Vintage 1975 Deka Star Trek Cup and Bowl Set !!!

This set brings back some serious memories for me.

 

This cup and bowl set was made by Deka Plastics circa 1975. Both the cup and bowl are marked "C 1975 Paramount Pictures Corporation". The cup is marked on the bottom "DEKA Elizabeth N.J. 14 269 Made in U.S.A."; the bowl is marked on the bottom "Deka Plastic Inc. Elizabeth New Jersey 07208 Made in U.S.A.".

 

The detail and art on these pieces are great. Well made, great likenesses and detailed art are the showcases of these beauties. The only question I have is why does Spock have a purple shirt ....

and Kirk have an orange shirt .....

For some time I thought it had to do with the Star Trek Animated series; I have seen some pictures of Kirk with a darker shirt but no purple Spock ....

My Grandmother bought these for me some time when I was really young and kept them at her house until she passed a few years back. They were in the same spot, in a cupboard above the fridge all those years. I can still picture them up there any time the cupboards were opened, and still remember using them as a kid. I always wondered why they were so detailed yet the colors were off. They were thrown away when my Mother cleaned out her house but I tracked down these samples to add to my collection. That's some of the fun about this addiction, reliving memories when you can track down a piece that spurs the memories. Its like taking a time machine back to when life was simple and a plastic cup and bowl can stay with you forever.

 

Got something to add ? All are welcome to leave a comment !

The short lived Star Trek Next Generation Galoob Picard before he became a Playmate

Galoob was the first toy company to have the Star Trek Next Generation licence and released the TNG characters in plastic for the first time. Unfortunately, they seemed a bit stodgy. Captain Jean Luc Picard's figure is no exception.

Maybe its the card. I mean, it looks good. Cool picture of the Enterprise. It just gives off a "boring figure" vibe. I cant put my finger on it. Maybe its the color palette, maybe the picture of Picard, or the fact that the bubble looks like a coffin. I don't really know but I don't feel its display value.

The figure itself is nice. The face is spot on and the detail is exceptional. The uniform is a perfect likeness. The figure does look like he should be a Tin Soldier rather than an action figure.

The problem ? He's got a "dustbuster" phaser molded in his hand and the other is a fist. Definitely an "action" figure ! I do give points for the knee articulation. Not much else you could do with him, even though he comes with a strapped tricorder, there's no way he can use it.



Picard looks good on my wall, but I cant get too much into him. Galoob only lasted for two series as the ST:TNG toymaker before Playmates took over. Maybe Galoob captured the dull feel the first two seasons had a little too well. Anyway, I'm glad Playmates got a chance to put out their versions cause this one falls a bit flat.

You can check out my Playmates Locutus by Clicking Here. Its a lot more fun than this one !

Got something to add ? All are welcome to leave a comment !

Locutus: Star Trek makes Picard a Figure for the Next Generation

The Star Trek: the Next Generation figures, produced by Playmates, were simply wonderful. The figures and cart art are beautiful. They came with a bunch of accessories. They were based on one of the greatest television shows ever made. Whats not to like ?

 

This is Locutus, of Borg. You can resist liking this figure, but it will be futile :)

 

Based on the Locutus of Borg character that Jean Luc Picard was turned into, this figure is awesome. First off, I always liked the look of the card. The Enterprise D with the TNG logo imposed over it looks great. The colors keep with the shows on screen pallet, and the figure, being 4.5 inch scale, really pops in the bubble. Locutus just looks grand on the card. The figure is impressive. The back of the card displays good head shots of the rest of the line along with a bio card and description of the included accessories.

Th figure itself is great. The detail is spot on. Hoses, detachable limbs and a near perfect likeness of Patrick Stewart. Playmates really got this figure right.

This line is where I started collecting action figures again as an adult. In particular, Locutus was where it began. When I really started getting into TNG hardcore and learned that there were action figures, there was a Locutus, and it was OK for a twenty something to collect em, I was off to the races ! Picard was my favorite of the show and I collected every plastic figure of him, so you'll be seeing them later. Locutus and the rest of the STTNG line form Playmates was where I began the TRU hunts trying to track down these beauties and it has blossomed to my wonderful collection of memories !

The Christmas Tree is not complete without the Star Wars and Star Trek Hallmark Ornaments ...

The tree goes up on Thanksgiving weekend and it is not complete without the Hallmark Keepsake Christmas ornaments.

 

First up is the Darth Vader Light and Voice from 1997. This is the best ! Its the first ornament my wife and I bought after being married (we buy one new one every year with a theme for that year). This one is great as whenever it turns on it "talks".... I love every time we turn on the tree and hear:

 

"The force is with you young Skywalker...but you are not a Jedi yet."

