MY CUSTOM MATTEL SPACE 1999 ZYTHON FIGURE

 Continuing my project making my own custom versions of rare sci-fi toy figures, here's another one I've finished.

Zython.

To make Mattel's elusive Space 1999 alien I bought a cheap loose and green Monster High doll.

I then shrank her head but I'm unsure it worked. All her hair was removed and her tippy-toes clipped. I adjusted the head a little with some hot pinching and fimo, added long ears and a beard and painted it a similar lime. Finally the eyes and brows were drawn on.

The costume is from the Missus's felt stash with gold braid, all glued together. The cap is a plastic spoon. Shoes are trimmed Barbies. The trident is a marshmallow stick with Cootie legs on top.

Here it is complete.

Hope you like it.

Here's Mattel's original doll for comparison

Not perfect, by a long chalk, more of an impression really, my Zython - Mython! ha ha - will look even better once mounted on a recreation of the original Mattel backing blister card.

That particular piece of graphics wizardry is in the hands of Billy the Boxer!

Watch this Space .... 1999!

[you can read more about the original figure on the ever-informative Plaid Stallions https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/toy-ventures-zython-from-mattels/]

HYDROMIC MISSILE BUILD

 A project I've been working on on and off for a while is scratch building the Hydromic missiles silos, seen in Stingray.

I've already built the missiles out of wood and bits of plastic card, and started to build one of the launch towers, which are built using parts from the old Revell Jupiter "C" kit.

The rest of the parts I'll use will come from the re-issued Atlantis 'Everything is Go' kit .

2000 AD - The Time Has Come

 I have been an avid comic collector for years, probably starting seriously in 1978 with the advent of Fleetway's 2000 Ad comic, which arrived on a weekly basis and introduced the character of Judge Dredd and kickstarted a new career for Eagle staple Dan Dare. I missed the first 4 issues, with the free gifts (!), but collected every issue, including Summer specials and annuals for the next 30 odd years, until a few years back it became hard to get hold of in the standard newsagent and I decided to call it quits. The quality of the art and stories had dropped off and it had also been branching off into other magazines, such as the Judge Dredd Megazine, Crisis, Revolver and various other demands on my time and pocket. Coupled with the rise of manga distribution and my many other collecting demands, something had to give. 

As a result, I now have boxes and boxes of comics sitting in the attic, taking up space. I have sold a couple of specials on ebay, but am still left with a massive collection needing a new home. All the early (pre-2000) issue are bagged up and most of the later ones are in good condition, so I would like to be able to donate them to a new owner. The logistics of moving are large collection preclude just selling them as a job lot on ebay, so anyone who wants them would need to collect. 

So the question is, is there anyone out there who would like 30 odd years worth of comics, or can anyone suggest anywhere where I might donate them as a collection? Free to a good home, with one careful owner!

MEANWHILE, IN JANUARY 1970

Tri-ang Magazine 1964-65

A number of toy and model companies have produced a tie-in magazine to promote their products; or an outside publisher has launched a magazine carrying a famous, and well-established, brand name. 

Meccano Magazine (promoting Meccano engineering sets, Hornby model railways, and Dinky Toys) was launched in 1916; and Airfix Magazine (promoting Airfix plastic kits, model railways, and later slot cars) followed in 1960.

There was also a magazine carrying the Tri-ang name, but this only lasted for ten issues, between October 1964 and July 1965. It was published by Outward Publications Limited, on the fourth Thursday of each month, and sold for 1/6 (one shilling and sixpence, or 7 1/2 New Pence in post-1971 decimal currency).

It was available from newsagents, and also toy shops, or by subscription. Very few copies appear to have survived the decades, at least judging by the lack of sales listings on-line.

A feature of the magazine was a double-page centrefold - a bit like the Eagle cut-aways, but not as detailed, and only in black and white. Only the front and back covers appear to have been in colour.

