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Friday, June 18, 2021

A is for Atomic . . . Space Ship

You may recall we looked at this beast before (ten years ago, where does it go . . . WHERE?), a contribution from an anonymous follower of the Blog, at the time he had some space-battle damage to one of them but has since sourced a whole one, so sent a follow-up here to Small Scale World.

Not much to add to these as we have looked at them before, and I was going to save the shots for a 'pulp' season at some point, but thought I'd try to clear some of the contributed stuff now, and so when I do return to dime-store space, hopefully use all the images 'in the bank' in better context?

Atomic Space Ship; Dime Store Space Ships; Dime Store Toy; Dime Store Vehicles; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Spaceships; Kleeware; Kleeware Spaceship; Pocket Money Toys; Pulp Sci Fi; Pulp Space Ships; Pyro Dime Store; Pyro Plastics; Pyro Toys; Slush-cast; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Space Clipper; Space Liner; Tudor Rose; Tudor Rose Space Toys;

Atomic Space Ship; Dime Store Space Ships; Dime Store Toy; Dime Store Vehicles; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Spaceships; Kleeware; Kleeware Spaceship; Pocket Money Toys; Pulp Sci Fi; Pulp Space Ships; Pyro Dime Store; Pyro Plastics; Pyro Toys; Slush-cast; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Space Clipper; Space Liner; Tudor Rose; Tudor Rose Space Toys;

Atomic Space Ship; Dime Store Space Ships; Dime Store Toy; Dime Store Vehicles; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Space Ships; Dimestore Spaceships; Kleeware; Kleeware Spaceship; Pocket Money Toys; Pulp Sci Fi; Pulp Space Ships; Pyro Dime Store; Pyro Plastics; Pyro Toys; Slush-cast; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Space Clipper; Space Liner; Tudor Rose; Tudor Rose Space Toys;

Largest of the single-moulding (plus wheels) vessels, the Atomic Space Ship was a convoluted pile of three aerodynamic buses, piled on two V2 rockets, given a subway car front and four huge afterburners at the rear! Sort of what I said last time but possibly more prosaic . . . time's tighter this time!

Like most of the contemporary space ships it was carried by more than one company (Pyro too?) and while these are  both Tudor Rose, even these two are not quite the same, the silver one having a thicker chin-line or skirting below the forward cab and thinner window-bars on the three upper sections, which - finding these differences - is half the fun of collecting!

Cheers Anon' - you know who you are!

Thursday, June 17, 2021

E is for Empirical Evidence!

Many thanks to Gisby for these, he probably sent them over a year ago, I really can't remember, what with the passing of Mum, Covid-19 and everything associated with both horrors it's all got a bit hectic in Hugh World and time is running to its own tune here at the moment.

But I've a few hours to spare over the next few days, and while I should be in the garden or taking stuff to storage/charity/clothes banks, it's too bloody hot, so I'll try and get some stuff up on the blog, and try to make it all contributions as it's unfair to the contributors to have ALL their stuff pile up with mine . . . SOME will, inevitably, but not all!

I posted these as part of a Toy Fair revue thing a while ago here, on Padgett A-Z, and said at the time "... if you do manage to track them down, do try to send the Blog a picky or two of the runner/contents..." to which call, Gisby answered in full!

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
Further comments I made about possible motors and potentially simplistic design were both out, as you can see from this StuG IV (with StuG III undercarriage - on the artwork!), the kits are well executed, dense PVC clip-together 'puzzle-toys' seemingly from the same stable as those I purchased in  . . . . The Works (?), ages ago . . . "Yes, The Works!" he says after finding the requisite link, but branded 'Build & Play' not 4D and a better scale.
1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
The Sturmtiger, I said last time that it could be a useful conversion platform, but in this material that's not so likely, PVC chunks can turn a blade quite easily, while sawing will render it a rather furry material! However, plumber's pipe-weld will glue it solid for all time, so construct; then cut-up?

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
Not seen but mentioned last time -
Pz.Kfw IV -Tiger 1E

Not sure about the green of these, yes, it's a shade of 'feldtgrau', but their vehicles tended to grey or yellow as a base coat, however, looking at the stuff on Blogs and in the modelling press these days, there seems to have been an 'acceptability slip' on late-war colours and I don't know if that's just fashion (like heavy towers on Elephants, parade finery at Waterloo or using shoulders as firing-rests for machine-guns!), or more empirically-based; on the stuff being pulled - almost daily - from Eastern/Central European bogs, lakes and rivers these days?

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
This does look like it might be better than the Airfix Panther (less 'hybridisation'!), but hard to tell with the pieces face down, however we will have a follow-up as I've just helped myself to 12 of them, not twelve Panther's, 12 AFV's!

