MOONBASE CENTRAL

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Ed's Marx #4672 'The Flintstones' Playset 1961

Woodsy,

Since we've been on the subject of The Flintstones of late, here's my playset which I photographed just last month. I had gotten one of these sets back in 1962 (the first photo) and it was one of my favorite toys because I thought it was soooo cool and it brought the cartoon to life.

It would have been awesome if Marx had expanded the set with other buildings and figures, but it what it is.

The set in my collection was acquired many years ago and was not only complete but even had some extra pieces. All those extras were removed so that the playset could be photographed as it would have come from the store.

The shipping label was also inside the box and I thought it very interesting, first of all because of the ultra cheap postage, but look closely at the name: Edwin H Baker - EHB. Those are my initials as well!!! What are the chances of that happening?

From Viva Rock Vegas

The FAB Four!

I wonder if there's a collective noun for a bunch of FAB1's?

Or Rolls Royce's?

Unusually at this mornings outdoor sale I saw no less than four different loose pink Rollers, the signature ride of one Lady Penelope.

Yep, just The JR21 and the modern film version missing ... Or?

Here's a gallery of the brands I saw, these pictures being from the net.

Old Dinky classic we all adored

Modern Corgi - I was tempted as it had its missile, but no canopy.

Matchbox miniature

Vivid talker, a plastic version. Again, tempted.

Did Vivid do a R/C FAB1 too?

Any more FAB1's out there?

Bandairson!

These Japanese Bandais licensed by Century 21 are the business. I love the plasticcy look of them especially this SPV.

I'm unsure if I've seen them in the flesh. Have you?

Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Abandoned Missile Base by Tony K

Hi Woodsy,

As a follow-up to your abandoned places piece, I thought you'd enjoy a couple of 35mm snaps I took in 1997, of an abandoned Soviet missile base in Lithuania.

The base, which was hidden deep within dense forest land, was very small, secluded and completely off the beaten track. When it was active, it possibly housed a single missile on a mobile launch platform.

I believe it was one of a number of remote bases concealed in the area. By 1997, the station was little more than an echoing statement of cold war paranoia, having been gutted and abandoned by the withdrawing Soviet missile troops, following Lithuanian independence in '91.

Pic 1 - Shows a simple Soviet propaganda mural at the outer perimeter checkpoint. What was left of it shows a Soviet soldier advancing with an AK47, as a missile launches over his shoulder.

Pic 2 - Shows a friend stood in front of the heavy bunker doors for scale. The missile (or missiles?) would've been housed behind these doors. There was no electricity, so zero visibility inside the empty bunker.