Secret Admirers: our Secret Sam Cane Shooter

 With our Lone Star swords done and dusted, here's the first of our two Secret Sam homages.

This is our updated Topper Secret Sam Cane Shooter.

Rather than a golden lion's head, this cane has a rather snazzy modern golden snake's head.

As usual, Bill's wonderful card art makes all the difference. I sourced the pharaoh's sceptre from a joke shop on eBay and shortened it.

Hope you like it. The secret's out! 

MONSTROUS HANDS

 I love obscure facts about obscure toys.

Here are Lincoln International's monsters.

I read on the brilliant Plaid Stallions that the hands of the Werewolf, Mummy and the Fly were based on the fabulous hands of the Aurora Wolfman, pictured below.

My own observation is that maybe Imperial's Classic Movie Monster Wolfman has the same hands too.

Have you any of these toys readers?

*

Another hand!

Auckland March Fair 2: Books and Die-Casts

Here is my second report, on the first Auckland fair of 2025. This time, books and die-casts.

A new book on Fun Ho ! die-cast toys. Over 200 pages, and in full colour, apart from period advertising. A 1982 Heller kit catalogue, and three aircraft books.

A Corgi Juniors model of the helicopter from the Australian TV series Chopper Squad, about surf life savers, copyright date 1978. A pair of modern Matchbox Morris Minor Traveller convertibles, with lift-up bonnets.

A group of Lone Star Beach Buggies. Nearly all plastic, with metal baseplates, although one is missing its top, and only three have a driver.

Having seen these on Moonbase Central several times, I knew what they were, so I grabbed the whole collection. The Flower Power stickers are a nice touch.

Paul Adams from NZ

Looey's Small Film Steps

Hi Woodsy!

You were asking about my progress on my puppet fillum...

I've completed a 1st version of the pre-viz which clocks in at 10 minutes. After suggestions from my collaborators (the Missus and my ex-work pal) I'm working hard on Ver. 2.

The only finished footage I've completed to date is my opening ID. This is all composited real imagery (as opposed to CGI or AI) I've smashed it down to low rez for posting as opposed to the 4K it was shot in!

If you're interested I can detail how I actually did it! (SPOILER it's actually more basic than you might suspect!)

Keep on Bloggin'

Looey

Oz Base

REMOTE CONTROL MOON RANGER

This Moon Ranger appeared on Ebay earlier in the year and is another Project SWORD toy that has been adjusted with a remote control and wire.

We've seen a few of these adjustments over the years. I believe that they are home improvements rather than anything official in the factory. I can imagine that the remote control just made it more fun rather than reaching for the awkward on-off switch at the side of the toy.

What do you think?

Have you any remote control toys?

Sherlock Holmes Gift Set

Mine and Bill's latest creation, an original custom 'toy' of our own:

The Hound of the Baskervilles Two Pipe Problem Gift Set! 

Card art by Bill, pipes sourced by me.

Elementary! 

Ed's Alien World Diorama Base

Woodsy,

My red diorama base was built back in 2012 and made from a 29.5" x 11.5" piece of shelving (cut to fit within a shelf unit in The Cave), Styrofoam sheets for the rockwork, carved then covered with lightweight patching plaster, and lastly painted. 

I didn't want a gray Moonscape look for this one, but rather a red Martian-esque look. The photos show an additional rock outcropping which is actually a separate piece and removable, depending on whether I want to use it for a shoot. 

The background picture I painted myself - also in 2012 - on black foamcore. It's not made to represent Earth, just an alien world. I chose blue because it was a nice bright color that stood out from the black backing.

From Vegas Base

Ed

Operation Lone Star Customs - The Five Toy Swords: 5. Dick Turpin

 Our final Lone Star custom, Dick Turpin's sword released between 1979 and 1982.

Again, with reference material kindly supplied by John Buss of Murdersville, Bill was able to create a really fabulous backing card and I was able to get the sword guard gold colour right.

So here goes, the latest of Lone Star's swords and the last of our customs:

Hope you like it.

In the catalogue picture provided by John there was an image of the sword along with a neckerchief and what I assume to be Dick Turpin's black cap. I think they came with the sword sold in toy shops.

Here's my rather shoddy imitation of it.

That's it, we're done with Lone Star's swords.

Hope you enjoyed the journey.

Next up, Secret Sam!