OK, here's a fun thing that just happened while writing this up . . . I went and looked for them on feebleBay, and found that prices vary from a little (£3/4 each) to a lot (12-quid+, each) for these four, but that there are another eight! They also vary equally with some price-scalping the arse off them and others being quite reasonable!

Best for the eight (very cheap) is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324451888581?hash=item4b8ad6edc5:g:~X4AAOSwPZhfocYK

While this guy has the four @4.49 each, some of the eight (similarly priced), and other nice things!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/aha21/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

As I say; we'll return to these one day to look at the whole fleet, iron-out any construction issues and compare with the slightly sub-scale 4D's!

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
Bought this the other day going cheap, intending to put it on the Airfix Astronauts page, but realised it could go here first! I 'de-bagged' it 'cos it's a modern thing, and found it hard to put together once I'd chucked all the pieces in a pile, even though about ten of them were already assembled/part assembled!

But, it IS a puzzle, and with the photo of the finished thing (the exploded drawing is less than useful) found that constructing the three main sections (landing-plate and legs, engine-box and recovery module) and then lining them up together and adding the four fiddly bits made sense.

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
Things I learnt about the Apollo landing module: 1. More than half of it gets left on the moon. 2. The whole thing is bigger than I thought and 3. The recovery section is tiny!

Also I would note - if you're minded to seek it out - the four little frame pieces (retro-rocket deflectors) are very fragile, but if you line them up with their little holes they do go home firm.

1:72 Scale; 3D + Details; 4D; 4D Puzzle; A-Z Limited; A-Z Toys; Apollo Lander Panzerkampwagen V; Build & Play; Clip-Together; Fame Master; Fame Master Ent. Ltd.; Fesstung Morsar; Padgett A-Z; Padgett Brothers; Panther Tank; Panzerkampwagen VI; Puzzle Kit; Puzzle Toy; PVC Kit; Pz.Kfw V; Pz.Kfw VI; Quay Imports; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; StüG IV; Stug IV; Sturmgeschütz IV; Sturmtiger; Tiger I Ausf. E; Tiger I Tank;
Branded to Fame Master Entertainment Ltd., imported by Quay Imports and carrying the 4D trope - 3D + details! A second iteration in which the main sections are completed in the packaging is also available under the 4D Master labeling.

And thanks again to Gisby for the tanks!

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

B is for Burma Jeep - The Ford GTB . . . Lazy Post

I took these years ago at Beltring Hop Farm's annual 'combat wombat' shindig, and it's been a while since I posted some proper stuff, or had a lazy post (there have been several recently!), so for those who might be interested here are my pictures, and if you want more - https://www.google.com/search?q=Ford+GTB+Utility+Burma+Jeep+WWII&tbm=isch&ved




Above are four shots (restricted to one side by it's being parked too close to the Navy fire truck behind it!) of the standard bomb crane/tractor varient.


While the above is a GS/Cargo varient, there is a rather sparse wikipedia page with a potted history of sorts here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GTB

Sunday, June 6, 2021

M is for More . . . Giant WWII

I've posted some more Giant World War 2 stuff over on the Giant . . . or What? Blog;

Airfix M40/43 SPG; Armoured Patrol; But Is It Giant?; Esci M12; Giant 3923. New York; Giant 3925; Giant 4123; Giant No. 260; Giant Or What?; Giant Plastics Corp.; Giant WWII AFV's; Half-Track; Jeep; Jeep And Trailer; Jr. Combat Emblem Set; Junior Combat Emblem Set; M12 SPG Cradle; M44/M53/55; M46/47 Hull; N.Y.; Pillbox Attack; Sherman; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Space-Tank; SPG/Howitzer;
Just scans of several old cards and a couple of archive shots.


News, Views Etc . . . New Stock at Herald Toys and Models

Latest press-release from Barney over at Herald Toys & Models;

" . . . this week we have two interesting collections for sale, both from the county of Norfolk, but quite contrasting. The Diss collection is a charming childhood collection of plastic civilian figures, featuring an original Herald early boxed farm set, farm animals and Wild West figures, whilst the Norfolk Collection is a large collection of plastic toy soldiers, diligently accumulated by a dedicated collector to acquiring full loose sets by a number of makers, including Lone Star, Charbens, Cherilea, Crescent and Speedwell."

Lots of 'nice paint' stuff, but it's going quickly . . .

Saturday, June 5, 2021

O is for Once, I was a Soldier!

Your author, circa December 1984 . . .

 . . . looking so young! With everything that's happened in the last 24 months, it's almost as if it's not so much 'a lifetime ago', but several other people's lifetimes!

