C is for Closer Inspection - "Staff Parade, You 'Orrible Man!"

Normally I do a pretty good job of demilitarising December or Christmas, as best I can, but this year I don't seem to have made much effort in that direction whatsoever, with the TAG, Tente and this afternoon's Highlander, among others, and here's another, but at least it's ceremonial!

 

I also usually try to answer comments with some alacrity, although the odd one escapes, but the 'Unknown' commenter from the 19th November might be feeling a little chagrined that I have not answered his comment, which was suggesting that the - probably - egg-timer guard from Chris's parcel, was Eyes Right, not the Deetail I'd suggested.

 

And the reason I didn't answer was because, while I thought I'd called correctly, equally, his comment seems so sure, I questioned the attribution, and wanted to check the piece, and make sure, rather than argue the toss! And it seems we both have a point, but he (the commenter)'s more right than me, however we are also both wrong!

 

I'd called Detail for three reasons, it looked vinyl, and when I squeezed the legs (off camera last time), it was confirmed to be soft, PVC vinyl; it was standing at ease/easy, which I didn't remember ever being an Eyes Right pose; and he has an SLR, which I didn't think the Eyes Right had, but actually they did, it was the Marines and Middlesex (and Glosters!) etc, who had the Lee Enfields, 'at the slope', the Guards did have SLR's 'shouldered'.

 

If you bent an Eyes Right figure's legs like that now, they would snap like carrots! And the hole for the mounting-spigot is moulded into the figure, not drilled. Also, the figure is very, very sticky!

 

Having dealt with the SLR I have to concede the arm spigots and the head, both bear more than a passing resemblance to the Eyes Right figures, which leave the pose, this is a Deetail pose, the Eyes Right were marching, at attention or at Royal Salute, weren't they? Note the sun-fading on the outward-facing jacket.

 

Welp, Vectis says "No"! There are two figures in this set at an easy 'At Ease', I think they are unique to the set, but stand to be corrected, however, it would seem the figure/pose is from the Eyes Right stable, but equally, it's a complete piracy, from Hong Kong, neither Deetail, nor Eyes Right.

 

A very good one I might add, and taking the best of Eyes Right (the sculpt) and Deetail (indestructible material), but, nevertheless, a copy, and from that mid-seventies period, when Hong Kong's PVC output tended to weep sticky-shit, after, often, quite a short time!

 

And this isn't really a Question Time post, we'll probably never know any more about such an ephemeral figure, possibly supplied in bulk to a chalkware manufacturer, who may have been over here?

 

I think the friction plug for the figure may have been duplicated to hold the egg-timer on to the side, and I guess, the hunt is on for a better one, which may have a label on the base, and give us more to go on?

 

So, that's my answer to your question, Unknown! And thanks again to Chris for the questionable imposter!

W is for Wroxham Miniature Worlds

This was going to be part of a twin posting/comparison with the 'museum' at Mountfitchet, but things took a darker turn at that establishment, and for now I'll stuff it inconveniently under the carpet, and instead you can enjoy this as a stand-alone!

 

The shots Chris Smith took on a visit to the Wroxham Miniature Worlds attraction up in Norfolk, just NE of Norwich . . . 

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"From the outside the building looks like an industrial unit with entrance via a propped open fire door escape, I knew entry price was £13.95, did think about not going in... But took the plunge.

Very well laid out displays, some massive model railway scenic setups. Not my thing but couldn't help but be impressed by the standard of work involved in creating them, 100's of plastic buildings and 1000's of small figures included. All the trains controlled by a central PC program.

A number of working flight and driving simulator PC games from the 80/90's set up to try. I was useless at these back then so passed on trying."

"Good Scalextric track and display. Pelham Puppets, another massive collection on display. Huge vintage Star Wars action figure collection, figures, vehicles and boxes"

 

"Only other plastic figures I spotted were four Britains RNLI boats and crew in with some other, larger model ships."

"The Lesney/Matchbox bus was amazing, the sheer amount of vehicles was staggering. They do need to improve the lighting in this and the head height is an issue if you're over 5' 9" having to stoop on both levels."

 

 

 

"A small display of more general toys of interest were Magic Roundabout Figures, Sooty & Friends cereal premiums and a strange space bike with no rider, approx 1/32 scale that I'm sure would know the maker." [MPC Fireball XL5]

 

"Massive Lego display, from vintage Lego city to more recent lines of  Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter etc."

 

"Knitting! Not my thing, but impressed with the level of detail and work involved."

 

[Excellent use of a mirror-back display cabinet, to visually double the size of the diorama]

 

"Airfix models, poor display, obviously not loved. Poor quality build and a bit battered now. Were a few Airfix painted 1/32 figures and 1/72, but at ground level and hard to see.

 

One of my favourites was a collection of penny arcade machines all in working order, old pennies available via a change machine a £1 for ten, which I enjoyed spending. 

 

Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone if you're in the area on holiday or in Norfolk visiting/working. Personably disappointed by the lack of plastic figures."

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To which I'll add my tuppenny's worth, firstly thanks to Chris for sending all this to the Blog, and secondly, it appears to be a much better curated and displayed than others I have seen, the Airfix 54mm case, not withstanding!

M is for Memories of the Old Toy Shop

If we've had Scully & Sully, we must be into the festive season, but there's another box to tick, before we can consider the season complete, if you know what I mean, and so, earlier than some years, here's the display in Fleet Library of the annual toy-related exhibition by the Fleet & Crookham Local historical Society.

 

A coincidence, I'm sure!

 

Loved Fuzzy felt when we were younger!

 

Seen on the Blog, in three colours? Rosebud - bought by/swallowed by Mattel.

Rushden has its own Local History group;

 

https://rushdenheartsandsoles.co.uk/commerce/rosebud-mattel.html 

 

They're just very expensive Gonks for a generation who never had Gonks!

 

Mon'Kay! He has a very complicated history, involving two brands!

 

I've noticed that while Johnny Vegas can mention the monkey, he has 'lost' him,

and apparently can't legally discuss anything else about him!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(character) 

 

Our gyroscope had a metal 'Eifel Tower'!

 

The tin-plate racing car looks modern?

 

New to me.

 

Nope! That Dinosaur isn't 48-months old, and never sold for shillings!

 

Stegosaurus in a generic (department store Christmas stock?) Triceratops' box?

 

Solido behind, don't recognise the one in front?

 

Not quite half-way through the month, and that's me done for the year! Sixth-best year ever for posts, despite two and a half months off, in April-May, and July, but don't worry, there's too much in the short queue to quit now, maybe I'll have a quiet January!