16/12 EARTHBOUND HANGAR PHOTOS REVISITED

 Seems to be a bit of a slow day on the blog today, so here's a reminder of a few photos I took last year of the excellent Sixteen 12 Earthbound set in my Eagle hangar diorama.

S P U T N I K

Like Wotan I've now seen Sputnik.

I watched this Russian movie on Netflix last night and I really enjoyed it. I was excited beforehand and that doesn't happen often nowadays. The last time was probably Alien Covenant.

Alien is a good cue to start discussing Sputnik. It has been called a Russian Alien but the nickname doesn't do it justice and certainly ignores the very unique character of this film. After all, being Russian, it was never going to look like an American flick.

I shan't be spoiling anything here though, as its still a film to watch. I can say that its a creature feature set in the 1980's Soviet Union. The Cold War is everywhere and time's are grim.

In fact the starkly bleak look of the Cold War interiors are as dominant a feature of the movie as the shockingly awful beast slithering its way through them.

If you have seen the TV series Chernobyl then you will know what I mean about the almost empty Soviet interiors and entire townscapes for that matter. There is a sparseness that's hard to fathom.

I suppose actually rather than Alien or Prometheus Sputnik has more in common with the American fantasy film The Shape of Water, which is located in equally industrial lab settings. Maybe the space flick Life a little too. Sputnik is no kids' film so forget ET. Its a gory movie like Alien.

Comparisons aside though, Sputnik is well worth a watch. I liked it a lot and has whet my appetite for more Soviet sci-fi. In the meantime I may return to Chernobyl and re-watch that.

Have you seen Sputnik?

HOBBYCO AND BARBIE'S CAMPER

Your threads about Barbie's Camper reminded me of another project I've been slowly planning. Back in the early 70's when I'd emigrated to Australia, I discovered Sydney's Hobbyco shop. It is arguably one of the best Hobby shops anywhere and still exists today, although it has changed address three times since this photo was taken.

Back then, it made a huge impression on me and I want to make a 1/12 scale storefront model at some point, complete with all the merchandise. As you can see from this photo, Barbie's Camper is quite visible in the window. 

I keep wondering whether to bite the bullet and get my 3D modelling skills up to scratch and 3D print one, although my Inner Luddite would prefer to simply carve one out of a lump of balsa wood! Anyway, I have more than enough other stuff to be getting on with.

As an aside, I'm currently finishing up my 1/3 scale 2001:A Space Odyssey Astronauts. Having made three Clavius Base figures, I'm now working on a yellow and two red Discovery spacemen.

There is also the basis of a 1/3 scale Space Pod, cluttering up my studio, but I'll leave that on the back burner for a bit longer yet!

The toughest part about picking up a job after a pause of a few years is "Now where was I?" I look at some of the half finished bits and think
"OMG! Did I really make that?"

Lewis,

Oz

THE CORGI 'KOJAK' BUICK, BABY!

 A few photos I’ve taken of the Corgi #290 Kojak Buick Regal which first appeared in 1976, and continued production until around 1980.

I’ve been reminding myself of the original Kojak television series, which started in 1973 following a made –for- TV movie, The Marcus Nelson Murders. This featured a determined police detective called Kojack played by Telly Savalas who wants justice for an innocent young black man, who’s been wrongly accused of heinous crimes by a corrupt justice system   .The film acted as a pilot leading directly to the Kojak series. The series comprised of 118 episodes over five seasons until its cancellation in 1978.

Here in the Britain, it premiered on BBC 1 in August, 1974, soon becoming popular, so much so that a sort of’ Kojakmania’ developed.  Even a spoken  cover  version of the Bread song, ‘If’ was released  as a single by Telly Savalas, which became a No. 1 U.K. hit in March, 1975.

So, who is this Kojak guy, coochei-co?

New York Police Lieutenant Theodopolus ‘Theo’ Kojak is tough, incorruptible, and cynical. But, as he might say, he has heart, baby!   

He is the commander of the New York City Police Department’s 11th Precinct Detective Squad, covering the Manhattan South district. His superior is Captain Frank McNeil; (played by Dan Frazer) McNeil always seems to have a permanent look of bewilderment on his face, like things move too fast for him. But has a lot of respect for Kojak, and although he sometimes clashes with him, he will always back him, when rule bender Theo occasionally resorts to unorthodox methods to get a result.

Sergeant Robert ‘Bobby’ Crocker, (played by Kevin Dobson) is Kojak’s loyal assistant.

George Savalas, younger brother of Telly, plays Detective Demosthenes ‘Curly’ Stavros.  He is credited as Demosthenes in the end titles, to apparently avoid any confusion with his brother, although his full name does appear in the credits as production assistant.

Other members of the Squad are Det. Percy Saperstein (Mark Russell) , Det. Lionel Rizzo (Vice Conti), and for several episodes, Detective Gil Weaver (Roger Robinson)

Unsurprisingly, just like Telly, Kojak is totally bald, and from time to time we are reminded of his Greek heritage. He’s dapper, dresses well and usually wears ostentatiously large gold cufflinks, a gold chain link bracelet and gold digital watch – all very seventies!

In the first seven episodes, Kojak smokes cigarettes or cigarillos, however in the eighth episode, Dark Sunday   we are introduced to Kojak’s trademark lolly pop. 

Kojak drives a brown, 1974 Buick Century 455 V8, (reg. plate: 383 JDZ and designated Car 723K) sometimes sporting white striped tires. The Century was technically the progenitor of the Buick Regal, which frequently shared the same body and power train as the Century.

A light blue Buick Century is also used by other squad members.

Corgi were obviously happy to stick with the Regal styling, although I’m pretty sure not many people would have noticed any differences, especially in the pre-Google days of  1976!

