About Me

My photo
No Fixed Abode, Home Counties, United Kingdom
I’m a 60-year-old Aspergic gardening CAD-Monkey. Sardonic, cynical and with the political leanings of a social reformer, I’m also a toy and model figure collector, particularly interested in the history of plastics and plastic toys. Other interests are history, current affairs, modern art, and architecture, gardening and natural history. I love plain chocolate, fireworks and trees, but I don’t hug them, I do hug kittens. I hate ignorance, when it can be avoided, so I hate the 'educational' establishment and pity the millions they’ve failed with teaching-to-test and rote 'learning' and I hate the short-sighted stupidity of the entire ruling/industrial elite, with their planet destroying fascism and added “buy-one-get-one-free”. Likewise, I also have no time for fools and little time for the false crap we're all supposed to pretend we haven't noticed, or the games we're supposed to play. I will 'bite the hand that feeds', to remind it why it feeds.

Friday, June 21, 2019

News, Views Etc . . . Forthcoming Events; Saturday 22nd - Friday 28th June 2019

So it's between Hunt, and we all know what the Health Sector thinks of him (and indeed what his colleagues have accidentally called him - in Parliament!) and the lying, racist one? Meanwhile the orange loon; Trumpton not Boris, has 'announced' for a 2nd term and Fort Bragg is to stop doing toy-runs (see news - below), call me a cynic - but I think we can conclude that we are now in the 'end of Anglo-Saxon hegemony' phase of human history! 250/300-odd years; it was a good run?

Meanwhile having lost the Witch-hazel to last summer's drought and the dry winter/spring, we've now lost the Bramley to the soak, just keeled-over and snapped at the base, and it was well-over 100-years old, the last tree from the orchard which was here before the railway came. Climate change - as predicted - making itself felt everywhere now, and Brazil's monkey-in-charge wants to log the last of the Amazon forests!

Toys are struggling to cheer, but see what you can find this week . . .


Toy Fairs

Saturday 22nd June 2019

Carmarthen - Chris Dyer Fairs
Carmathen Leisure Centre, Llansteffan Road, Johntown, Carmarthen, Wales, SA31 3NQ
Tel. - 01643 702 757
Mob. - 07966 694 579
10:30 - 15:00hrs
Admission £2

Gloucester - Steven Clement Fairs
Churchdown Community Centre, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3 2JH
eMail: clementfairs@aol.com
01380 725 322
10:00 - 14:00hrs
Admission charge unknown
Refreshments available

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Maidstone - Maidstone Vintage Toy Fair
Lockmedow Market Hall & Leisure Complex, Barker Road (Hart Street entrance), Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LW
Internet presence unknown
Tel. - 01622 298 159
Mob. - 01732 840 787
09:00 - 15:00hrs
Admission £2.50p
Park & ride, pay and display parking, refreshments


Sunday 23rd June 2019

Bolton - Barry Potter / BP Fairs - 'Macron'
The Premier Suite, Macron Stadium, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 6SF
Tel. - 01604 846 688
Mob. - 07966 527 177
Hours unknown (probably 10:30 - 15:00hrs)
Admission £4.00, early-bird £8, (from 08:00hrs), seniors £3.50, children £1
Free parking

Worthing  - SRP Toyfairs
Charmandean Centre, Forest Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9HS
Tel. - 07739 998 012 (Paula or Gerry)
10:00 - 14:00hrs
Admission charge unknown


Auctions

Saturday 22nd June 2019

Newark - Northgate Auctions
17 Northgate, Newark, Nottingham, NG24 1EX
Tel. - 01636 605 905
Fax. - 01636 612 607


Wednesday 26th June 2019

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Lot 4402 - Be your own Dalek, just remove your legs!

