Kevin's Star Trek The Motion Picture communicator

I've made a scratchbuilt replica of the communicator from Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Not a patch on the original series ones but it has something.

Cheers,

Kevin

Mystery Ships

I saw these online and thought, wow! They look neat! Obviously Japanese, I don't know what they are. Anyone? 

British Warship Jig-saws

Here is another set of jig-saw puzzles, which I have had for a few decades. Clearly, all the vessels in the Combat Ships Series are British ships from the Falklands War of 1982, although there is one howling mistake.

JR Jigsaws, Handley Printers Ltd, 200 pieces. Size 12 3/4 inches by 9 inches, or 324mm by 228mm.

The paintings are just not up to the standards of those featuring Roy Cross or Roy Huxley artwork. I assume these were made in Britain ?

H.M.S. Fearless – Landing Platform Dock, amphibious landing ship

H.M.S. Glamorgan – County Class Guided Missile Destroyer, but the box top painting shows a Sheffield Class Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer

H.M.S. Argonaut – Leander Class Frigate, after conversion to an Exocet Leander, with surface-surface missiles.

H.M.S. Endurance – Ice Patrol Vessel

Not a great set, but they would have been topical when they came out.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Gone for a Burton: Batman Forever

Having watched the first two Tim Burton Batman movies again, on DVD, I've been basking in late 80's - early 90's bat-glow.

And then I watched Batman Forever. Oh dear! 

I can't believe it's a Tim Burton movie too! What was he thinking? Somewhere between Returns and Forever Tim lost his Mojo. Maybe he just ran out of steam and not having Keaton carrying on must have been a blow.

There was no subtle beginning, no introduction, just a messy, loud string if explosions and chases with Two Face chuckling throughout. There appeared to be no story until Wayne met Nigma.

I just feel the casting was all wrong. Val Kilmer is just too darn good looking for his own good and never seems to get riled. Chris's Robin is just too annoying to even write much about. And Nicole Kidman as Meridian Chase just didn't do it, her performance was neither here nor there.

But I've saved the worst till last: Two Face.

 Tommy Lee Jones was not the actor for Harvey Dent's bifurcated character. It was wishy washy at best and the make-up and clothing looked daft. I can't think of a single memorable line they gave poor Tommy to say.

Jim Carey did OK as the Riddler, a sort of Mask dry-run, but being a funny guy he was well, funny. Too much funny ruins Batman for me I'm afraid. 

Michael Gough's Alfred kept things on the straight and narrow when he could, but overall the complete carnage and cacophony around him was all we could hear.

The whole film was a bit of a mess but I'm glad I've seen it again.

Have you seen it?

Next up, George Clooney's Batman and Robin!

Ed's Red Alert!

Woodsy,

An urgent communiqué has been received warning of an incoming alien fleet.

 Our outpost has been placed on alert and our fighter's scrambled. Missile defense vehicles have been posted on the perimeter and Space Marines deployed to defensive positions.

HG Toys spaceships flying over MPC 60mm ringhand space troops and mobile missile launcher.

Ad is a scan of an original comic book ad from the 1960s. Now, that is a scene I'd love to recreate!

From Vegas Base

Ed

The Rugby Post!

 I've had this idea for ages, how else to use a shop rack I have.

Eh voila!

Action Man rugby conversion! 

Behind the scenes! All the action! 

C'mon Castleford Tigers! 

Cereal Killers: Nabisco Shreddies Prehistoric Creatures

Here is a video from Cerealmad, on the toys that came in packets of breakfast cereal. In this case, the Prehistoric Animals, by Nabisco Shreddies, from 1958.

This was a set of 20 semi-flat figures – mostly dinosaurs, and a few Ice Age mammals. There are close-ups of all the figures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDuNmL1QoA

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Here on the Blog Today in 2009

Back in our first full year on MC, 2009, born out of my childhood love of Project SWORD, we largely focused on Gerry Anderson's amazing shows and toy lines.

Here's what appeared here that day, sixteen years ago!

*

Thunderbird 6

Mentioned earlier on the blog, I couldn't resist posting this fabulous set of pics from Philosophic Toad / WOTAN. 

They show all 3 prototype Thunderbird 6's made by Brains in the film of the same name. The sleek silver one makes me think of an Angel Interceptor. 

The middle one is very Matt Mason. As I've talked about before, the bottom red one is a deadringer for the Tarheel NOVA III toy rocket. They all got trashed in the film. 

Wonder of any more of them were made and survived? We know what Thunderbird 7 is - no such drama - the Project Sword Beetle or Snow Train. 

But did it ever actually appear in Thunderbirds?