S is for Santorini

Where - I think it's fair to say - a majority of ancient historians (that's historians specialising in the ancient period, not a bunch of decrepit historians . . . although some of them are bound to have some age) now believe an advanced, pre-historical, bronze-age, naval society, akin or related to the Minoans or Troy, were based on their island paradise . . . which just happened to be a sleeping volcano - and you thought 2020 was a bit shit!

Another Waddington's game today, with 'plastic smalls' . . . . [thump!] there, that's the PSTSM leaving the room, phew! I picked this up soon after it came out, for about half what it cost, with figures still on the runners, which is usually a sign the family didn't get through a first read of the rules!

The figures are suitably ancient in the fashion stakes, and while wildly different sizes (if she stood-up straight she'd be 7-foot-6 to his 5-11), they would both paint-up well for inclusion with Atlantic's Christians in the big arena! He'd also make a good chariot soldier, while she could hide from 'Kong'!

I wasn't prepared to do a .gif of this one as there are far too many pieces (120+) and I didn't bother reading the rules at all! But a central citadel leads-on to six town pieces, 12 countryside pieces and 24 rock-sections, after which, escape (the main aim of the game) lies in crossing the ocean . . .

. . . a task facilitated by catching a ride on a passing bireme - only three at a time thought (Covid-19 social distancing!), Ding! Ding! "Move down the boat please! And don't forget to report anything unusual - No! Not the molten lava-balls falling from the sky Madam, management is already aware of that - and take all you belongings with you if you leave".

'If', because there are giant octopi and sea-dragons to help stop you ever getting to the mainland and being sold into slavery to pay for your passage! Note; the box art has reverse colours from those in my set.

There are sharks too! Now you start to understand why each player has 12 counters, it is probably likely some players don't save more than one, if any at all? The dolphins probably help . . . bloody liberals, always wanting to aid people worse off than the majority . . . it's fucking socialism you know, sodding pinko-commie cetaceans!!

I posed them with the boat as I had it out for that post the other day!

There you go, someone else went to the effort of setting-up a sample game so I didn't have to!

I'm not saying she's mad, but look at the eyes, I think she's going to kill her 'mother' as soon as the photographer says "Wrap"!

 

19-06-2022 - I've since learnt that there are various versions of this game, some with simpler or more cartoony sea monsters, another with simple cone-counters for the people, one with all card pieces, another (Germany?) with wooden playing pieces and everything else in card, but I think the above is the best version of the lot.

L is for Look Upon Our Wonders Ye Hobbyists and Purchase!

A real oddity today . . . and a real survivor! I believe this is an old Aurora shop-window display model, from the early days of both model kits and hobby stores, and has managed to survive a transatlantic crossing with no more damage than two broken block & tackle lifting-rings, both of which I have in a little self-seal bag somewhere!

And the transfers, the original waterslide transfers are being slowly shed like the last fragments of a snake's old skin! Although the modern Atlantis re-issue has the same sheet on better quality stock!

Back in the day, the early plastic kit manufacturers - Adams (Revell/Frog), Hawk, Monogram, Pyro, SNAP and Aurora, (among others) - would set out-workers to constructing so many of each new kit, which would be sent out to adorn the windows or display cabinet's of selected hobby shops to show the finished article.

A basic paint job was added along with a full set of transfers (as per the instructions!), in this case a reasonably austere scheme of black and silver . . . yes, I know, but you should see the gloss Buckingham or racing-green some of them got! It was a different era, and the companies knew 'little Johnny' might be using a tin of household gloss from the garage!

A few highlights. The construction is professional (clearly liquid-poly has been used - long before it was commercially available), everything has been properly trimmed back, all flash and gate marks cleaned-up and the paint seems to have been airbrushed on the runners and touched-up only where necessary, the highlights on the rear deck achieved with a printers roller and only a team building the same kit all day could get the tracks that perfect . . . oh, is that just me . . . Mr. Gardenglove Fingers!

I don't know if these are worth much, after-all you can still buy the kit  most days of the week somewhere on the secondary-market as about three Aurora boxings, two (?) Lindberg or the current [full price!] Atlantix and make it how you want it, so it's probably more of a curiosity? And . . . when you find those 1:30th/1:50th hard 'styrene crew figures in a rummage box, with a basic flesh, silver and gloss black paint-job, they probably came from display models?

1:48th scale, M-46 General Patton Medium/Heavy Tank . . . it just managed to be an M-[19]45! And if you do find one the Atlantis is a slightly different moulding (but matches late Aurora tooling) with the MG placed forwards, two (too thick) aerials added and some other, lesser changes