Stockton-on-Tees - Vectis Auctions
Fleck Way, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 9JZ
Tel. - 01642 750 616
Starts 10:30am
Viewing 08:00-10:30hrs on the day of the sale
TV & film related merchandise sale


Thursday 27th June 2019

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Lot 5613 - Roy Cross original artwork

Stockton-on-Tees - Vectis Auctions
Fleck Way, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 9JZ
Tel. - 01642 750 616
Starts 10:00am
Viewing 08:00-10:00hrs on the day of the sale
Military & civilian figures, equipment & accessories sale


Other Events

Saturday 22nd 2019

Duxford - Imperial War Museum - Vintage Evening
Web. - www.iwm.org.uk
Air and ground displays

Currently Cancelled - may be due to (now improving) weather, so worth keeping an eye on the website? If not; next show is Saturday/Sunday 13th-14th July 2019


Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd 2019

Kenilworth - English Heritage - Legendary Joust
Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Gardens, Castle Green, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Web. 1 - www.english-heritage.org.uk (Home)
10:00-17:00hrs
Medieval jousting

Weston-super-Mare - Various - Weston Air Festival
Seafront / Open Air
Free
Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight


Sunday 23rd June 2019

London (Central) - Royal Academy - Big Architecture Family Day
Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
11:00-13:00hrs - Sky Creatures Drawing Workshop 
14:00-16:00hrs - Lego Architecture Challenge
Admission Free
Three leading British architecture practices will be competing to build with Lego


Overseas Events

From Friday 21st June 2019 (today) - Saturday 27th July

Lisbon (Portugal) - Norman Cook - Underdogs Gallery 'Smile High Club'
Underdogs Gallery, Rua Fernando Palha, Armazém 56, 1950–132, Lisbon, Portugal
eMail - info@under-dogs.net
Tel. - +351 218 680 462
14:00-20:00hrs - Tuesdays-Saturdays 
Exhibition curated by Fatboy Slim, yes - the Trance-Techno guru and ex-lucky-husband of Zoe Ball (when she was still cute and grounded!) - showing both his 40-year-ammased collection and of other people's 'Smiley' memorabilia and artwork pertaining to Harvey Ball's culturally-famous, instantly recognisable, yellow peace symbol.

Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June 2019

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Parsippany, New Jersey (USA) - Veteri Productions - ToyconNJ
Parsippany P.A.L. Building, 33 Baldwin Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, New Jersey, USA
10:00-17:00hrs, 16:00-finish on the 23rd, 'Early Bird' from 09:00hrs, games room stays open 'till 19:00hrs on the 22nd.
Admission; Saturday: $15.00, Sunday: $15.00, Early Bird: $20.00 (each day), VIP weekend pass (unlimited access): $25.00, cosplay'ers: $8.00 (each day), veterans: $8.00 (each day), under 10's free.


Missed

Last weekend there was a massive attempt to re-set Waterloo in 25mm, nothing obvious in the press last week (printed or on-line) so I didn't cover it, but after the event it was in all the papers, BBC online and elsewhere; Ce la vie as the French say, and they know what they're talking about - they all speak French!

Organised by the University of Glasgow, 20,306 painted figures were controlled by teams of over 120 'players', the whole thing being in aid of Waterloo Uncovered, a charity for ex-military personnel. The game was conducted on a 2,066sq.ft. map on four tables with historians and archeologists on-hand, none of the reports state a win for the Sardinian, so I guess the outcome was never in doubt?


BBC link courtesy of Paul Morehead at Plastic Warrior magazine


If you are an event promoter/show curator/auctioneer and you want your toy, model, collectable or popular-/youth-culture type sale/exhibition/event listed here -  FOR FREE  - or linked to; please eMail me -

maverickatlarge[at]hotmail[dot]com

- stating the date/s of the event, address of event, contact details, opening/viewing times, admission pricing and any other relevant facts/details or features - parking, travel notes, disability access, availability of refreshments, event subject matter &etc.

And please mention any flyer-art or poster-/leaflet-scans but send by separate eMail, in case they go to the 'junk' folder, from where they can be recovered and marked safe, but only if I know they're there!