 

Of course the Star Wars theme continued and in 2005 we bought another Vader ornament. The Darth Vader from the Empire Strikes Back - "I am Your Father" ornament. You gotta press the button for the "voice" action but it looks damn cool on the tree. Press him and you hear:

  

"Luke, I am your father."

"Join me. Together we can rule the galaxy as father and son."

 

 

Next is one I had from my own collection. I am a huge fan of STTNG and back when it was on I was way into it. When this one came out I HAD to have it ! The STTNG USS Enterprise with lights. Plug this one into a light on the tree and the Warp Cells light up and the light blinks on the top. This looks so frikin cool on the tree and I always manage to put it front and center.

 

Gotta dig the "Stardated 1993" :)

 

 

I do all the heavy lifting putting up the tree and the Wife does the decorating. I always manage to get to these ornaments first and command the best spots for em. What Geek wouldn't "figure" out a way to get some Sci Fi bling on the tree. I'm still working on the Death Star revolving around the Star at the top of the tree but, that will take a while....

George Lucas fesses up! Patrick Stewart gets knighted! and a lamp I may have to BUY!!

I KNEW George Lucas might do MORE damage to Star Wars!!

Cha'DIch to the Queen!!

This some awesome work!!

Check out more at www.diceydecor.com

Book Review Time: REDSHIRTS by John Scalzi, What every sci-fi knew but wasnt talked about!!

YES! John Scalzi's new book; Redshirts, Doherty books, gives you the story going on around the main characters. Did you think that it wasn't lost on the rest of the crew what happened to the non credited actors that beamed down on an away mission? Did you think that they didn't have lives of their own?

DON'T WORRY! NO SPOILERS! I WONT GIVE THE PLOT AWAY!! :)

This book was on my radar for some time and I preordered it when Amazon first offered it up! This is quite a well written parody of the Original Star Trek series, more directly the "Redshirt theory" of the nameless redshirt security that beam down and are the ones who suffer for the glory of the stars. The story is set on the USS Intrepid, Flagship of the Universal Union. Sound familiar? The main characters all seem to be immune to the dangers of away missions, except for one unlucky bastard, Lieutenant Kerensky, who gets beat up constantly but always heals quick enough for the next mission. The "Redshirts" are not so lucky, as they are constantly in harms way. They have found a way to adapt to their circumstance but a new Xenobiologist, Ensign Andrew Dahl, finds out the awful reality of their situation and decides that he and his group of friends must find a way to fix it.

Now, the premise of this book was awfully interesting to me and the expectations going were really high. I gotta admit that, at first, I was a bit disappointed, thinking that the book was going slow and not really what I expected. Until page 103 (You'll know when you get there). That was the WOW moment of the book and it just flew from there!!

Twists, turns, unexpected coincidence and a whole lot of  intrigue was the story after that!

I really liked Mr. Scalzi's take on the life and role of the "extra" characters in the universe. If you were the kid who thought that when you weren't playing with his toys, or watching the show, they had lives of their own, you'll appreciate this book. One thing in particular - how the Senior Officers acted when the action was over - priceless!

This was a great read and much appreciated. It'll go into my library and will give me pause whenever I think of the poor, hapless extras hat have to beam down with the Senior Officers.

and a side note.....

Nice dedication to Wil Wheaton!!

What kind of Federation sent down the most senior people on every dangerous mission?

And why did they have a security team on board who were about as effective as a mall cop? Why not a Marine detail for missions and strike force?

I bet the Romulans ran their Empire much more efficiently :)

Picard want you !! to go to Sodor !!

My son watches alot of different things and Thomas in the background today just inspired this :)

Mego Kirk ...... is the SHAT

Yep! There he is....THE SHAT !! In Mego form.

DAMN ! The man himself.

Even in plastic he just oozes cool.....

I gotta admit, I was young when I first watched Star Trek and I didn't get it. The action,space...all the stuff that would entertain me I got, but the story...not so much, a bit over my head. The one thing I knew was that THIS GUY WAS THE MAN !! (BTW thats my beer on my Keg o rator in the background) If I had a little sister he'd be over there bangin Barbie. Maybe even paint her green on Freaky Deaky Night :)

I've had this Figure since I was a very little boy and to this day I still think Kirk is the man. He is cool, collected, a leader and makes all the women on his ship wear short shorts.....

Here's to you James Tiberius Kirk ..... your the Man!!