T IN A CIRCLE CHIEFTAIN TANK

T in a Circle Chieftain Tank

Ferryman Collection

KONAMI LUNAR CARRIER

The Konami Lunar Carrier, another model from Konami’s UFO TV series range.

Unlike my previous Konami post on the Konami S.I.D. which came as part of a double pack, the Lunar Carrier was part of a separate UFO set. http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/konami-sid.html

 With all the sealed boxes looking exactly the same what you’d find inside was down to pot luck, and according to the UFO series page with the chances of getting a Carrier was one in ten.

In the TV series the Lunar Carrier (or Moon Transporter as it’s described in the UFO annual) is the lifting body used to take the Lunar Module up to the edge of space, whereupon the Module is released to continue its journey to the Moon, while the Carrier returns to Earth.

This concept art by Derek Meddings shows that there were few differences between Derek’s original design and the finished studio model.

Like its TV counterpart, the Konami Carrier has a tiny detachable Lunar Module.

CENTURY 21 TOYS SAM'S CAR

Ferryman Collection

MOONBASE SUMMER

Well, the Summer break is here at last. School's out and the living is easy. Let's hope so anyway [you can tell I'm getting old, I'm worrying already!]

Drawing inspiration from Bill's recent troll portrait, I saw this little troll in a meadow on Etsy and it reminded me that Me and Missus Moonbase will be visiting Switzerland soon and more precisely the small mountain town of Wengen. 

It's funny, I only really know Switzerland from films; the Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood and On Her Majesty's Secret Service with George Lazenby I think. I've read about the James Bond breakfast that's available in a mountain top rotating restaurant, which is a must! Are there any more film connections in Switzerland that you know of readers?

CORY GURMAN'S PLASTIC YELLOW MOTORBIKE

What luck! I've been spring cleaning my inbox and found these pictures of  'my' red motorbike but this time in yellow and boxed, kindly sent in some time ago by Cory Gurman of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Thanks a lot Cory! I once thought this might be JR Toys but this and my own example do not have a makers mark, although they do have the same model number, 303. Can anyone make out the date on the post mark and does anyone else have this toy?

Heres to the Futura

My love affair with concept cars continues. While browsing an antiques market recently, I found a Corgi Junior Whizzwheels Futura, for the princely sum of 50p. I already had one from new, but this was in slightly better condition than my playworn example.

The Corgi Juniors range included a picture card as part of the packet, which were dutifully cut put by me or my dad, whoever got to it first and could be stuck in an album. Some of the cards never made it as far as the album, but were squirreled away in a drawer. Luckily, some of my favourite designs survived, the cars too, but i've just included the cards here, as they include Corgis idea of a futuristic concept car, along with the real life designs.

Hot Wheels are still a firm favourite and a recent trip to Asda brought me the 2012 version of the Redline classic, Twinmill.

SCI FI FILM STORY ARCS

I'm excited about the new Planet of the Apes installment out this week here in UK cinemas.

Like Planet of the Apes, some sci fi and fantasy concepts just run and run in the movies. I suppose the first one I ever really became aware of was the Hammer series of Dracula and Frankenstein films and the Toho Godzilla sequels. 

The recent Godzilla is, for me, one of those keystone films, a remake which re-defined an old story in a modern way, whist adding new elements too. Prometheus, a prequel, was the same for the Alien franchise and Tron Legacy, the Tron sequel, 'self-aware' of the original. Phantom Menace did the same for Star Wars.

Some franchises are easier than others to put in story order with Star Wars films, being conveniently numbered, the easiest. I suppose the Aliens series is easy too if I discount those pesky Predators.

But some are not so easy and two that spring to mind are Planet of the Apes and Superman:

Planet of the Apes: There were, I think, three original films, a remake about ten years ago and two modern movies. But how should they be ordered in terms of the story arc?

Superman: what, three original films, two recent ones and a modern re-make I think? But what's the story order?

Any ideas readers? Any other difficult series?

PS. if anyone can attempt the Godzilla franchise too then much kudos!

MY RED PLASTIC MOTORBIKE

Thought I recognised the motorbike toy in this British Pathe still from the Sixties. I have the very same toy in my display case. Here it is in all its glorious red. Anyone know anything about this plastic toy bike?