G is for Gigantics - Giant Monster Insects

Except, it can be argued Spiders and Scorpions are not technically insects, but they meant well! Originally issued by Fundimentions, (Miner Industries/MPC) when General Mills became involved they were re-branded AMT/Ertl, but MPC and Airfix boxes can be found, although these (below) are the common iteration; certainly in the UK.

 

I got mine out and shot the boxes a few years ago, and then scanned them, a while later, I didn't shoot the kits, as they were unmade, but as they are quite simple, I hope to do them as future modelling projects, with posts on them, here, then.

 

There was originally a fourth model, a Giant Wasp, but it was only issued in the early days, and I won't speculate on the reasons for its lack of re-issue, nor will I 'research' it by nicking other people's stuff, one day, hopefully, I'll just get one! 

 

July 2022, and the lawn's looking a little better than in did the previous summer when I shot the board-game .gif's! I think I got two of these from Modellers Loft, one at the old site off the M25 (Coulsdon Road/Brighton Road?), the other at the Croydon Road shop (I believe they're now based in Bournemouth?), with the slightly crushed Scorpion box, being a Car Booty prize!

 

 

The original reason for my interest in them was the HO/OO-gauge-compatible figures, and while the Giant Wasp isn't listed here, it seems to have had the same figure-count/pose distribution as the 17-figure Giant Scorpion set.

 

Each kit contains, in addition to the monster insect, and figures, a few scenic items, in mixed scales, and card 'corner' to make a display for your kit. And - if I work this out right, below this post you'll find three image-dumps, of the scans I took a week or so later, one for each of the three sets.

 

Other people's research;

 

Blog overview;

https://parlorofhorror.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/model-kits-amt-gigantics-1975-1979/ 

 

And he did a Wasp video! 'Funland' has never been less fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwMOp306rDg 

 

Gigantic Wasp on Scalemates;

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/fundimensions-1-0503-gigantic-wasp--605514

 

There were also flyers for a magazine included in two of the kits;

 

Giant Tarantula

 

Giant Scorpion

It seems to have been a very short-lived enterprise?

G is for Gigantic Spider

Yeah! . . . The worst nightmare! Not carried by Airfix, but as common as the two below (if I've posted them right!), although it only got a few figures (eight), and not all the poses. I think I did start to make this one at some point, so may already have a complete Tarantula!

 

Box.

 

This is clever, and the other kits would have benefited from something similar, it's a rest made from a copy of a section of the tool, so the body (thorax and abdomen) rests on it while the leg-glue sets, ensuring they are all positioned correctly and are flat to the ground.

 

Instruction sheet.

 

There was an additional French instruction sheet.

 

Printed card backdrop.

G is for Gigantic Mantis

The first of the two carried by Airfix, for a while, and I guess, being cut in half by a giant Prying Mantis would be a quick and relatively painless end, if accompanied by a deal of sheer terror! This kit got a full complement of the vaguely HO-gauge compatible figures, but only one of each. And - apparently, a male, due to the presence of wings.

 

Box

 

Instruction sheet

 

HO figures, N-gauge tunnels, micro-amour buildings . . . Forced perspective!

G is for Gigantic Scorpion

A sting from a scorpion this big would fill you with so much liquid, instantaneously, you would explode like a water balloon, before you felt the burning seer of any poison! Continuing the image dump/Picasa clearance exercise, with the last of the three AMT-Ertl Gigantics, and the other one carried by Airfix immediately prior-to and during the General Mills years.

 

Box.

As far as I know, this kit was the only kit with a waterslide transfer sheet, for the shopfronts of one of the damaged building mouldings, included in the kit.

 

Instruction sheet.

 

 

Card background/backdrop for arranging the other elements in a rudimentary disorama.

News, Views Etc . . . Forthcoming Events; Saturday 18th - Friday 24th May

Still not Blogging proper, but here's some weekly stuff . . .

. . . last weeks weird strings of letters will have looked like this . . . if you've downloaded the 'SoldierWW2' font from the internet, if your Explorer recognises it, it can read it/will show it - my bad, I didn't think I'd be in a cognitive resonance design bubble of my own making! That last line will give Madame Pardeilhan kittens!

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

Toy Fairs

Saturday 18th May 2019

Merthyr Tydfil - Chris Dyer Fairs

Merthyr Leisure Centre, Methyr Leisure Village, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, CF48 1UT

Web. - www.chrisdyerfairs.co.uk

Tel. - 01643 702 757

Mob. - 07966 694 579

Admission £2

10:30-15:00hrs

Brentwood - J&J Fairs (John & Julie Webb)

International hall, Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9NN

Web. - www.j-jwebbtoyfairs.com

eMail - jandjfairs@virginmedia.com

Tel. - 01522 880 383 (J & J Webb)

10:00 - Approx. 14:30hrs

Admission £3, seniors £2.50p, 1st child £2

Oxford - Richard Atkins Fairs - Toy and Train Collectors Fair

Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1AB

Web - www.toytraincollectorsfairs.com

Tel. - 01869 347 489

10:30 - 15:00hrs

Admission charge unknown

Refreshments

Free Parking

Didcot - Retro Ronnie

Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN

Web - www.retroronnie.com

Mob. I - 07708 385 061

Mob. II - 07900 266 427

Hours unknown

Admission unknown

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

Sunday 19th May 2019

Great Bentley - R & G Toy Fairs

Village Hall, Plough Road, Great Bentley, Essex, CO7 8LD

Internet presence unknown

Tel. - 01206 251 351 (Gary)

Tel. - 01255 473 509 (Richard)

10:00 - 14:00hrs

Admission £2.00, under 16's free

Free parking, refreshments

Newton Abbot - Ray Heard Train & Toy Fairs

Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon, TQ12 3AF

Internet presence unknown

Tel. - 01823 480 097

10:00 - 15:30hrs

Admission £2

Free parking, refreshments

Kempton Park - RM Toys Ltd.

Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ

Internet presence unknown

Tel. - 02392 381 529

Mob. - 07957 823 507 (Russell Martin)

10:00 - 15:00hrs

Admission - £4, OAP's £3.50p, Children £1, early bird (from 8:30hrs) £10

Doncaster - Barry Potter / BP Fairs - 'Doncaster Racecourse'

Doncaster Exhibision Centre, Leger Way, Doncaster, DN2 6BB
Web. - www.bpfairs.com
Tel. - 01604 846 688
Mob. - 07966 527 177
10:30 - 15:00hrs
Admission - Adults £4, Seniors £3.50p, Children £1, 'Early Bird' (from 8 a.m.) £10
Plenty of free parking

Orpington - SRP Toyfairs

Crofton Halls, Orpington, Kent, BR6 8PR

Web. - www.srptoyfairs1.co.uk

eMail: srptoys1@hotmail.co.uk

Tel. - 07739 998 012 (Paula or Gerry)

10:00 - 14:00hrs

Admission charge unknown

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

Auctions

Saturday 18th May 2019

Bury St. Edmunds - Lacy Scott & Knight

Web. - www.lsk.co.uk

eMail - oleggett@lsk.co.uk

Tel. - 01284 748 600 (general enquires)

Tel. - 01284 748 623 (Oliver Leggett - auction)

Toy and Collectors Models

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

Thursday 23rd May 2019 -

Sheffield - Shefield Auction Gallery

Windsor Road, Heeley, Sheffield, S8 8UB

Web. - www.sheffieldauctiongallery.com

eMail - jmorgan@sheffieldauctiongallery.com

Tel. - 0114 281 6161

14:00 - Finish

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

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!

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

N is for News

AAC Museum

The Army Aviation museum at Middle Wallop has opened again after a major re-vamp, I've enjoyed several visits - back in the day - wandering round the exhibits, so can only imagine it's an even better reason for a day-out now?

Hamleys

You're probably aware already, but the same day I was reporting the 150-somthingth store opening (last Thursday), the sale (rumoured in the past) went through, with Chinese shoe-empire C. Banner selling the whole concern to India's Reliance Group for around £70m quid.

They also opened their fifth store in Hyderabad last week!

The Works Aren't Working

The Works posted poor results and suffered a loss of share value last week, I suspect it's just a glitch and certainly hope it's not a sign of something more serious; the Blog gets a lot of mileage from them in the course of a year!

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

L is for Links

Only the one this week, a book, it may have appeared here already in the past, but I can't remember, so here it is . . . again?

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Son-Story-First-Miniature/dp/153620482X

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ

H is for How They Come In

In addition to the pile of plunder I dragged-home from the PW show last week, there have been a few shrapnel purchases from local charity shops in the last seven days . . .

. . . I managed to get over to Farnborough earlier this week and did the three charity shops in the old precinct, nothing in two of them but several things in the third, among which was this Vivid board game; not worth a separate post, and really only the vampire man-bat is of any use to figure collectors.

The sarcophagus would be better if he wasn't wearing comedy 'shades', the pumpkin will reappear in Halloween comparison-shots at some point and the Medusa's head will make a change from-/in a display of- all those cereal premium kings, admirals, explorers and footballer busts!

A china (and probably China) panda and an Ertl rail-trolley operator (large scale Thomas the Tank Engine?) were also procured for pennies!

I ignore these in the shops (well these days I'll take a shelfie) because they aren't worth the price, but in a tatty box for a quid, they are worth the punt as archive items; packaging's gone to the recycling, where it joined the Khufu game's box and main components!

A dodgy Panther, UPS truck (in mufti), high-performance sports-staff car (HMS Queen Elizabeth's?!!) and a reasonable Jeep Wrangler join a tacky helicopter and two road-signs; it's the bottom-end of the die-cast market! All courtesy of Top Toys; an importer based in Northampton we've seen before I think.

This afternoon (Thursday)'s loot included a tenth Halo (of twelve, I may yet get them all?)* a handful of chinosaurs, a Taiwanese Luke Skywalker (magazine part-work) and a pallet of milk-churns, which were joined by a Phidal set of Toy Story figurines; they will get a separate post at some point.

* Except the post I'm referring to is err . . . still in the queue . . . Doh! Forthcoming! The Works (for it is they) are replacing the Jada Halo with Happy Potter (HP II) and Fantastic Beast sets, also in twelve's,  I think?

ᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥ ☼ ᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪᴥᴪ