T is for Toy Fair 2019 Reports - Revell - Space Program

It was one small step, 50 years ago today? FIFTY YEARS AGO! What did we do with it . . . not bloody much would seem to be the answer! Velcro, Teflon and machines-that-go-beep with quieter beeps is the substantive answer!

It's funny, I've got quite keen to see the Revell stand each year, which although smaller than the Hornby/Airfix one is nonetheless a better display. They have a lot of made-up kits and everything is piled together so wherever you look there's something interesting to see. This year there was a lot of the Star Wars stuff we saw last year, but some new'ish things which may interest some of you.

Before you indulge in the luxury of going to and putting men on - the moon, better play with the technology (you've nicked from the Brit's) in your own sky's first, so the X-Plane program was born, which apart from the getting of the speed records lead to the altitude training which would carry-over to the space-race.

A lovely model but I'm not sure about the pilot, he seems to be wearing a standard fighter-pilots flight-suit from the 1950's, but I think he should be wearing a silver suit, similar to the later Mercury program suit?

A bit smaller than the Airfix kit (also getting a re-issue this 50th anniversary year), but including a figure I don't think I have encountered yet, might have one in the 'unknowns', but I don't think so. Also - and I'm guessing here - I think you can model them joined together?

Back to 1:48, sadly no figures, but plenty of detail to model. I well remember being allowed to stay-up late to watch coverage of the landings on the news, or special episodes of The Sky at Night (?) which happened after 'bed time'!

The weird thing is, earlier in the year; I was staying with my Godmother (in the summer of '69) and distinctly remember seeing footage of a rocket exploding on the launch pad?

Now I guess with hindsight it must have been historical footage from the space-race, but I can't find details of it. I know there was the Apollo 1 capsule-fire which killed the crew, but I think that was contained, so I don't know what I saw . . . but I was only six?!!

It was colour footage (which was rare then - on UK TV's) and the fire came from the bottom, up the side and then the Rocket (which memory serves was Apollo-like) toppled-over and then there was a huge explosion which engulfed the landing-platform and gantry?

A rather simple four-image .gif as it only occurred to me after I'd taken the  shots (one of which is slightly out of register with the other three. Note the clip-together aircraft kits and the huge Armstrong in the background.

I managed to not shoot the larger-scale figure twice (his foot was seen in previous images), but he's half-there! Also some nice laser-cut three-ply frets of Leonardo d'Vinci's inventions were on display.

T is for Toy Fair '18 Reports - Revell - Miscellaneous

Finishing-up the Revell reports with the bits and bobs, basically two ranges which - while probably not 'new' - are new to me and have some new items. Also a bit outside the remit of the Blog, but interesting for being clear attempts to steal market-share from people they never used to clash with, but the toy business is a cut-throat one these days, and Revell are flexing their muscles.

These are basically Playmobile for people who want more realistic figures, the vehicles and accessories aren't much different, the trolley may be a tad finer or 'less chunky' than the Playmobile version would be, but it's definitely the same type of toy; half-way between toy figures and action figures with a bit of construction thrown in for good measure.

I think they have nine points of articulation which takes them toward the action figures end of the toy-figure 'spectrum' and will give them greater playability than Playmobile figures that have always had that stilted 'Frankenstein' walk.

The subjects on display were all 'real life' of a modern or up-to-date nature, whether it will one day extend to Romans, Knights, Vikings or post-1914 style combat figures is anyone's guess, I suspect not, but if the line takes-off - who knows?

Single figures are available (like Playmobile) as an entry-point 'come-on' or collection-builders, and in a pocket-money price bracket (£4.99), given that for those lucky-enough to get pocket money, it's trending to a little-more (£5-10)that the occasional sixpence we got, way back when.

Police, fire and ambulance/paramedic crews need civilians in trouble to be able to spring into action . . . and a mix of vacant 'preppy' looking kiddults and high-performance sports cars look like a recipe for trouble to me!

One of the cars is actually licensed from Cars the movie franchise, dragging younger customers into the 'Playmobile Plus' world!

Not content to just attack Playmobile's market, Revell are also aiming their multiple sights at Lego, or it's sub-brand Duplo, with a range of large-stud [simple-] construction toys which are 'compatible with all leading brands!

A move I - for one - am happy with, Lego are a ruthless 'corporate' hiding behind the 'fake-news' of a cosy apple-pie family business, and now they've lost most of the (at one point; seemingly endless) court battles, it's nice to see other companies getting into that market.

Again, though; [getting back to Revell!] there is a more advanced element than I think you get with Duplo, in that the vehicles are radio-controlled, although as tech slides down the age-spectrum of toys, becoming ever more affordable, we will all end-up with walking, talking, flashing toys or figures who can get into their own drone and fly-off to worry the family pets!

Out now and better than Airfix's offering, but not exactly setting the world on fire either, and a clear move away from hobby-kits to early-years toys and from realistic representations of real life, historical or iconic things to licensed TV/Movie related stuff.