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F-ZeroOne

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  1. F-ZeroOne
    I think you had this in the US, a design that haunted the "Toys & Games" pages of British mail-order catalogues for what seemed like years, the Milton Bradley "Starbird Avenger" (and its evil cousin, the "Starbird Intruder"): https://flashbak.com/fastest-ship-galaxy-remembering-milton-bradleys-star-bird-1978-58502/ I always used to stare longingly at it but somehow it never made my "want" lists as a child. Also, speaking of a "Space Raider", something I've been thinking about for a while and this thread seems a fitting thread to mention it, there was a line of UK snack foods called "Space Raiders" (still is, actually, not to be confused with a MacDonalds promotion from the late 70s); the original release featured art on the packets by no less a "2000AD" illuminary as Brett Ewins ("Judge Dredd", "Bad Company"). The reason I mention it is at one time they did an offer where if you sent in so many packets plus postage they would send you a little spaceship toy. I had hours of fun with that cheap little thing (I did at one time actually find out who made them but have since forgotten); I also recall some little toys a saw in a shop in a holiday camp once (yes, a lot of my childhood holidays were spent in these, for want of a better word, institutions) that had little "Zoids"-like pilots in but weren't related to them in any way (they weren't "R.A.T.S" or "Starriors" either, these were way smaller and sold in a box assortment). The reason I bring these up is that these sorts of cheap, throwaway and probably often bootlegged toys (or picture books, comics, etc) weren't famous, little information generally exists about them online and possibly are only recalled in the memories of those who actually encountered them but nevertheless could have an effect on the imagination at least equal to the much better known big names that get the coverage today. Edit: the "holiday camp" toys I mention above, I may be misremembering them having "Zoids" pilots; I think it was actually "Zoids" like small guns and external weapons/fittings.
  2. F-ZeroOne
    I mean, look at all those Skystrikers on the deck! 😅
  3. F-ZeroOne
    I'm guessing someone didn't get the "USS Flagg" like they asked for one Christmas and thought "Right, when I'm all grown up I'll show that stoopid Santy Claus!"... 😁
  4. F-ZeroOne
    Chris Foss! I've been trying to remember that name ever since the topic of SF cover artists came up!
  5. F-ZeroOne
    I had the original release of the "Rogue Trooper" videogame; it was actually pretty good fun. By no means top tier but for what it was, much better than one would expect. It had a suitably "chunky" look to the hardware. Its not the first "Rogue Trooper" game - one was actually released for various 8-bit home computers, along with a "Nemesis the Warlock" game and (I think ) a couple of "Strontium Dog" titles. Peter Elsons work I know, though until now I didn't know his name - I loved the "Stainless Steel Rat" books (and they also had a "2000AD" adaptation; its basically the "Kevin Bacon" of British pop culture... 😅) Chris Moore and Jim Burns, again, not overly familiar names but I've almost certainly seen their work. Comics were a big part of British popular culture up to the mid-80s; war comics were still popular here long after they'd faded in the US, and it arguably took "Star Wars" to finally dethrone them. In a way I could say, comics wise, I experienced American comics in a kind of reverse process; when I grew up in the early 80s US comics were relatively rare and when the stories made it over it was often as a back-up strip in another Marvel-associated title (like "Star Wars". To save money; these imports were often re-printed in black and white rather than colour; one story that stands out in my memory is Tony Stark somehow being locked in his armour and Ant-Man having to go in to solve the issue whilst being attacked by the Iron Man suits internal defences). Sometimes Marvel and DC stories would be published in compilations (rather like how "Judge Dredd" comics were released in the US); actual US editions I usually acquired packaged in bundles at "holiday camps" or on holidays to the Spanish islands. One time I acquired a stash of "Archie" comics at an event in a nearby city, which introduced me to a whole different style of US comic; arguably more "realistic" than superheroes and even native publications like "The Beano" (which while usually set in the "real" world were full of what is usually described as "wacky hi-jinks"). And to this day I still don't recognise this "Dennis the Menace" version you claim to have on your side of the pond... 😅 Please note I grew up in a semi-rural part of the UK so don't take my youthful SF media experiences as necessarily reflective of the whole country. Anyway. Before I derail things any further, to my shame it has taken me this long to realise I have somehow, in a discussion of "General Sci-fi Designs Across Various Media", failed to mention the Granddaddy of British SF - Herbert George Wells. Granted, he didn't directly illustrate the iconic Martian tripod, but his descriptions have certainly proved a big inspiration to many over the decades. And as a further dive into obscure British SF media, theres the rather over-ambitious BBC production (adapted from a book series) "The Tripods" from back in the day...
