MY ART OF PROJECT SWORD BOOK

THE ART OF S.W.O.R.D. 

Thought readers might be interested in this. This is the book I wrote in 2012 and published on Blurb. Above is a short preview of what its like in case your'e interested. It comes in softback, hardback and hardback with dust-jacket, which is the one previewed above. To purchase please go via Blurb on the link above.

Keep on SWORDin!

MOONBASE VIDEO: THE PROJECT SWORD NUCLEAR FERRY

This is a special Moonbase Video, as I never thought I'd be filming the beautiful Nuclear Ferry! But here it is in all its glory readers! So I've taken full advantage of this toy being on loan to me and described as much of it in as much detail as I can. 

Remember, there's only six or seven of these toys that we're aware of at the present time, so getting it on film was a must. Back in 2008 when I started the blog there weren't any! 

Gorgeous beyond words, the Ferry is true blog legend, which has given up its secrets - box art, design, existence - very slowly over many years. It is still surrounded in mystery, which I discuss in the film. Your ideas on them would be welcomed.

Its been great fun videoing this rare toy for you. In many ways the Nuclear Ferry IS Project SWORD. Enjoy!

THE TRANS - CONTINENTAL EXPRESS

Not JR21 or Century 21 I know, but besides looking truly brilliant and ultra modern, the Telsada Trans-Continental Express does have Anderson form. These pictures are from an appearance on Ebay.

I first came across it here on the excellent Space 1999 Eagle Transporter Forum where a talented young modelmaker, Mike Delamar, has started a wonderful project to re-create various Anderson TV fire-tenders. If you have a spare half hour you could do nothing better than read the thread from 'scratch' to the last page - it is a work in progress so keep checking in like me to see how far Mike has got.

It has appeared in a number of Anderson shows including this footage from Stingray The Loch Ness Monster, where it's bright yellow and transporting Stingray on its roof across Scotland! - courtesy of the indispensible You Tube (from around 6.18 minutes)!

MOONBASE VIDEO: THE FLYING SPACE ROCKET DISPLAY CARD FROM JAPAN

Here's my latest Moonbase Central Production. In this video I look at something I was really pleased to get recently from Japan. the Flying Space Rocket display card. A bit of a SWORD curio, watch the film and let me know what you think.

ITS A BIG WEEKEND SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES POP CULTURE AND TOY MEGA QUIZ!

OK Moon Basers, its the weekend again so here's a 25 question pop culture quiz to keep you entertained in between the Partridge Family arriving, having a tipple with Deano Martin and tidying up the Ponderosa! You can answer up to 5 questions. So that's 5 questions per reader. If you get one wrong then it will be open to anyone else. Go Gadget go!

1. DEAD OF _____? : classic British black and white horror film

2. What was an upturned-dalek shaped ice cream with a bubble gum at the bottom called?

3. Which is the odd one out? Fireflash, Mole, Thunderbird 2, Firefly

4. How many times should you NOT say Candyman in the mirror?

5. Mel _________?: the inventor of Colourforms Outer Space Men

6. What is the other name for Captain Marvel?

7. Which one did Bruce Lee NOT star in? Green Hornet, Kung Fu, Marlowe, Longstreet

8. In the original Willy Wonka film where did Charlie find the coin he bought the winning chocolate bar with?

9. The 1960's game Casdon Soccer was endorsed by which famous footballer?

10. What does Lady Penelope give Paul Travers as a gift in the film Thunderbirds are Go?

11. Which SpaceX toy did Ed Valigursky NOT paint? MEV2, Booster Rocket, Nova, Salvage Craft, LAMA

12. A TV chocolate box ad involved the box being delivered by a mysterious man who always left a calling card. Which chocolates?

13. The original GI Joe prototypes at Hasbro were called Skip, Rocky and _____?

14. Which is the odd one out? Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Christkind, Father Christmas, Jack Frost, St. Nikolaus

15. What accessory do Project SWORD's Scout 2 and 3 NOT have that Scout 1 has?

16. What do the films Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Goldfinger have in common?

17. Which was NOT an Aurora kit? Godzilla, King King, Gorgo, Woolly Mammoth, Wolfman

18. The best selling toy of 1964 was an OMA. What was it?

19. In the SWORD Annual which Project SWORD vehicle was able to change shape?

20. Which Sixties song made Jimmy Ruffin famous?

21. What do the heads of Robert the Robot [Fireball XL5], Robby the Robot [ Forbidden Planet] and the Lost in Space robot have in common?

22. Who is Jay Garrick?

23. What do the plots of the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind and the 2009 film Skellig have in common?

24. Who were Muskie Muskrat and Molie Mole?

25. What SpaceX connection do the books Sinister Barrier and Black Corridor have?

I recommend listening to Chocolate Kings from Italian proggers PFM, 1975, whilst playing this quiz [ via You Tube ].

THE JR21 DART PISTOL WITH PERISCOPE

Donated by Steve, proprietor of the cool Vintage Thunderbirds Toys site, this fab JR21 toy was a prize on the blog's first birthday car booty competition back in 2009.

Points of interest are the US Cents price tag and Sean Connery lookalike, both obviously trying to appeal to the American market. Assuming that this is from the mid-Sixties, its contemporaries on both side of the Atlantic will have been Topper Toys' popular Secret Sam Attache Case, which also had a periscope, and the Multiple Toys James Bond Attache Case. 

A gorgeous JR toy. I've not seen another one since! You?

READER'S COLLECTION: TONY E's LP TOYS

Pictures: Tony E 2014

Have you got a collection you'd like have posted here readers?

MOONBASE VIDEO: CENTURY 21 SWORD SCOUT 2 ORIGINAL WHEEL REPLACEMENT

Here we are Moon Basers, another clip from my foray into the world of video. This time I complete the wheel replacement on my project SWORD Scout 2 using an original part from another 1960's toy plane. Just over 10 minutes long, I hope you enjoy it and thanks Tony E!