Home Run! Our Secret Sam Bazooka Bat

 Here's our latest custom.

Topper's Secret Sam Bazooka Bat.

The wonderful card art is by Bill and I sourced a modern plastic beige baseball bat and white ball, emulating as far as I could the originals. 

This custom take on the bat concludes our Secret Sammery and, together with the Cane Shooter, form our personal homage to the mighty Topper.

Here they are as a pair. See what you think.

Now in the transit station - our bookshelf - before going into storage, here's one more Topper shot.

Next up, the Man from UNCLE Pistol Cane.

Jewels from the Crypt

Researching film props, I remembered the amazing brooch in the 1960's film Tales from the Crypt.

It's the gift left under the Christmas tree for Joan Collins in the fabulous first section, And all Through the House. 

Quite a stunning thing, Joan wasn't that impressed really and besides, she had a madman dressed as Santa to contend with! 

Does anyone know anything about this prop brooch and is there another one like it especially a bit of costume tat anywhere?

Will's Mighty Mike Skyway

Hi.

My mighty Mike set. I remember playing with one when I was young … a little unstable but great fun.( the toy , not me! ) .

Will O

UK

Selby Saunter

A wander round one of our fave towns, Selby, is always fun and today I spotted a few things in the Charities that I thought I'd share.

This Chinese calligraphy set would have been a treat when I was a young teenager in my Kung Fu days. I think the ink rod is grated on the stone with water to produce usable ink. Not sure if the spoon is original. 

This charity had a great stock of old kids books ...

... Including Coral Island published by Bancroft. I loved this hardback as a kid and it's companion Treasure Island. Truly gorgeous cover art. Did you have any Bancrofts?

On the rear is a list of other classic titles.

This Hoppit game is a new one on me. Fabulous box art. I was tempted! 

Not sure what this large white Sports car was. Probably Barbie's ride. Or maybe the Captains?

These two old boxed models were in a window. Quite dear but they looked great I must say. Anyone know them?

This old Spaceflight book was interesting.

There's even a make your own ANT model double-spread! 

I came home with a 1970 softback on Tutunkhamun, £1, that I had as a kid and a boxed set of the Keaton/ Kilmer Batman movie CD's for £2, much cheaper than streaming.

We also bought a bureau.

See anything you like?

Barbie and GI Joe Nissan US TV Ad 1996

 

Well what do you make of that?

Shoot a Chute

I like this toy pistol, Shoot a Chute.

You fire the plastic paratrooper into the air via the toy gun. Clever!

The figures even have parachutes!

The Lone Star Custom Armoury

 Before they all go into storage, here's a final group shot of our five custom Lone Star swords. 

Which is your favourite?

The Electric State

There's been a few standout streamed TV Sci-Fi moments over the last decade: Stranger Things, Fall Out, The Boys, The Creator and now, the Electric State.

Shown this month on Netflix, I really enjoyed this film. It reminded me of AI a lot: sad, wistful, hopeful and yearning: the girl's (11 from Stranger Things) search for the lost brother echoed David's desperate quest to find the Blue Fairy and ultimately his mother.

Incredibly expensive and somewhat panned over it's opening week, Electric State is that insightful vision of robot futurism that comes along every now and then, which shows humanity at it's worst and best through the eyes of machines.

I loved it.

No spoilers, have you seen it?