MOONBASE CENTRAL

Friday, 5 June 2026

HOT Wheels Racers

The latest 2026 waves of Hot Wheels mainland castings are appearing on the shelves and show a distinct change in the choice of cars. The weird, dayglo fantasy designs seem to be making way for real world and classic racers, with some really unusual cars available. Tucked in amongst the modern exotics and muscle cars are some really cool choices, such as the Fiat S76 or as it became known ‘The Beast of Turin’. Built in 1910 to challenge the Land Speed Record, where it was pushed to almost 140 mph! A lovely crimson and gold finish, with authentic decals.

In a similar vein, we have the Morgan Super 3, a three wheeled race car and the 1933 Ford Lo Boy, looking for all the world like something from American Graffiti.

Another strange, but fanciful design is the gold 2 Jet Z, a casting which has been issued before, but makes a welcome addition to the range.

Staying with the British cars, we have a fabulous Land Rover Series II, fitted out for a day at the beach, with a surf board on top and windscreen folded down.

Back to the fantasy leagues again with a mighty 69 Chevelle hot rod from the X-Raycers line, with a transparent green body and big neon green slicks.

Finally, an older release that I came across amongst the latest, the Heavy Hitcher Recovery Truck, which has recently graced the 1:43 Speeder line. Looking a little like the Corgi Rockets Holmes Wrecker on steroids, it has a large hook that can lower and tow another car around the track.

There’s still one or two more on my 26 hit list including the Custom Otto in the original blue finish, as it appeared on the Hot Wheels packaging, so watch out for an Otto update soon, along with yet another Twin Mill variation.

Tracka and Racks

I've been visiting Recklinghausen Bahnhofbuchhandlung since 1979.

Many things have changed in the Ruhr town since then but the train station book shop hasn't.

Still the same calm emporium of books and magazines it always was.

Today I spotted a kid cinema MOTU comic with a free sword. I was swordly tempted but at €5.99 I left it.

There are hundreds of magazines including a huge trains rack.

Do you still buy magazines?

Mystery Spaceship

I saw this online the other day. I've no idea what it is.

It opens up and I wonder if a pilot sat inside?

Could be Japanese?

Anyone recognize it?

In the Realm of the Cave Bear

Yesterday we went to a cave system in the German town of Iserlohn in the Sauerland region, the Dechenhöhle.

I have a feeling I visited caves with my folks as a kid though it's unclear, but I do enjoy the activity.

Several kids were in our group and they all liked the museum at the start, which included life size reconstructions of cave bears and then strange looking cave lions, which we all agreed we'd never heard of before. Have you?

The cave itself was full of thousands of wet stalagmites, tites and pillars and a constant temp of 10 degrees. It takes the stalactites a century to grow just 1 cm, a human lifetime.

We weren't allowed to take snaps but I squeezed one off before the guide arrived!

At the end the Gift Shop was a hit with dino parts being popular.

Did you visit caves as a kid?

Space Boat Pilot

I've been aware of the Red China Commander ship for years.

A space boat with a formidable periscope there's a bit of Stingray in it I reckon.

Ive never really noticed the pilot before though. He or she is ordering into the scope viewer, a white helmeted and suited sailor with black visor and pink ribbed arms. Quite startling really. It reminds me of the similar figure in the Soma Thunderbird 5 knockoff.

Has anyone got this space boat?