Estes Model Rockets

Hi,

Here is another model company history from Maxsmodels. This time covering Estes, which made actual flying rockets. 

Even to someone who knows nothing about model rocketry, like me, this is a great item. A model rocket designer named Orville Carlisle teamed up with a White Sands Missile Range safety officer named G. Harry Stine to produce model rockets. 

Vern and Gleda Estes were brought in to manufacture the rocket engines. Later they produced complete rockets.. Vern Estes had a background in fireworks, as his parents were fireworks wholesalers, so the move in to model rockets was hardly a giant leap. 

Their product range included the Cineroc, equipped with an 8 mm movie camera.

Anyone got an Estes rocket?

(1) Estes model rockets: a brief history - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

T IN A CIRCLE CITY OF FIRE CAR MYSTERY

I've always liked the T in a Circle Amphibious Car. Here's one I saw on an old auction.

At first glance it all seemed OK.

But ..... that's not a T in a Circle car!

I thought it might be a variation of the Schuco Amphibio, the West German toy that T in a Circle copied originally, but its not that.

 I think now its the toy car used in Thunderbirds's City of Fire as part of the fire tenders, which we've covered a few times, including a toy's correct box revealed 11 years ago.

The brand name is still a mystery. Check the link here.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2010/03/thunderbirds-fire-tender-and-toy.html

THE BATS IN THE HANGAR

 Its been a funny old week. I'm off work at the moment. Last weekend I spotted this pair of dinosaurs in a wool shop. Knitting was a popular Jurassic pastime don't you know!

My second bodgemobile is coming on very slowly. Here it is in the Bat hangar with a fresh coat of non-black paint and protected from dust and dog hairs. At the current rate Bruce Wayne will be able to take it out around Christmas Day!

Much more road worthy is this cool plastic Mars mobile by Playmobil we snaffled in a charity shop for Junior. I really like this flat wide design for a Mars car. Do you?

STINGRAY PIZZA HUT CUPS

 

Who collected the Gerry & Sylvia Anderson, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and Stingray cups from Pizza Hut during the early nineties?

Here are the Stingray ones, which appeared around 1993, and featured four different tops and comic strips printed around the cup.

Cup 1 features Agent X-2 Zero’s submersible with luminous paint.

Cup 2 is supersub, Stingray with spinning ratemaster.

Cup 3 is The Crap, a creation by the evil, Titan. Lift the cabin cover to reveal an Aquaphibian.

Cup 4 is a deadly Mechanical Fish. Touch the eyes to see the Aquaphibian inside.

You could treat the kids to either a Submarine Special or a Titanic Treat, and stand by for Extra Toppings!

KEV'S NEW SCOUT 1

Hi,

For the first time in ages, I have added to my Project Sword collection with a Scout 1.

Only Scout 3 and the Nuclear Ferry to go! (Oh, and the Moonbase of course!).

Scout's honour,

Kevin

UK

SIXTEEN 12 'THE EXILES' EAGLE EPISODE SET

As a few people are happy to see my reposted 16/12 Eagle photos, here's another look at some photos I've previously published which this time feature the third Sixteen 12 'Episode Set' release: The Exiles.

This limited edition set came out in May, 2019, and featured a manipulator arm, cyrogenic pod, laser gun, and fuel cell.

It's fair to point out that not all the accessories appeared in The Exiles, and that the manipulator arm is longer than we see in the episode. I can live with that, and it appears it didn't matter to buyers either, as this set became another sell out on the Sixteen 12 website.

Hot Wheels: Little and Large!

Character Options have recently done mini versions of some classic toys. 

Regards,

Will O.

UK

SIXTEEN 12 IMMUNITY SYNDROME EAGLE

Another set of previously seen photos, this time it's the second of the Sixteen 12 Eagle episode sets, featuring the Glider as seen in the second season Space:1999 episode, 'Immunity Syndrome'.

Another limited edition set, which came out in January, 2019.

The highly detailed (and glossy) glider is lovely addition, and attaches magnetically to the pod , through the girder  superstructure. 

The pod did suffer from some over weathering issues which certainly did spoil the overall look , but it didn't stop the model being a sell out on the Sixteen 12 website.