Toy Auction Alert!

Hi Woodsy et al

I thought you might want to highlight the extraordinary Peter Hansen collection

It's the third part of his stuff being auctioned (Excalibur then Anderson & Garland and back to Excalibur and so on.)

You will be overwhelmed!

Best wishes

Norman B

(the Frank Bellamy fan!)

A SELECTION OF PROJECT JOHNSON PHOTOS

 A small selection of photos I took at the recent Project Johnson UFO event, that took place the other week at Cookham, nr Maindenhead.

A fuller review can be found on my website here: 

https://mikeburrowsphotography.co.uk/project/project-johnson-and-uforia-3-part-2/

The event was named after SHADO operative Ayshea Johnson, played in the series by Ayshea Brough.

Other guests were  Tessa Wyatt, Gary Raymond, Georgina Moon, Penny Spencer, Ayshea, and Alan Shubrook.

There was also a special appearance during the location tour by Suzanne Neve.

We visited several locations seen in UFO.  During the tour we visited what's left  of BBC Elstree, and Elstree Studios.

Here's a group shot of attendees with Elstree just visible in the background. Sadly Neptune House (SHADO HQ to the uninitiated) has now been demolished.

The event had a selection of both original and replica models on display, which  former Century 21 Special Effects technician , Alan Shubrook enjoyed looking over,.

The SHADO Jeep made an appearance, restored and owned by Jim Winch. I can never resist getting in and reaquanting myself with the feel of it.

Jim was happy to give joy rides.

Another group shot of the attendees taken outside the venue. 

Finally, the main man behind the event, Andrew Staton.

The next event is planned for March next year, and will take place in Leeds.

Das Spiel: Games in Germany

 Our month away in Germany is up.

Es ist vorbei.

On our way home, a few more reflections about games here in our friend's home.

Interestingly there's aln old Star Wars boxed board game, the Escape from the Darth Star one. It's a re-issue - I think there's an old version? - this one being dated 2018 Hasbro. From the price tag It's second hand, probably from Diakonie. I may well have bought this on a previous trip and forgotten it. It's staying here though, there's a new generation of fans in the house and besides, the exclusive retro Moff Tarkin carded figure is missing. Was it exclusive? Do you know the 2018 figure?

Another game here in the shelf was a bit of a light bulb moment for me. On Saturday I bought what I thought was an old metal footballer figure. Discovering the game at our friend's house I realised it's from a table football game called Tipp Kick and may not be old at all. Then again Tipp Kick may have been around for years? Anyone know?

Here's the modern game. My battered figure has yet to be photographed. He's retired. 

I love the goalie, with it's clever wire twisting buttons for diving left and right!

Finally, a card game I found lurking on a cupboard top. Dutch Blitz. I thought it was Dutch but it's American. A new one on me. You?

Up in Smoke! The Topo Gigio Fireman:

 It's not often these days on eBay though see anything unusual from Century 21 Toys.

This though is.

The Topo Gigio Fireman Dress-Up Outfit, a lovely blister carded costume for the C21 Toys soft plastic Topo mouse doll figure.

I guess this range was aimed at girls but being a mouse it's hard to say. Topo may have had universal appeal.

There's a few carded Top costumes to go with the boxed figure, all uncommon now and really interesting to see. 

Have you any of these Topo items readers?

Do you like this costume?

Twin Prop in the Toy Shop

 I saw this Chopper Transporter in B&M recently .

This biggish plastic twin prop chopper really wouldn't look out of place on a Thunderbirds episode or part of the Project SWORD range! 

You get shooting cars and a cargo crate too! I would have loved it as a kid! 

You?

A Princely Sum

I saw this book at our friend's house. Prinz Eizenherz, which she got for 3 Euro. It's not a comic I know but it rang a bell.

Years ago I recall picking up a Dutch comic called Prinz Valiant, which I assume is the same? I got it because it was listed in Dennis Nicholson's Gerry Anderson Collectables Guide 1994 under the Zero-X section.

Do you know either of these, Prince Eisernherz or Prinz Valiant?

Dekker's Journey Into Space: an LP set by Any other Name?

 An interesting set I saw last year by Dekker Toys. 

Are those LP vehicles and figures in there?

HOT Wheels Racers

The latest 2026 waves of Hot Wheels mainland castings are appearing on the shelves and show a distinct change in the choice of cars. The weird, dayglo fantasy designs seem to be making way for real world and classic racers, with some really unusual cars available. Tucked in amongst the modern exotics and muscle cars are some really cool choices, such as the Fiat S76 or as it became known ‘The Beast of Turin’. Built in 1910 to challenge the Land Speed Record, where it was pushed to almost 140 mph! A lovely crimson and gold finish, with authentic decals.

In a similar vein, we have the Morgan Super 3, a three wheeled race car and the 1933 Ford Lo Boy, looking for all the world like something from American Graffiti.

Another strange, but fanciful design is the gold 2 Jet Z, a casting which has been issued before, but makes a welcome addition to the range.

Staying with the British cars, we have a fabulous Land Rover Series II, fitted out for a day at the beach, with a surf board on top and windscreen folded down.

Back to the fantasy leagues again with a mighty 69 Chevelle hot rod from the X-Raycers line, with a transparent green body and big neon green slicks.

Finally, an older release that I came across amongst the latest, the Heavy Hitcher Recovery Truck, which has recently graced the 1:43 Speeder line. Looking a little like the Corgi Rockets Holmes Wrecker on steroids, it has a large hook that can lower and tow another car around the track.

There’s still one or two more on my 26 hit list including the Custom Otto in the original blue finish, as it appeared on the Hot Wheels packaging, so watch out for an Otto update soon, along with yet another Twin Mill variation.