THE TV FANTASY WORLDS OF IRWIN ALLEN

Before I  post a piece on the VTTBOTS Gold Key comics, as  reader, Lewis mentioned the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea theme, I thought I'd dig out my soundtrack CD's of Irwin Allen's TV series.

I've got just  the 5 individual discs dedicated to each show , although there is another exclusive bonus disc that comes with a compilation bumper set which features interviews and alternative themes. 

Galleon Star Adventurer

This neat Star Adventurer was listed on Vectis as being issued by Galleon of Hong Kong.

Most of us will think of it as LP / Lik Be.

Galleon has come up before in MC, having released a 2001 Space Glider.

Who are Galleon?

SEAVIEW

 Coming back from holiday, and spending time splashing about in the Mediterranean, I'm going through a bit of a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea fix at the moment.

I know I've posted these photos of my Seaview builds before, but I'm missing the sea views!

Next: A look at the Gold Key comics

The Cox Helldiver

Hi Woodsy

Following your 2024 discovery of an old knitting pattern, with a photo of a boy holding a toy aeroplane on the cover, here is a bit more information on the aircraft.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2024/07/excerpts-of-exeter.html#comment-form

The Curtis SB2C Helldiver was a WW2 US Navy carrier-based dive bomber. The SB2C designation means Scout Bomber, 2nd type built by Curtis.

It first flew in 1940, and entered service in 1942. The US Army Air Force also adopted the type, under the designation A-25 Shrike, as an Attack aircraft.

Cox was a major US maker of flying model aircraft, and they produced the Helldiver in both US Navy and US Army markings. The models were the same, but in blue ..

or dark green plastic, with different markings.

Both had the number 511 in yellow on the nose, and post-1947 US national insignia. The Navy plane had a red spinner, and the Army version a yellow spinner.

The model had a 20 inch wingspan, and was powered by a 'real gas engine', the Cox .049. It carried rockets and long range fuel tanks under the wings, and a bomb under the fuselage that actually dropped.

It also came 'With Thrilling Bail Out ! Parachute Action' for the pilot. After leaving his stricken aircraft, the pilot descended by parachute.

I do not know when this model was introduced, but it was certainly available in the 1960s.

Six photographs from Worthpoint.

Anyone got one?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Brave New Marvel: Wolverine, Deadpool and Captain America

Being back on Disney+ and a huge superhero film fan, I've caught up with two Marvel flicks I haven't seen. 

Wolverine and Deadpool:

Two interconnected experimentees with a long history of really disliking each other, this big-hitter flick was inevitable. With Hugh Jackman's Logan movie often cited as one of the best super hero films ever made, I was excited to see Wolverine and Deadpool. Wolvey donning his old yellow Spandex was a delight to an old fan like me missing the glory days of the X- Men. Deadpool was his usual jocular self, the film largely a vehicle for his katana-sharp humour rubbing Logan up the wrong way. It was an interesting watch and moved me forward in the saga.

Captain America: Brave New World: 

I hoped for so much from this flick. I adore the Cap. As it turns out it's Steve Roger's super-soldier Cap I adore. Not Sam Wilson's metal-winged angel. Noble nevertheless, Falcon America is a poor second for me, like Robin standing in for Superman. No powers, no super strength. The film was sadly a Brave New Mess, a lukewarm domestic story lacking in the right serum, that couldn't even be saved by the novelty of a red Hulk Indy. I'm really glad I saw it though and shall seek hopefully more meaningful falconry in Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Have you seen either of them? 

Ray Guided X-2 Space Ship: Thunderbird Too

 This is another Thunderbirds toy clone deploying light activation. 

This gorgeous Thunderbird X-2 looks fab and the box art is terrific. 

It would look great with the blue Thunderbird 1 I posted the other day.

Seen in auction, it includes a sheet of legible instructions, which may help shed some 'light' on the ray guided torch mechanism, which I assume is the same as that blue Thunderbird 1.

Anyone got one?

Typhoons and Hurricanes Scalextric

I love this You Tuber's slot car clips. Here's some beautiful footage of his Typhoon motorcycle combos racing round a track. 

Do you like it too?

https://youtu.be/SbdZec8iVzY?si=7RTjrstaZoVACsQr 

DIY Toy Noddy See Saw: The Ups and Downs

 I've always loved novelty plastic toys.

This rare Noddy Seesaw by Linda is a great example. Colourful, simple, plasticcy, gorgeous.

Having a similar base spare I thought I'd have a go at making my own.

I got some cheap plasticcy cake gnomes to represent Noddy and Big Ears. Actual Noddies are quite expensive and not simple enough.

I added fencing and signs and a seesaw plank with handles.

With some carefulish heating I spread the gnomes legs apart, which was by far the hardest part, as two legs fell off! 

Still, with some paint, glue and a bell, I got Noddy seesawing.

Not perfect, a passable clone.

See what you think.

As I had spare gnomes I made another, simpler plank.