Konga Diorama from Monarch Models

Hi,

Here is a new You Tube video from CultTVman, showing various kits that are coming out soon, or which are being re-issued. 

It includes a close-up look at the Monarch Models Konga diorama kit from Canada, which is now due in early 2025.

The kit shown, which is a test shot, is moulded in several colours – orange for Konga, pale yellow for the humans, green for the base, and brick red for the building walls. There are no clear parts for the windows.

Monarch Models are really expensive, and produced in limited numbers, so this is one for dedicated Konga fans only. It has been in the pipeline for several years.

One for you maybe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLynOrJ-Q2k

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Just a Minic

Hello Woodsy

Here's my reproduction box for a Tri-ang Minic taxi. I bought it to display with the cab.

Terranova47

USA

Kong Skull Island

I caught Kong Skull Island again yesterday, probably the first time I've seen it since watching the cinema release in 2017.

The film itself is set in 1973 I think. Is that right?

All in all I enjoyed this titanic romp. The CGI is great and Kong himself looks fabulous. The water scenes were great and the designers have nailed splashing water. The battle with the giant squid was excellent and the wriggling tentacles on Kong's face were really well conceived. He is a beautiful rendition of the ape.

I'm still not a fan of the skull crawlers. There's something off about them, something unappealing. It could be the two legs and a snake tail thing or even the basic greyness of them. The heads seem basic too. I'll have to say it, they're ugly creations.

The 1970's tech - principally choppers - reminded me of Apocalypse Now and Samuel L. Jackson's napalm trick could well have been inspired by the surfing Colonel and his morning firestorm. 

As for the actors, it's a Marvel roll-call. Nick Fury, Loki and Captain Marvel all get some extra pocket money. Probably the only real character of any interest for me was the marooned GI stuck on Skull Island since WWII. I know Japanese fighters overran the end of it but this did make me wonder if Western allied soldiers did too?

What do you think of Kong Skull Island readers? 

My Christmas Presents

My Birthday and Christmas presents this year were both very welcome and really brill.

Here they are grouped on an armchair as they would have been back when I was a kid.

A fleece, a handful of great books, fine modelling brushes and plastic glue, vintage toy stun gun (thanks Bill), toy rings including the Flash and an older Superman Kryptonite ring, a bundle of small vintage toys, a beautiful Ugly card (thanks Arto), a gorgeous wooden picture, spiced soap, Reece's peanut chocolates, a special home-made Hot Wheels box from my Grandson and a big uber-cool box of Micronauts parts from my daughter [I cant say Son-in-Law too as this year we did Secret Santa for adults for the first time with a budget of £50 each. My daughter got me as it turned out!]

Whilst mooching in Malton, I also treated myself a bottle of Southern Comfort on offer at Morrisons and to a Christmas Radio Times, a sort of tradition I have and the only time I buy one, At £5.99 its a gift in itself but its not the beautiful tome of woodcut illustrations it once was. Still, there's lots of Xmas ghosties, ghoulies and some sci-fi in the TV and radio listings., which I'll ring and watch/ listen to sometime. They're about the only things worth a festive hoot in there too IMHO!

Do you still get a Radio or TV Times UK readers or a TV magazine where you live in the world?

My friend Paul Vreede kindly sent me a fantastic box of Hot Wheels Rrrrumblers and a gaggle of original Star Wars toy figures customised by Paul in the 1980's. More on these later! 

Pics of your prezzies welcomed readers! 

Those Strange Days

And so that was Christmas. 

Our festive five day family reunion in a beautiful rented farmhouse is over and we have all gone out separate ways again.

Now we enter those strange days between Christmas and the New Year, the awkward intermission.

I was looking forward to getting back home and just relaxing with some new vintage toys Santa brought me, but it looks like Grandparenting is never done. Our daughter's been ill whilst we've all been away together in North Yorkshire and needs a break from the kids to fully recuperate.

I'll relax in 2025! 

What are you up to in the build up to New Year readers?

DALEKS BEWARE!

Those Daleks don't stand a chance at Christmas. Check out all these Siren Stans, clones and Astro Rays kids got back in the day!

Have you got one? Did you?

 

DEAD OF NIGHT: A WOMAN SOBBING

 

More shivers from the haunted BBC back in 1972.

Perfect for Christmas!

Lance's Christmas Picture