than anything probably accounts for my dads lack of interest in them, as he knew full well that I liked to play hard with my toys!

The Solido catalogue has a great range of cars, racing cars and commercial vehicles, but as I was more used and fond of the more exotic models from Matchbox Superfast and Hot Wheels, the quite staid lineup could not seize my attention. However, as I fanned through the catalogue, I came upon the military range and was quite taken aback at the variety and range.

Whereas Corgi had released some nice military models in the form of the Jagdpanther and Rocket Firing Hanomag Half Track and Dinky had the Scorpion and Striker vehicles, the range was limited and restrained compared to Solido. Unusual shapes or models would always take my eye and anything with a rocket or a missile would always be headed for the Xmas list.

Rather than focus on the usual American tanks, Solido also produced some fabulous Soviet armoured vehicles alongside modern European hardware.

The construction and detailing of the vehicles set them apart from other makes, which individual metal tank tread links and authentic paint schemes. A remote control version of the Jagdpanther with motorised movement was also included.

I used to feel that I was fairly knowledgeable about rockets and missiles and the various transporters, but here were models I had never heard of, such as the AMX Pluton and heavy rocket launchers. I was amazed at the breadth and variety of models.

The Dinky Alvis Stalwart that had been released was a tiny simple model, packed with a Ferret Armoured Car and a single piece casting of the D.U.K W as the Task Force set, but the Solido Stalwart was a large, chunky, authentically detailed model. The Solido Soviet SU 100 Tank Destroyer had eschewed Corgi's route of making a firing gun, with a huge plastic barrel and gone for a much more imposing finish and realism as the goal.

On top of the stand along models, the were kit versions of several models too, so that an owner might have the pleasure of assembling the model from scratch.

Needless to say, despite my requests over the years, I never added any Solido to my carpet wars!

SHADO's of the Past

My latest efforts to trim down the collection have started to unearth toys and stuff that I forgot I had, so with their redundancy in mind, they are finding their way onto ebay. The latest toy to appear is this blatant SHADO 2 knock off, described as an Emergency Rescue Vehicle as I recall, or something!

I knew I had one, as I had painted it bright red, but it seems in a moment of boredom, I had also bought the second colour variation of blue and mauve (yuk). It is however, a very nice toy, opting for the six wheel drive arrangement, rather than tracks and has a ramp and small scout craft in the back. With a more sympathetic paint scheme, it could easily be a UFO Code 3 model, as its a shade larger than the Dinky SHADO 2 model.

A much earlier SHADO 2 copy was the Laser Command Vehicle from Italian makers 'Atlantic'. A soft plastic toy, it comes as a simple kit and also features an opening ramp. Much closer to the UFO vehicle, but with enough significant design alterations to stay shy of copyright infringement!
 

I'll be keeping this little beauty, as its the only one I have come across so far!

MAJOR CUSTOMISATIONS

I have always loved Mattels Major Matt Mason line, as it was the pinnacle of space toy heaven in the sixties, he had it all - space crawler, space base, alien buddies, cool suits, equipment - everything an astronaut could want. When I finally got the Space Station set a year ago, I was so thrilled, it was like xmas 1968 all over again. As a result, I started to pick up some loose pieces to fill gaps in my collection and replace damaged items from my childhood. In the process of this, I also looked at ways of expanding the line a little, with items which had never been addressed originally.

One idea I had was the Rocket Supply Pod, a means to transport equipment and supplies to restock the Space Station, by means of an automatic delivery pod. Lanards Space Force provided the basis, in the form of a two seater space capsule. Taking out the interior, I made a cargo bay and then fitted it out with folding landing gear from an early years space craft. The original flashing lights were left in, but the sound chip disabled. Its just a nice size to accept a pair of Lanard space suitcases as cargo too!

 

While buying a spare Moonsuit, a few other items in the same lot provided a silver Gilbert James Bond Sea Scooter, minus its accessories. I used this in conjunction with an Action Man ATOM figure stealth wing, to make the Astro Orbiter! Obviously an aerodynamic wing wouldn’t function on the moon, but perhaps future missions might take place on Mars, or it would allow short jaunts in space between a station and a rocket.

My original Moon Suit lost its rubber arms to fatigue and rot, but the spare one I bought was fitted with new plastic articulated arms, courtesy of a ball jointed mini pod for a camera and a pair of LEGO grippers. A new vinyl numeral changed the designation from 3 to 8 to complete the look.

Not a custom as such, more an appropriation, the recent Disney Pixar film, ‘Lightyear’ brought some wonderful toys again from Mattel. One of these was the Plasma Drill Platform, which is reminiscent of the Supernaut Power Limbs in style and colour and fits Matt at a pinch.

Finally another work in progress, a very early Playmobil dump truck has cool hemispherical wheels and a nice chunky engine block. It just needs a proper seat and some control for Matt! Watch this space for further developments!
 

He-Masculated!

Well just when you think you know a toy line, something else appears from the vaults to surprise you. So it was recently, when Woodsy sent me this article about Masters of the Universe. Its not a line that I liked at all, the weird squatting figures did not appeal to me at release and even the later variations did nothing to interest me. Even so, I always liked to see what was available on toy shelves and looked in from a distance. However, something I have never been aware of was this gant figure, who makes poor He-Man look like a puny beach bum by comparison! Go Tytus! Ill let Woodsy take up the story:

As an erstwhile Masters of the Universe toy collector, I was always fascinated by the rare Tytus figure.

Tytus was a giant. At 12 inches tall he towered over his Mattel mates and only his Italian ones at that.

When MOTU toys bottomed in the US in the late Eighties, Tytus was released for Europeans in Italy. I understand a batch was made in Mexico too.

The elusive Italian Tytus came in a huge window box, along with his hefty hammer-like figure grabber. I love the box art illustration at the base - it's so sun-lit

(Pictures from eBay)

The rear box art seems a little sketchy in comparison. The grabber looks like an hair salon hair drier! I've read the original idea was a giant claw, but it didn't grab well enough

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A Mexican version of the Italian Tytus was auctioned some years ago. Apparently it says Mexico on the back of it Tytus's loincloth. It also had Powers of Gray Skull branding on the box.

Tytus fever was sufficient among fans for Mattel to re-release the giant in 2010, albeit in a new, but to my eye, less-appealing package. See what you think. 

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Now sought- after too, there are many fan sites reviewing this figure. One of my favourite review pictures in this one of the big fella clobbering Skeletor.

I'm no Masters expert at all so if any of this info is incorrect please do let me know. Tytus's journey is a twisty one

Being a toy bodger I wAs interested to read that some customizers have made their own Tytus from a 12 inch Triple H wrestler like this. Hmmm, it would have to be cheap for me, I'm as Tytus a duck's backside! 

DON'T MESS WITH THE HEDGEHOG

My good friend Charles in Canada sent me these shots of his latest acquisitions. A new product line from Angry Hedgehog Toys, based in the UK - a series of interchangeable figures, made of injection moulded PVC. These little beauties sold out almost immediately on release, such was the demand.

Compatible with the ONeill Glyos standard, they came with interchangeable parts and weapons.

Charles was lucky enough to be in on the action and secured a small platoon, before they were sold out.

 Angry Hedgehog also produce a fantasy style figure, modelled after the Titan Talos. Have a look at their website and the previous work section, to see the stunning creations available from this small company.

https://www.angryhedgehogtoys.com/products

https://glyos.fandom.com/wiki/Glyos_System_Series_(Toyline)