These pages show the front covers of all ten issues. The magazine covered a wide range of subjects, and was clearly aimed at boys.

https://tri-ang.co.uk/OONew/indMaG.htm

https://tri-ang.weebly.com/tri-ang-magazine.html

The Editor was Douglas McHard. According to this article he had previously worked for Meccano.

https://www.maronline.org.uk/doug-mchard-and-the-somerville-bus/

Lines Brothers acquired Meccano in 1964, and soon set about merging various aspects of the two companies, to avoid duplication. Tri-ang Railways and Hornby Dublo became Tri-ang Hornby in 1965.

This also meant the end of Tri-ang Magazine, with the July 1965 issue. The August 1965 issue of Meccano Magazine announced that there was now just 'one BIG monthly hobby journal - The Meccano Magazine'.

The editorial stated that the black and white centrefolds had been one of the most popular features of the Tri-ang Magazine. It appeared to imply that the centrefolds would continue – or is that just my reading ?

In the event the centrefold in the August issue, depicting the Apollo Saturn C.5 rocket, was the only one to appear in Meccano Magazine. Obviously just using up a piece of artwork that had already been paid for.

This issue of Meccano Magazine can be found on the excellent Internet Archive site. Unfortunately, they do not have any copies of the Tri-ang Magazine.

https://archive.org/details/meccano-magazine-1965-08/mode/2up

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Small and Smaller

Woodsy,

I took this picture back in 2012. The astronaut is a Tri-ang but I have no clue who made the diminutive Apollo Lunar Module. The trouble is - just where did I put these things?

From Vegas Base

Ed

Dream Stopping

Dreams are strange. Like a drunk projectionist staggering round your brain, you never know what's going to be shown on those juddering spools.

Unless, of course, it's a recurring dream that's topping the cranial bill.

I'd love to dream about running toy stalls or Thunderbirds or my Grandchildren.

But the projectionist has other ideas. My top billing is always the same. My old job.

I worked for a urban charity for 20 years, working my way slowly up to the position of deputy dog. I enjoyed the first - sort of - 15 years but the final 5 were horrendous. Stress Central and then some. I hated it and dreaded every single day. My health suffered and couldn't wait to get out, which I did in 2005, thank God! 

You would have thought that nearly twenty years later I would have got it out of my system. Dreamt it out like sweat.

But no, my dreams, the ones I remember, are most often back there, with me facing the same interminable problems I faced in reality: my beleaguered team, the pompous Board, a skeptical City Hall, ambitious colleagues, ailing funds, headstrong personalities, bitter rivalries, major cock-ups and abject failures.

Usually, at some point, after the palpable tension peaks, I get sacked or walk out and the night's dose is thankfully over.

As I say, I'd love to dream about nice stuff. I've been running this blog for nearly as long but never dream about it. It's obviously too nice! 

C'mon Thunderbirds! I need my dreams rescuing! Send in the Mole!

A new dream for a new year! 

Do you dream readers? Are any recurring? 

SPACE:1999 PUBLICITY BROCHURES

 As we're now entering the fiftieth year of  Space:1999's first broadcast in the UK, well, actually it was September, 1975, but I don't need much of an excuse to blog about the series.

Anyway, here's some photos of my small collection of Space: 1999 publicity brochures, the ephemera that would have been given out a various press junkets.

The first is what I think is the brochure that would have been given out in the UK.  It folds out, and curiously, it uses that same loge that was used on the Lyons Maid Space:1999 promotional  card set.  The brochure is about the same size as a long player record, and came in a card envelope, with the same logo on it.

The second brochure was used for the American and Canadian market. It's big, brash, and impressive.

It 's printed on glossy card, and contains several pages featuring large photos and fold out sections.

Below is small A3? size 2-page pamphlet promoting the series,

Finally, the brochure released for Year 2, presumably for both the US and UK markets. While not as impressive as the American year 1 brochure, it's still very eye-catching.