  6. F-ZeroOne
    Another memory bank kicked into stuttering life: when "2000AD" launched, the lead strip wasn't a certain Lawman of the Future, but a reimagined "Dan Dare". Originally drawn by Massimo Belardinelli and later by a certain Dave Gibbons (whatever happened to him?) the strip featured a "mothership" for Dan called a "Space Fortress" (I'm fairly sure, but can't confirm, the name was inspired by the B-17) and a smaller gunship-like craft I forget the name of (possibly, and suitably enough, "Eagle"?) both of which featured technical cutaways in the comic and which were great examples of late 70s style "realistic" spaceships. Speaking of Dave Gibbons, also in "2000AD" was "Rogue Trooper" which over its life featured some amazing "future war" vehicles depicted by various artists including Cam Kennedy and Collin Wilson. An animated movie, directed by Doug Jones, is coming "soon". I'll also mention "Starblazer", which will require a bit of explaining - a long-running fixture of British newsagents (convenience stores) were "Commando" comics, little booklet-size comics usually depicting war stories which has been going for a long time (I think it still is!); for a while it had a SF counterpart, "Starblazer". Some of the covers for "Starblazer" featured amazing late 70s/early 80s SF art, some drawn by the much overlooked Ian Kennedy. And finally there was a series of books that haunted second-hand bookshops for years under the "Terran Trade Authority" banner, being essentially a showcase for various SF themed work by various artists with accompanying fluff text written by Stewart Cowley.
  7. F-ZeroOne
    Hi, to the best of my knowledge the film called “MegaForce”and the toyline called “MegaForce” are completely unrelated. Presumably a trademark lapsed at some point, or given the state of toy licensing at the time, the toy producers were completely unaware. Lego Space and Robotix are good shouts! I always got the impression “Zoids” was more popular in the UK than the US. We got a pretty good comic book (I think it merged with “Spider-Man” in the UK eventually; it may just have ran as a back up strip there and I’m misremembering) with art by Steve Yeowell (possibly best known for his work at “2000AD” with “Zenith”) and I think one of the “big” comics writers also did scripts for it, I want to say Grant Morrison? The UK comic book continuity was more or less separate from the Japanese background material. When I first started travelling to Japan, I used to see “Zoids” kits all the time (the original Tony releases, not the later even more detailed toys and model kits), really wish I’d picked up a few. I’ve frequented a few local toy fairs recently and they seem to be fairly scarce as “classic” toys go, I’ve only seen one out of half a dozen shows I’ve been to.
  8. F-ZeroOne
    ZOIDS! Piloted mecha dinosaurs! How have we not mentioned "Zoids" yet?!
  9. F-ZeroOne
    Couple toylines spring to mind here when it comes to SF designs, but not the ones everyone probably knows - "StarCom" and "MegaForce". I never had any of them but they stand out as having a relatively "realistic" (by I guess "Action Forc - ", excuse me, I mean "G.I. Joe" standards of "realistic") aesthetic for the time. Early "Britains Space" also arguably had a more "grounded", "2001" style look compared to the likes of say "Star Wars" or "Micronauts" - if you ignore the yellow/orange paint of the original "hero" vehicles (Britains normally made military, farm and construction vehicle toys so I wonder if they used what they had in stock... ). And while I'm getting lyrical about old, obscure British toylines - "Action Man Space Ranger"!
  10. F-ZeroOne
    Talk of British SF in general, and a documentary about a certain comic I rewatched over Christmas, reminded me of a couple designs. "2000AD" - The Galaxys Greatest Comic - is perhaps oddly despite being a SF anthology work not overly well known for its iconic designs but there are a few that spring to mind. Judge Dredds Lawmaster motorcycle, for example (which has existed in various guides over the years). Theres also the Blitzspear from "Nemesis the Warlock", an early example at least for me of a biological/technological hybrid and finally and perhaps the least known but very much from the "industrial everyday work thing" of spaceship construction, the "Speedo Ghost" from "Ace Trucking Co".
  11. F-ZeroOne
    And while we're on the subject of British TV SF - "Doctor Who" (I recently learned that the space station model used for the opening of "The Trial of a Time Lord" incorporated parts from "Macross" model kits!), "Blakes 7" (one of the reasons British TV SF had a bit of a reputation for slightly ropey effects is that "Blakes 7" replaced a police drama series in the schedule, and was given the same FX budget!) and even "Red Dwarf", which had some fantastic model work for a supposed "comedy" series.
  12. F-ZeroOne
    "Space: 1999" is a great shout, but I guess almost any "Gerry Anderson" series would count, at least the ones with a vehicular focus (*cough*"The Secret Service"*cough*). If we're mentioning "Space: 1999" I guess "UFO" also counts; after all "Space: 1999" started life as a sequel series for "UFO"!
  13. F-ZeroOne
    Thanks for that link, fascinating - oh, wait, wrong franchise!
