Tether Racers AKA Spindizzies

And now for something completely different.

Attached is an advert from the back page of the latest Hornby Railway Collectors Association magazine. 

It's by a fairly renowned auction house and for once doesn't show any rare trains but rather a quartet of very fetching and abstract looking racing cars in primary colours.

Being bereft of wifi for a week meant I couldn't check them out straightaway but here's what I found. 

They're tether racers, powered by the same type of miniature combustion engines as RC model aircraft and such. And they have quite a history too. 

They come in all shapes and engine classes. The thin long three-wheelers can reach speeds over 200 mph. And the ones on auction could reach figures over £1000.

Here's a bunch of links:

The selection of cars on (a previous) auction:

https://www.lskauctioncentre.co.uk/auction/search/?au=880

A quick grounder:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mcnsmCc4G8I

A bit of history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_QtcXrGtEU

A day at the track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv044-zLYEo

And for those who haven't given up yet: a pair of young Americans reacting like young Americans do but also giving an idea and showing some nice cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAcWn5dg6uM

Best

Paul V.

VTTBOTS IN TV TORNADO

 

A two-page black & white Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea  comic strip was published in the first six issues of TV Tornado, before being replaced with text stories until issue 14.

Here's the first complete two-page strip, drawn by Mick Anglo

Here's the two-page strip from the second issue.

The splash illustration from the text story in issue 14.

Voyage appeared sharing the front cover on a few occasions, as well as one on the cover of issue 54  long after the strip had finished in the comic.

Looey's 3D Printed Georgian Mansion

Some Enchanted Evening

As the summer sunlight fades I took Conan and his horse out into the dessicated garden.

Since their last outing here I've sourced all the remaining missing parts and I'm pleased to say my 1993 Thunder the Battle Stallion and Conan set is complete. It was great fun.

With his hands full already, Bill kindly donated a rather cool sword perfect for Conan's swings. I just added chrome. 

See what you think.

MASTER OF DISASTER VIEWMASTER

 My four Irwin Allen TV series View -Master sets.

Terranova47's Breach

Here's my Seaview breaching into a time-warp,

SEAVIEW MEETS PATRICK O'BRIAN!

Let's see Jack Aubrey get out of this one!

Terranova47

NYC

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA GOLD KEY COMICS

 I've always liked collecting TV related Dell and Gold Key comics. The dynamic covers are always a big draw, even if the contents don't always, if ever live up to expectations.

I've a full set of the 16 Gold Key comics featuring the TV version, two of which are reprints of earlier issues.

Note: While I recognise many of the styles of classic British, and some Spanish and South American comic artists from the sixties, I'm not over familiar with many American artists of the time, so I've had to rely on the research of others which I happily acknowledge.

Here's a photo of the first three issues. No 1 was released on November 30th, 1964, with art by Mike Sekowsky. The story is 'The Lone Survivor'. Inks are either Don Heck or Mike Peppe.

The second issue, released on June 30th, 1965, and contains the story, 'Monsters of the Mojo',  pencilled by George Tuska.

The strips in these first two issues are reprinted in the 1964/65 World Distributers Comic Album, which uses the the cover from the second comic.

Issue No.3 published in October, 1965, features the story, 'The Jonah Cruise of the Seaview', with pencils by Don Heck, and inks by Mike Peppe.

The first seven issues featured a pin up on the back cover. Here's the back covers of the first three issues.

A photo of issues, 4,5 and 6. Issue No. 4, published in May, 1966, features the story, 'Robinson Crusoe of the Depths', with art by Alberto Giolitti, and artist I am familiar with as he did artwork for some of the Star Trek, Gold Key comics.

This story was reprinted in the 1965/66 World Distributers, Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea annual.

1966/67                                                                        1965/66

1965/65 Annual and comic

Issue 5, published in August, 1966, is the story, The Great Undersea Safari, with artwork by Alberto Giolitti.

This story was reprinted in the  1966/67 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' annual, and later in 1971, an abridged version appeared in the Look In comic.

Issue 6, published November, 1966. 

This story, The Overland Trail. Pencils by Alberto Giolitti and Giorgio Cambiotti: Inks by Alberto Giolitti. Issue 6 is reprinted later in the run minus the back page pin-up.

 The back page pin ups.

Issues 7, 8 and 9.

Issue 7 published February, 1967. This issue, titled, 'Saga of the Undersea Island', is reprinted later in the run, minus the back page pin-up.

Issue 8 published May, 1967. The story is titled, 'Expedition to Doomsday'.

Issue 9 published August, 1967.The story is titled . Seaview vs. the Ultra Sub'.

The back pages. Note pin-up ends with issue 7. After that replaced with adverts.

Issues 10, 11 and 12. 

Issue 10 released in November, 1967. Story is 'Davy Jones Locker. Art by Alberto Giolitti

Issue 11 released in February, 1968. Story is 'SOS Seaview. Art by Alberto Giolitti.

Issue 12 released in May, 1968. Story is 'The Empress of the Oceans'. Art by Alberto Giolitti. Some issues of 12, show a price increase from 12c to 15c

Issues 13 and 14.

Issue 13 released in August, 1968. Story title: The Renegade Island. Some issues of 13 show a price increase from 12c to 15c.

Issue 14 released in November, 1968. Story title: The Life and Death of Seaview.

Issues 15 and 16. Both of these final issues are reprints of issues 6 and 7, minus the back page reprints.

Here's a comparison  photo of the covers.

                                                                     

                                                                       The back pages.

Paul's 1954 Casino Royale 007 VHS

Hi Woodsy

Your coverage of videotapes this year inspired me to have a look through the tape boxes at the most recent Lions Club book fair. Not something I usually do, as I do not currently have a working VCR.

I just picked up one – the very first screen appearance of James Bond, in a 1954 US television production of Casino Royale. In this, Bond becomes a US agent, with Barry Nelson playing Bond, and Peter Lorre as the villain Le Chiffre.

This adaptation was part of the Climax Theatre television series. Casino Royale was only published in April 1953, and this production was from October 1954. It would be 1962 before Bond made it to the big screen.

The video includes some extras, and was rated PG in both Australia and New Zealand. In the days of videotape, the Censor sticker had to be applied to the cassettes themselves, as well as to the paper slicks that fitted inside the cases.

Not bad for $1.

Anyone seen the film?

Paul from NZ