Apart from opening front driver and passenger doors, the Corgi model comes with some interesting features.

In the TV series, Lieutenant Kojak is regularly seen placing his magnetic red flashing beacon on the roof as he races through the busy streets of Manhattan to his next crime scene. The Corgi toy comes with its own detachable beacon. It’s attached by a thin clear plastic strip. Sadly it’s probably the first thing that gets broken off as I’ve seen plenty of original 290 models’ beaconless!

The model comes with a free standing gun-toting plastic figure of Kojak. Obviously, it’s not a perfect likeness to put it mildly, but it’s a nice addition. While mine sports a dark coat and a fedora hat, the outfit he’s generally seen wearing out and about in the series, there is a ‘rarer’ version of the figure, which is hatless and dressed in an evening suit.

Leaning out of the rear driver’s side window is Detective ‘Bobby’ Crocker, arm outstretched, aiming his pistol! What he’s supposed to be aiming at is up to your imagination; something you have to use looking at Crocker’s likeness on the plastic figure’s face! Like the Kojak figure there’s an alternative version with Crocker in a dark blue evening jacket, rather than the more familiar lighter blue.

I’m not sure why Corgi chose to use alternative figures in evening wear and I can understand why there’s not many about; the look doesn’t really fit with the image of the TV series. Kojak was a gritty police drama, taking place in the Manhattan South area of New York. The grimy Eleventh Precinct office where Kojak is stationed looked like it hadn’t had a coat of fresh paint in years.  Dress suits aren’t the first thing that spring to mind, baby!

Another feature is a small serrated plastic disc just beneath the middle of the rear fender. Turn it, and it’s supposed to sound like gun fire! I’ll take Corgi’s word for that one!

The final feature is the original model came with a foil self-adhesive police lieutenant badge.

Mine, like my window display box is a just a replica!

Corgi juniors also released a smaller version of the Kojak Buick #68 in 1977 until 1979.  This has just the red beacon permanently attached to the roof. The backing card has what looks like a generic publicity photo of Telly Savalas.   There was also a double pack with a slightly more inspired backing card using the same Telly Savalas photo, but also with a line drawing of a New York City back drop. The set featured the Buick and a City of  New York police helicopter # 2527, labelled as Kojak – New York Police Set.

N.B. Corgi and Corgi Juniors also reused the tooling for a Buick Regal Police Car and a Metropolis Police Car.

I’ve read that Telly Savalas wasn’t happy when the Kojak TV series was cancelled in 1978 due to declining viewing figures.  However, in 1985, Savalas returned to the role for seven new Kojak television movies over five years, beginning with Kojak – The Belarus File.

Corgi reissued the Kojak Buick Regal in 1999, under their Corgi Classics banner.( # 57403), and aimed at the adult collector.   Using the same tooling, the model had much better detailing, but now gone was the detachable beacon, the sound of gun fire, and the only evidence of the missing Crocker figure was an open rear window. No badge either!

There was still a Kojak figure though; hand painted and cast in white metal rather than plastic, using the familiar fedora hat and coat mould.

This same model was repackaged one final time in 2002. (# CC00501) This was very much the cut price version. The same detailed Buick, but now in a smaller window box with just a small card figure of Kojak.

Although I wouldn’t say it was aimed at a younger audience, the tough, bald headed detective, usually seen with a tootsie pop in his mouth obviously clicked with the kids! The series’ overall appeal and popularity meant we did get some nice nostalgic reminders of what I consider to be an excellent TV series. 

Who loves ya, Baby!

STELLAR LAMP

I saw this earlier in the year on Ebay and thought, Wow! now that's a ceiling light! Is it something that you would hang up there Moonbasers?

JOHNNY HICKS: TOPPER PULSE RIFLES

 I mentioned Corporal Hick's pulse rifle the other day and looking at it again something clicked.

Its bulk and angles really reminded me of my beloved Johnny Seven, that glorious big brother repellent of the Sixties.

and even more that other Topper behemoth, the Screaming Mee Mee rifle, which could almost be Hick's pulse!

Or am I seeing things?

The Screaming Mee Mee had its own TV ad. I mean wow! Those kids could almost be colonial marines! Wish I'd had a mee-mee!

Screaming Mee-Mee Rifle Commercial from IRA GALLEN on Vimeo.

and for comparison here are a bunch of those colonial space grunts ready to hunt some bugs with their own Screaming Mee-mees!

They're in the pipe, five by five!

ISOLATION STATION

Well, Moonbase is now in isolation. No-one can come in and no-one can go out, except the dog Blue. Missus Moonbase has now been to a drive-in PCR test and we await the result. This is the recommended UK Gov response to getting a positive result from a home test kit.

We certainly don't need any proof the Missus is ill. She's gone downhill from yesterday with little stamina and some breathlessness. Her taste and smell have vanished too. Looking at the calendar and when she first 'had a cold' I would say this is day 6 of the virus. Most reports seem to peg it at lasting around 2 weeks with a fair wind. Fingers crossed we get one and it stays as it is.

I'm not ill and will test myself again at home with the Missus in a couple of days. We are wearing masks in the house and not touching shared touch points if we can. Lots of disinfectant wipes and hand washing too, together with some windows open to create a breeze of fresh air. Who knows what the right way to isolate with a covid patient is. Do you?

The Missus has gone to bed. Best place when you're unwell. I just hope it stays as it is and we come out of this unscathed.

Outside its Spring and the Easter break has begun.

If you see the Easter bunny limbering up then ask it to put a mask on!

MARTIAN HAND JIVE

 I've often wondered about the strange swaying and waving hands of the Martian spy girl in Mars Attacks.

Was it a homage to older alien femmes?

Well, I dunno, but looking at Vampira from Plan 9 from Outer Space, we have that same sort of finger stretching.

Could they be related?