Keeping to my Star Trek- The Motion Picture theme, here’s what’s inside the Motion Picture Pop-Up book.
First published in February, 1980, and created by Tor Lokvig & Chuck Murphy, who also designed the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise Bridge punch-out books contains seven double page illustrations based on scenes from the movie.
It’s a fun, innovative book for the younger Star Trek fan (and, i might add, one or two older ones too!) and well worth adding to the Star Trek ephemera collection.
Some photos of my A.M.T. Ertl USS Enterprise Refit, a kit my dad bought for me as a birthday gift way back around 1986 or ‘87.
At the time I was probably daunted by the time consuming ‘aztec’ paint scheme, and the kit was consigned to my stash in the attic for years. Nowadays, I’m a little bolder in my kit building, and dusting it off, I worked out an easier way of producing a reasonable look without going over the top, or, with one exception trying to track down aftersales add-ons.
Although the kit was released for ‘Star Trek- The Voyage Home’, and sporting the NCC-1701-A decals, I wanted to do the Motion Picture version, and luckily, did manage to find some excellent aftersales decals which allowed for both versions.
The box artwork for Star Trek-IV- The Voyage Home.
I like to add a little lighting to my models where I can, but for this kit I decided I just wanted to build it more or less as it was. I do have a couple of other AMT Enterprise refit kits, including the edition with lighting and sounds, and the first edition with lighting for the saucer section, so I’ll wait to see how those turn out.
I’ve always had a fondness for Star Trek – The Motion Picture, in spite of the fact that some like to dub it the ‘slow motion picture’. Each to their own, I suppose. Anyway, the stand out scene for me is the USS Enterprise refit reveal as Admiral Kirk and Scotty, aboard a travel pod slowly pass along her shiny new hull.
Some photos of the model on the bench.
The plastic kit adventure is just beginning!
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The second of our Lone Star sword customs, Steed's Sword Stick.
Steed, a la The Avengers, always carried a cane or a brolly on TV, both hiding a lethal rapier blade. In Germany it even got a mention in its TV title, Schirm, Scharm und Melone: Brolly, Charm and Bowler!
Like all Lone Star's toy swords Steed's sword stick was inserted through the card header. They must have been quite difficult to display in shops.
Our cane has a bamboo handle from China (incredibly fast shipping!), a plastic eBay fancy dress 'shepherd's crook' scabbard (very long, in sections and enough for three scabbards! Result) and various bits from the moonbase bits drawer.
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Propelled by our Tarzan, this is Operation Lone Star Swords!
This Spring Bill and myself aim to re-create Lone Star's three TV toy swords from the 1960's: Zorro, Steed and Adam Adamant.
We will then attempt two far less well-known TV swords from the company, details of which were kindly supplied by the incredibly helpful John B of Murdersville: Sir Francis Drake and Dick Turpin.
So, that's Five in total. It'll be emotional!
So, with a big Z flourish, here's the first Lone Star sword custom:
Zorro's Sword.
Like all Lone Star's toy swords the toy was simply inserted into the header card. They must have been quite difficult to display in shops.
Here's our ' home made' version of the fabled Lone Star Tarzan set, the rare original a blog legend now.
From first seeing this set in black and white on a magazine cover nearly twenty years ago to making a custom, it's swung through the jungle and come full circle.
Diarised here since starting this project, my re-modelled figures look better than I expected all painted up and Bill' terrific backing card really brings the whole thing to life.
The sushi lunch box blister was the icing on the vines!
Not perfect but a decent go.
Happy days at Moonbase International Toys!
See what you think readers.
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Sorry to hear that car customizer and fabricator, Gene Winfield passed away on March 4th, 2025.
Winfield built many film and TV prop vehicles including the Reactor, seen in Mission : Impossible, 'Bewitched', 'Batman 1966; and Star Trek.
He worked for Aluminium Model Toys (A.M.T.) as a consultant style designer for their model kits, and that association led to A.M.T. building the full size Shuttlecraft prop for Star Trek.
He also made the Man from UNCLE Piranha car a star, producing the car as a another A.M.T. kit.
He also had a hand in designing the gadgets on Maxwell Smart's Sunbeam Tiger for Get Smart.
Our sincere condolences to his friends and family.
