Space Attack Unit

 I really like this cheapos spaceship. That rear silver dish really rings a bell too.

There's lots going on here.

I wonder what the blue button does?

That's a definite R2D2 looker sat at the rear.

It's part of a Space Attack Unit boxed set.

I wouldn't mind one at all cheapos or not. You? 

Billy Castoff

 

There's something about this cute fellow that reminds me of Billy Blastoff! It's a formidable thing he's sat in, there's everything but the kitchen sink! 

I've labelled it ugly but you may disagree?

Cosmos RE-4

Now this guy is going places! 

Is this ugly?

Outer Space Mantis Toy

 

This is a new one on me. By Toy House Mfg. Corps of Taiwan, it's an odd toy with nods to  Transformers and Converters.

I like it. Do you?

It's Time to Leave the Capsule

Hello Woodsy

Today I saw the latest space toys, the latest 'Rover' and 'Capsule'.

NASA must be in a bad way if this is in their future!

Terranova47

USA

What? Six Foots Scorpion King

Yet another bizarre glossy toy from the 1990's craze of chucking everything in there and shoving batteries in! 

This is the Six Foots Scorpion King, not something you'd want to meet in a dark alley at night!

See what you think! A Christmas special?

Shiny Shiny!

 New to me and words fail.

Holy cow!

An iridescent beetle road sweeper maybe?

Nope!

It's got a dalekesque robot gunner inside!

One for you or for the space dump?

No Toy is an Island

The island of Taiwan has a long proud history of toy manufacture.

Here's three space toys from the former Formosa.

See what you think readers?

The Super Jet Car. It looks chunky.

The Machine Cop. You do not want to mess with this guy! 

The most ambitious of the three here and with echoes of Gatchaman, the Dolphin II.

I really like the look of this. You?

THE SPACE SQUIRT!

This has to be one of the oddest names for a lunar surface vehicle I've seen, the Space Squirt!

By Sterling Models, I can't see NASA adopting the word Squirt any time soon!

One I saw on an old auction, maybe its a kit that you know readers, for beginners or experts as it says.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of vehicle it is. You? A hovercraft?

RAISING THE ROOF: MACHINE COP GETS UGLY

 

Ah, Machine Cop! Perhaps the ugliest space toy ever made! Half car half robot, its got everything going from Planet Cheapo.

Is it something you'd want under the tree readers?

Strange Old Toys

There were some really strange toys around in the States in the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. So strange that I've always been fascinated by them. You might even think them ugly. Did you have anything like these or any other strange toys?

First up is Vincent Price's Shrunken Head set! You could dry out apples and attach hair and key chains. I didn't have one but oh I wish I had! A classic from the late monster craze.

Next up and the first in an atomic theme is this incredible Atomic Reactor with battery. Made by Marx Linemar it involved heat, steam, a battery and fuel tablets. Not sure where atomics came in. My Mums Prestige pressure cooker was probably more dangerous. You can read all about Marx's reactor here

https://www.atomictourism.us/2019/12/24/atomic-reactor-steam-plant/

Gilbert got there Atomic Energy Lab in first though, in 1950. Just 5000 were sold. With it cloud chamber and uranium ores the set allowed kids to see alpha particles collide. Not a great seller but what a toy! I'd have blown my room up! 

You can read more on Wiki 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_U-238_Atomic_Energy_Laboratory

Dark Shadows has always been on my bucket list of shows I missed and want to watch. One of the odder playthings to emerge from it in 1970 was Josette's Music Box. I've listened to the tune and can imagine it giving young kids the creeps to be honest. Still, a fabulous bit of Dark Shadows kit and I for one would have loved it! 

Back to atom splitting, this Lone Ranger Atom Bomb  toy ring is from the 1940s and maybe the first toy to dabble in nuclear physics.

On my target list for my collection, I'm unlikely to ever own this beautiful oddity.

The 'bomb' on top allowed kids to peer through a spy hole to gawp at the thrilling mysteries of polonium.

You can find out more - if you can take it - here:

https://www.orau.org/health-physics-museum/collection/spinthariscopes/lone-ranger-atom-bomb-ring-spinthariscope.html

Perhaps my favourite odd toy is Horsman's Self Propelled Action Bed, released on the success of the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

The bed had mystery non-fall action and came with a doll which was supposed to look like Angela Lansbury but didn't. A strange item for a toy don't you think? 

Beneath the bed lay the battery case, motor and non-fall device.

I wonder if the Action bed sold well?

Oddly enough, I'd love one. You?

Which strange toys have you come across?

SPACE STAR: IT COULD GIVE YOU A HEADACHE!

 

Its chunky, its bulging, its the Space Star!

As iridescent as a peacock, this bad boy is determined to be seen!

You Like?

YELLOW PERIL

I saw this concoction on auction earlier in the year and you know, I quite like it. Its like a yellow Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robot commandeering a Starcom spacecraft!

Is it ugly? I dunno. You?

Would you want one for Christmas?

It's a Harley!

This is new to Moonbase, the Ways Explorer to Harley Comet. I assume this is refering to Haley's comet. 

It looks great but strange, like a car part. It's a type of gyroscope and a first for me. This was on eBay, like many firsts.

ERTL'S 1985 DROID-X-PLOR CAR

This looked cool and unusual on the Bay and a new one on me.

ERTL's Action Packed DROID-X-PLOR - a rather clumsy name if I may say so - nut a smart looking space toy.

Apparently the figure is exclusive to this toy.

What do you think readers?

Is it ugly or lovely?

IN SPACE WE WILL PLAY BADMINTON!

 This old space toy caught my eye.

Thankfully not literally but online.

The Space Vehicle Launcher.

Its essentially a catapult of sorts and a ....

.... shuttlecock!

Talk about recycling!

The blurb mentions a loud bang. How was that created? I can't see any caps.

Can you imagine a game of Badminton with two of these! ha ha

Do you like this toy readers?

THE BLING FROM ANOTHER WORLD: K'S FLYING SAUCER

 

Some times you wonder what toy designers were doing the night before they went to work.

K's Flying Saucer has to be result of a baroque bender in bars near Versailles!

Like a space gateau, its a saucer-full full of gold looking for a Chateau.

Unbelievably the box says CAUTION: Not Recommended for Children!

So who is it for?

What do you think of it?