And, this is the only picture of me in uniform with badging to the Royal Hampshire's, as a few days after this was taken I was cross-posted to the Gloucestershire Regiment and completed my service with them. I was - a year later - offered a return to the R. Hamp's /asked to 're-badge' to the 'Glooms' but declined both options, which pissed my OC off, as while I was happy to serve-on as a Gloucester, and proud too, equally, I was born in Hampshire, lived my first 18-odd years in Hampshire and was recruited from the Channel Islands which was the 'Tigers' area, so my Private's logic rather collided with the Major's view of how things should be done to keep the paperwork clean!

I don't think the Russians lost much sleep over the prospect of meeting me on the North European Plain, do you? But, there's a determination in those eyes . . . or is it more of a "Shit, I actually passed basic'!"?

Thursday, June 3, 2021

B is for "But is it Giant?" . . . Yes!

The long neglected 'Giant or what? page has got some copy, and it's the first piece which does actually look at some Giant output, and not something I'd got around to in the One Inch Warrior magazine series (a few back orders may still be available from Paul at PW?), so if you want to see the AFV's from the WWII range . . . 

.50cal Browning Heavy-Machinegun; Airfix M40/43 SPG; But Is It Giant?; Carlos Fandango; Esci M12; Giant Crew; Giant Landing Craft; Giant Or What?; Giant Plastic Corp.; Giant WWII AFV's; Giant's Troop Carrier; HäT's Archive; Half-Track; Higgin's Boat; Jeep; Jeep And Trailer; M12 SPG Cradle; M44/M53/55; M46/47 Hull; Marx Play-Set; Monogram; Pyro; Quad-AA Version; Ray-Gun; Roco-Minitanks Flak-38); Sherman Turret; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Space-Tank; SPG/Howitzer; Towed Gun; Twin-Mg Mount;

. . . head over there; http://butisitgiant.blogspot.com/2021/06/giant-landing-craft-crew-and-wwii-afvs.html

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

T is for Typical!

You wait ages for an LB post and then two come along together! Further to the other day's finds; I saw some knock-off 'sucker-jigglers' going cheap and they arrived this morning, while I also scanned the Culpitt's catalogue entry for 1985.

Astronauts; Cake Decorations; Carded Astronauts; Carded Robots; Chromium-plated Figures; Culpitt Astronauts; Culpitt BV 5336; Culpitt Spacemen; Culpitt V5217; Culpitt's Cake Decorations; HF; Hong Kong; Jiggling Robots; Large Silver Spacemen; Lik Be; Lik Be LB; Lik Be LP; Moon Platoon; Robot Jigglers; Robots; Rubber Jigglers; Small Assorted Space Figures; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Spacemen; Sucker Toys;
These are similar to those sold as 'Moon Platoon' by Imperial, see image below, and are the more colourful version of the plain Hong Kong-marked ones (no logo) which I've been after for a while, so well pleased to grab them.

Astronauts; Cake Decorations; Carded Astronauts; Carded Robots; Chromium-plated Figures; Culpitt Astronauts; Culpitt BV 5336; Culpitt Spacemen; Culpitt V5217; Culpitt's Cake Decorations; HF; Hong Kong; Jiggling Robots; Large Silver Spacemen; Lik Be; Lik Be LB; Lik Be LP; Moon Platoon; Robot Jigglers; Robots; Rubber Jigglers; Small Assorted Space Figures; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Spacemen; Sucker Toys;
Taken from an Internet auction the above example has some of the more muted ones I already had, and is all robots, while the five additions are brightly-bright and has two astronauts.

Astronauts; Cake Decorations; Carded Astronauts; Carded Robots; Chromium-plated Figures; Culpitt Astronauts; Culpitt BV 5336; Culpitt Spacemen; Culpitt V5217; Culpitt's Cake Decorations; HF; Hong Kong; Jiggling Robots; Large Silver Spacemen; Lik Be; Lik Be LB; Lik Be LP; Moon Platoon; Robot Jigglers; Robots; Rubber Jigglers; Small Assorted Space Figures; Small Scale World; smallscaleworld.blogspot.com; Spacemen; Sucker Toys;
I also scanned the Culpitt catalogue from 1985, the 60mm's are as I found them in North Camp's balloon/party shop (can't remember the name, but it's long-defunct anyway) back in . . . err . . . sometime between Autumn 1997 and about 2001/2? The white 'NASA' figures which should be contemporary aren't listed, but may have joined the catalogue later or been phased out already, only the robots are shown in the smaller size, only the spacemen in the larger, they all hung around for ages in bakers and cook-shop's anyway!

Listings
BV 5336 - Large Silver Spacemen
V5217 - Small Assorted Space Figures