UFO

Yes, ... the missile comes in black 

Another great English space show, and from the same maker as the Thunderbirds, was UFO - but this time not made with puppets but real actors. The plot ? A base on the moon that helped a secret organization free the earth of UFO attacks.

(or orange...) Shado Interceptor, UFO, Dinky Toys, UK,
1970s

Spacetanks

Space tank w/missile, Tudor Rose, UK,
1950s

What is the best way to go around the moon and still be prepared for any alien attack that can occur ? You bet it - it's the space tank.

This one is very colorfull - and has a rubber bladder dome that can shoot bursts of air ! Hence the missile that goes on the canon.

And what do you do when no tracks are available ? You go for this version : the "walking" tank / space vehicle.

Walking space vehicle, Gakken, Japan,
1970s

Marklin

The pride and joy of father and son - here are some pictures of the Marklin Layout I left in my home country.

We are only able to make it run once in a while (about every year or so) - but except some spider webs in the tunnels, it always works like a charm as soon as we plug in the transfo.

Marklin Layout, Belgium - David helping dad put cars on the track

Batten Robomaru

Batten Robomaru, Popy, Japan,
1970s

Another cute robot from Japan, this one is a storage box for little rubber figurines. He goes well alongside Robocon and his friends.

The back is full of rubber figurines of the
characters of the show !

Casimir

In need of a friendly monster ? Say hello to Casimir, the hero of a kid's show in the late 70ies in France called l'île aux Enfants. He was a friendly monster that loved to cook and eat gloubi glouba (don't ask what that is to your French cook !)

Group of Casimir toys, France

Casimir, Delacoste, France
1970s

Astrosmurf, Schleich, Portugal
1969

And now, a little blue note to my compatriot Peyo who opened the "BD" world to my son (together with Hergé, of course...)

Cosmoschtroumpf, Orli Jouet, France
1983

Thunderbirds

5,4,3,2,1,... Thunderbirds are Go ! When color made its debut on British television, kids shows finally were packed with adventures and out-of the world vehicles. The secret ? Puppets. Gerry Anderson had a try at it in previous shows like Fireball XL-5 or Stingray, but it would be his Thunderbirds show that would make the world wake to a new type of Sci-Fi design. Shows became instant hits in Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA. An incredible number of special effects and modelers were called to the rescue, some of them working on James Bond movies later on.

Motorized Thunderbird 2 kit, maker unknown
1960s

The storyboard, that of a family that was involved in the most dazling rescue operations but always trying to keep their identities secret, was thrilling at every episode. And when the kids saw the magic lines "filmed in Supermarionation" on the screen filled with explosions of every kind, they knew they had one of the best Sci-Fi on TV.

FAB 1, JR21 toy, United Kingdom,
1960s

Tetsujin 28

Tetsujin 28 and Monster robot, Nostalgic Heroes, Japan,

1990s

This pot-belly robot was quite popular in the States - Tetsujin 28 aka Gigantor. He is your robot version of Japan's Sumo warriors. In the cartoon, Tetsujin is a robot with incredible strength, but no intelligence whatsoever. He is remote controlled by a young boy, Jimmy Sparks. In Japan - original tin toys of this character were made in great numbers. These vinyl repros have their charm also.

Superfriends

When superheroes fall back into childhood - this is what they will be looking like ! Just to never forget that deep within, we are still the kids we were...

Super Juniors (Superman, Wonder Woman, Robin and Batman), Protecto,

Taiwan, 1978

Ray guns (2)



   

 

3-Color Space Ray, Ideal Toy Corp., USA,

1950s

Strangely enough 2 different toy companies named Ideal made rayguns in the 50s/60s. Above is the American one: a raygun with a switch that allowed for different "colored" rays (read: filters on top of lightbulb) to blast the universe. Below are the rayguns from the German Ideal counterpart, with some of the best design in term or Futurism. Note the little aliens inside the gun and the sparkle effect on the plastic of the later versions !

Raygun (large), Ideal, Germany,
1960s

The clear version (no sparkles) came first. It has no CE marking on the fin.

Raygun (small) 2nd version, Ideal, Germany,
1960s

Raygun (small) 1st version, Ideal, Germany,
1960s

Atomatic, H.R. Production, UK

1950s

I just love fins ! No better example than this little gun from the UK - Buck Rogers era design at its best !

Space Gun, "M" in circle, Japan.
1950s

  

Bub-L-Rocket, Kenner, USA,
1952

Bub-L-Rocket (detail), Kenner, USA,
1952

Some astronauts had lazer pistols - others had to save the galaxy with bubbles...

Ray Guns

Nevada Ray Gun, CO-MA, Italy,

1960s

A more civilized weapon for a more civilized time... was what Obi-Wan called the lightsaber in the Star Wars trilogy. Fact is, most of the would be astronauts (Han Solo included) would use a blaster, a lazer, an atomizer or any other type of fancy name given to a much easier to use device: the ray gun.

Hey, they made spectacular light-shows in the movies ! They could be "set for stun", or "sleep" or "obey" and bring lots of new stories to a kid's imaginary world...

3-Colour Super Sonic Gun, Merit, UK

1950s

My all time favorite - maybe just because the box is so great.(found in London, Portobello market) - the inner box says it all: Electronic Magnetic Energizers, Spectroscopic Beam Converter, Ignition and Discharge Chamber, Gravitational Field Reactors, Interplanetary Transmission Sight, Atomic Power Chamber, Space Beam Receiving Aerial, Energy Condenser Chamber, Energy Ray Release Trigger, Interplanetary Gravity Stabilisers, Cyclotronic Acceleration Chamber and Supersonic Beam Amplifyer.... all in one piece of plastic. Oh boy... This thing has more gizmos then an F-16...

Space Outlaw Atomic Pistol (and repro box), BCM, UK

1950s

More futuristic cars...

Futuristic Car, DB, USA, 1950's

Futuristic Car, DB, USA, 1950's

Some quite interesting designs - or, how the past saw the future...

Futuristic car, MARX, USA, 1950's

Firetruck ? Ask Pyro to come out with an amazing design...

Pyromatic Fire Control, Pyro, USA, 1950s

Pyromatic Fire Control, Pyro, USA, 1950s

Pyromatic Fire Control, Pyro, USA, 1950s

When you really need off-road capacity, forget about the fins and the bubbletops... all you need is a good jeep. Works on earth and on planet Jupiter, like this one. With trailer and shovel... to RECLAIM rare samples of the planet ? Who knows...

Jupiter Jeep, SSS, Japan,

1950s

And for heavy loads... Sun rubber made the toy just for that !

Futuristic Truck, Sun Rubber, USA
1950's