The things we save

 Just a quick off topic post.

So, as 2020 continues to kick my backside I’ve been going through some boxes that probably haven’t been opened since I went off to the Army many, many years ago.  The last one I opened served up this little gem.   You might call it the grandfather of today’s 3D printers (at least for war gaming). 

 

What is it? Well, that my friends is Mattel’s Injector Western World set, circa 1968.  They also made a version that allowed fresh faced innocent kids to make plastic Hot Wheels cars at home as well.  

 

The outside of the box pretty much explains how it works. 

 

 

Essentailly you placed one of Mattel’s proprietary ‘Plastix’ cylinders into the injector.  Assembled the front and back of the aluminum molds, waited for the plastix to melt, and pushed down on the handled to inject the melted plastix into the mold. 

 

A package of Plastix cylinders still in the original, unopened blister pack  and some left overs.

And the actual injector

 

And the aluminum molds.  As I recall the pieces never fit together right.  Or maybe I've just never been able to assemble a model.

I found a few 50+ year old works in progress in the box as well.  This could be my first unfinished war game project, now that I think about it.

And the town, with a horse base and maybe part of a horse on the roof.

Note- no silly warnings about burns, disfigurement, or any other actual or perceived danger to protect the precious little snowflake operating the machine.  In the 60’s and 70’s kids were tough, and if they weren’t, well then natural selection took over.

 

Oh yea, I also found this monstrosity in the attic.  I’ve been trying unsuccessful to sell this to some sucker… I mean collector off and on for close to 40 years.  Fortuantely, I think I found a dealer locally that will take it off my hands for $5 – I just hope that means he’ll pay me the $5 and not the other way around.

Sorry for being off topic.

 

So much lead, so little time.