Season's Greetings from Monster Base!

The Sauropods gathered

On a cold Winter's night

To bask in the glow

Of the Yule firelight

To all,Merry Christmas

Is their wish, it's true

But they want to wish Woodsy

Happy Birthday, too!

Christmas Best wishes to all at Moonbase!

-BrianF 

Monster Base 

NJ USA

THE AIRFIX SR-N1 HOVERCRAFT

Airfix are to re-issue their 1/72nd scale Saunders-Roe SR-N1 hovercraft kit, in the Vintage Classics range. This kit was last seen in the 16th Edition Catalogue (dated January 1979).

The kit was initially released in 1960. As far as I know, it was always moulded in a silver-grey plastic, and there were 46 parts, including a clear windscreen.

The kit first appeared in a plastic bag, but was later put in to a cardboard box. Oddly, it was always grouped in with the aircraft kits.

The SR-N1 was built by the Saunders-Roe aircraft company, to test the hovercraft theories of Mr C.S. Cockerell. It was the first hovercraft in the world, and therefore a very significant craft.

This was one of the more unusual Airfix kits, the sort of model you just did not see in the shops in New Zealand in the 1970s. Only in the Airfix Catalogues.

At this time one of the major sources of kits for me was a chain of toy shops called Martin's Toys and Hobbies (now long gone), which sold toys, nursery furniture, and bicycles. They had a large store in Customs Street, in the central city of Auckland.

I hardly ever got to go to this shop, but I do remember it was the only place I ever saw this hovercraft kit, and I snapped it up. I never did build mine, but with the re-issue I will finally have a chance to build the model.

Dinky also did a die-cast version of the SR-N1 at about the same time.

I am sure this kit will be of great interest to many Moonbase Central readers. To celebrate the re-issue, here are some photos of the various header and box designs used over the years.

Most of the photographs are from Worthpoint, with the shot of the Vintage Classics box from Airfix.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

SPACE 2

 

This cool space car turns up a lot on auction and this beauty was one I saved the image of earlier in the summer.

Space 2 is not a version I've seen often but its basic white livery with orange trim looks really great.

Blue Box, Ahi, Blakes 7 - there are many versions. Have you got one?

G U N S T A

 I'm unsure what this Japanese toy or kit is but it looks amazing! Is it Lego?

https://gumpla.jp/other/1071398

MOON AND SPACE ORBITER

 

I've deffo never seen this space toy before. You?

Its the Space Orbiter that came free with Nabisco's Great Honey Crunchers.

Looks like its a blow pipe with a levitating ball.

You can find out more on New Hampshire's amazing Timepassagesnostalgia site, from where I borrowed the images.

Dr. Terrors House of Horrors:

1965's Dr. Terrors House of Horrors; what a film!  

Possibly only pipped to the post by Tales from the Crypt, Dr.Terrors has it all: great script, great sets, fabulous actors and lots of Gothic charm.

An Amicus portmanteau of real calibre, hosted on a trundling train by a tarot-reading Peter Cushing, it has so many great and memorable tales. 

The starter is set in a Scottish country house, that requires some work. The Architect hired is in fact the previous owner. On his return he uncovers much macabre goings on including a coffin in the cellar bearing the family name, something he lives to regret! 

Another tale deals with the arrival of the young new doctor in town - one uber-cool Donald Sutherland, the old one showing him the ropes. Sutherland's young wife begins to settle in whilst some locals fall inexplicably sick. It takes the old doctor to sort things out once and for all! 

The story of the suburban garden is yet another tale, this time starring the suave and hip DJ Alan Fluff Freeman. The Ministry are brought in to ID some unusual flora but flora is having none of it!

The remaining two tales are the best in my opinion: the art critic and top of the pile, the voodoo tune.

Christopher Lee plays the famous art critic, a fabulously pompous and conceited oaf, who, after tearing apart an elderly artist's entire ouvre, is publicly humiliated by a painting chimp. This sets off a chain of increasingly tragic and ultimately lethal events. Pomposity certainly doesn't pay!

Last but not least, my favourite story of all, the voodoo song. The bubbly Roy Castle is just wonderful as jazzman Biff Bailey, who lands a gig in the West Indies with his excited band. Whilst there, Biff witnesses a voodoo chant, writes down the catchy tune and thereby seals his fate! I won't spoil it, it really is a marvellously created short film, completely self-contained and a world unto itself. There's a charming moment where Roy stands in front of a poster for the very film he's in! Kenny Lynch is great too.

Do you like Dr. Terrors House of Horrors readers? Have you a favourite story?

JOHN NOAKES MAKES AN ACTION MAN QUARTERMASTERS STORE ON BLUE PETER 1977

 The great John Noakes tells you how to make a neat Action Man store on Blue Peter in 1977. Perfect for Christmas!

[courtesy of TimeTunnelToysUK]

Did you ever make one? Did you ever make anything from Blue Peter

Here's one I didn't make earlier.

Moonbase on Max's Models!

Hi Woodsy

I thought this would interest you – Moonbase Central gets a mention on a video that Max of Max's Models did a few hours ago. It is about half way through. 

Max is doing a video on the Ideal Toy Company, and their ITC kit range, and is currently drawing together all the information he can find. Which is where Moonbase comes in. The word is spreading!

Max has just got some new video editing software, and is playing around with it, hence the extra effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6uShoEe6g

Paul from NZ