  14. F-ZeroOne
    Sorry, have to make a correction to a common misconception here - May did not perform the shows theme for the series itself; instead he produced a cover version of it. The story goes that he and his son enjoyed watching the show, and May was inspired to do his own version. The Japanese original, "X-Bomber", has a very different Japanese language theme (and its a rare case where a Western substitution was probably the better option!). Regards "Dunbine", the actual original series itself can be argued to be "of its time" (i.e. its a bit of a long slog if you're not used to "classic" TV anime) but it also shows off Tominos genius for world building (and his penchant for bizarre character names) and the interior workings of the "Dunbine" mecha were rather ahead of their time - I'm looking at you, Hideki Anno... 😉
  15. F-ZeroOne
    Yes, as far as I'm aware "Star Fleet" is somewhat more obscure in the US. As it happens, I was browsing a local HMV (yes, we still have those) the other day and much to my surprise they actually had "The Star Fleet Project" CD (Mays cover mini-album of the series music)! I guess it must have been re-issued fairly recently! If you like insectoid designs, and you're not already familiar with it, you may want to check out "Aura Battler Dunbine"... 😄
  16. F-ZeroOne
    So this design may seem a little familiar... 😅 https://www.sfxb.co.uk/mecha/imperialships.html As you can probably tell, I've loved this wasp-like carrier design since childhood. A little background context for those who may be unaware of the series this ship comes from; "Star Fleet" (original Japanese title "X-Bomber") was a Japanese anime-like puppet SF action series created by Go Nagai - yes, that Go Nagai - which was very popular in the UK and Europe for a brief period in the early 80s (popular enough that Brian May - yes, that Brian May - released a cover version of the shows Western theme song featuring guitar work by Eddie van Halen - do I still need to say it? 😅). It existed in a brief transition period for mechanical designs in Japanese popular media where after the release of "Gundam" but before "Macross" some creators were still figuring out just where the mecha trend was going next so some of the mecha and vehicles have an interesting mix of "Super Robot" like aesthetic mixed with "Real Robot" like technical detail. There have been various physical media releases of the show both in Japan and the West in past years, which feature interviews with some of those involved but as it was not a huge success in Japan I suspect many of the stories behind it are going to be at best difficult to unearth...
  17. F-ZeroOne
    I suppose you could hand wave it by saying this occurred at some point around "Time Crash" (one of the "Children in Need" specials) and that the... erm... temporal effects haven't quite worn off yet. 😅On the other hand, doesn't exactly explain Tegan but then the Doctor has been known to be a little... absent minded when it comes to species that don't perceive time quite the same way...
  18. F-ZeroOne
    Brave heart, Tegan! "Resurrection of the Daleks" (along with "Earthshock") terrified me as a kid. I still can't see someone use shaving foam without screaming...
  19. F-ZeroOne
    Never knew there was a "City Hunter" game. Looks a little like "Rolling Thunder 2", one of my favourite games on the Mega Drive (Genesis to probably most of you).
  20. F-ZeroOne
    YouTube hears me and OBEYS!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re5eRa6BAYo
  21. F-ZeroOne
    Renegadeleader1, I’m familiar at least in passing with the aircraft you mentioned (the thing that always gets me about the Airacuda more than anything is where did they get that name from?!) though I hadn’t heard of the AT-9 before.
  22. F-ZeroOne
    This year marks the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. In the UK the Spitfire, and to a (sadly) lesser extent the Hurricane [1], are the symbols of the Battle but over the past few years I've become a little bit fascinated with an aircraft that is much less well known: the Boulton-Paul Defiant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulton_Paul_Defiant Now don't get me wrong - I'm not one of those people who is going to claim that the Defiant was some kind of latent super-fighter that could have taken on a F-22 and won - but I just find its story interesting. The main reason I've bought it up is that it never ceases to amazes me the little undiscovered side-alleys that still wait to surprise the fan of World War II military history, and one of those I only discovered today was that the Defiant had a single seat, forward firing gun armed [2] variant planned, which somehow I'd never heard of before!: https://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_boulton_paul_P94.html [1] If one were really reaching, one could also class the Blackburn Skua and Roc as "Battle of Britain" fighter aircraft... [2] The Defiant could fire forward, if the gunner locked the guns in position, but only the pilot could then fire them but as he had no gunsight...
  23. F-ZeroOne
    I hope they do a "Streets of Rage" one down the line!
  24. F-ZeroOne
    Ah, I did wonder - I have a G1 Soundwave myself so I know the toy version had yellow eyes. I knew the Lego one came with alternate pieces but that specific piece wasn't the shape I was expecting.
  25. F-ZeroOne
    Whats the little yellow triangular thing in the far right of the main cassette deck form image?
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