News

Link
Fort Bragg 'drops' Charity Toy Drop [https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20190607/does-fort-braggs-annual-toy-drop-have-future] - Five-thousand toys which won't go to needy kids and another mealy-mouthed excuse from a 'spokesman' for more undoing of all the good things we used to do, same month as the D-Day commemorations too; if there's one thing you can count on from the 'moral Right' and conservative 'silent majority' it's that they'll kick you when you're down! The 'U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command' . . . they sound like propagandist bean-counters don't they? Make America not so great . . . ours is the more informal KAPE - Keep the Army in the Public Eye; which - in my day - used to involve marching through Bristol, getting paint thrown at you!

Hornby
The railway maker has announced that losses have halved, which to city gamblers is good news, so shares are up on the news that losses this year will only be £5.2m! Sales are also down from £35.7m to £32.8m which is also good news apparently, as it's due to an end to discounting! Call me a cynic - but capitalism's mad.

Smiggle
Who I discovered with those dinosaurs a while back (checks - still in the queue!) have announced a slow-down in 'aggressive expansion' after opening 133 stores since 2014, the Australian-based stationers will concentrate on market share and other such boring, grown-up stuff in the near future!

Lego - Turkish Airlines
The national carrier has adopted the song from the Lego movie 'Everyone's going to have a good time in the air tonight' as part of their in-flight entertainment, I think (I'm not sure) that it's been redone so the singer is now in TA's trolley-dolly attire?

Mattel
The toy maker and parent of Barbie has rejected a hostile merger-bid from MGA Entertainment, the background and details of which are such tediously boring accountancy-speak and legalese; we'll leave it there!

Charity Shops
My find of the Dinky's the other week is apparently part of something called the 'Marie Kondo effect', she seems to have a televisual programme somewhere among the 400-odd channels available to some of you, concerning de-cluttering, which has led to much donating to charity; I'm all for it, you take your treasures to charity - they're in the way aren't they - and I'll pop-down and pick 'em up!

Which brings us to . . .


H is for How They Come In

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
A handful of - mostly TV/movie related - stuff this week, along with a vintage Waddington's board game and an evilBay lot (the lot I thought I'd missed two weeks ago!), which will both get their own posts in the fullness of time. The green Michelin man/Hulk'y key-ring is a second (recently found) and along with the three 'phone-string' superheroes (and the pterodactyl) is/are probably Kinder.

There's a Phidal Thor, two more McDonald's Smurfs (I picked-up three a while ago) and a Schleich PVC one. No idea on the unmarked leaf-head while the two small superheroes are probably capsule toys too - LPFToys?. The large 'Torch' is a duplicate from the bigger Zuru capsule toys we looked at a year or so ago. Finally, the Splinter (is he Splinter?) in a Lego-likey/Megabloks style is also Kinder I think?


Toys in the Media

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Fridge magnet numbers being used to illustrate an advertisement for some financial 'thing'!

Airfix; Airshows; Barbie; Berwick Dalek; Bride; Cake Decorations; Charity Toys; Dalek Playsuit; Dinosaurs; Duxford; English Heritage; Fatboy Slim; Fort Bragg; Gentleman Jack; Harvey Ball; Hornby Group; Imperial War Museum; IWM; Jousting; Kinder; Lego; Lesbian Marriage; LPF Toys; Magnetic Novelty; Marie Kondo; Mattel; McDonalds Premiums; Medieval; MGA Entertainment; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clipping; Norman Cook; Phidal Publishing; Roy Cross; Schleich Smurf; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Smiggle; Smiley; Smurfs; SRP Toy Fairs; Super Hero; Super Hero's; Superheroes; TMHT; TMNT; ToyconNJ; Toys In The Media; Vectis Auctions; Waddington's; Waddingtons Games; Wargaming; Waterloo; Zuru Capsule Toy;
Two cake-decoration brides are employed to accompany a piece on the first lesbian marriage as part of the hype surrounding the build-up to the recent BBC (?) Gentleman Jack, it'll annoy small-c conservatives, but anything which annoys them is OK in my book!

2 comments:

Mark, Man of TIN said...

The unmarked leaf head may be "pip gooseberry" from that most excellent programme Fifi and the Flowertops. Or may not be ...

Hugh Walter said...

YES! Yes, the melon-head could very well be a gooseberry! Cheers Mark!

H