Fanon Fire

Alright,

Welcome back to That Kitsch Itch the official blog for kitschitchtoys.webs.com the UK’s home for retro and vintage toys. Check us out on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/kitschitchtoys) or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/woolicane), plenty of different things to look at, get involved in, buy and so much more still to come.

A little bit of a lean week this week in terms of news, had a few personal issues to deal with. Still, in spite of that I still have got a few more items coming into stock, including an awesome Cyberman Cybercontroller in his chair which is going to be reviewed over on YouTube, so keep your eyes out for that. Also we’ve got our first transformer in stock, that will also get a review before it ends up on ebay.

What I thought I would talk about today though is Fanon, my new fortnightly YouTube show, which is due to kick off this coming Friday with a bumper three topic special. I figured before it went up though I’d explain a bit about what the show is and where the idea for it came from. I’m always looking to add a new idea to my YouTube channel, as you might be able to see from the content up there. I have lots of other plans for things that are going to go up as well, for example I will be adding more Doctor Who reviews when the series comes back in September. So while thinking what I could put up opposite my top 10 countdowns I headed down the rabbit hole and ended up watching a load of random YouTube videos about theories in films, comics and video games. I also found myself on TV Tropes a lot too and discovered the WMG section full of speculation. The fact that I got into these two left me feeling that I could do this, I mean I already do it, give me a show and I will over think it and see patterns in things that aren’t there.

So here I am thinking about these fan theories and my own and then I get into chats with friends of mine over on Deviantart about some of the continuity problems with Doctor Who and Power Rangers. Suddenly everything clicked into place, I could make my own YouTube show about this, going into the details of the gaps in continuity and how to fix them, going after what Marvel always used to call the no prize. I didn’t just want to go the same route as these others doing it though, I had to have my own unique spin on it, such as the Scooby Doo theory that’s coming up in part one, or something I haven’t heard anywhere. So armed only with my imagination and an internet connection I bravely set out on the path to fanon.

Hopefully that makes the concept and origin of the show clear, and I hope it’s something you can enjoy. I will talk about any form of entertainment on there, but if I get something special in stock that week, expect that to feature heavily in the show.

So that’s going to do it for another week. Time to see what new stuff I can put on the site or on the ebay shop, I really need to drop a link to that in the store too. Don’t forget a new video goes up on Wednesday and Fanon launches on Friday, then back here next Monday for more of my ramblings. Until then…

Sithee

Thunder... Thunder... Thunder...

Alright,

Welcome back to That Kitsch Itch the official blog for kitschitchtoys.webs.com the UK’s home for retro and vintage toys. Check us out on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/kitschitchtoys) or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/woolicane), plenty of different things to look at, get involved in, buy and so much more still to come.

I said last week that I’d probably talk about Patrick Macnee this week, and I really do want to do that, I want to make my tribute to him for YouTube too, but I haven’t had the chance yet. I’m thinking I’ll probably put together a top ten avengers episodes featuring Steed, or something similar. I need something cathartic like that I think, but until I can get that video done I don’t want to say too much.

That’s why I’m moving on to talk about the action photos, you may have seen that they haven’t gone online yet, but I have been taking some. These have involved the original Masters of the Universe, specifically Ram Man and Man-E-Faces taking on Skeletor and some other evil warriors, with a little help from Thunder Punch He-Man. I’ve also done a few featuring the modern Thundercats figures, or at least a few of them, though this was mostly to get some shots of the next thing I want to talk about.

That is my new stock, just arrived this morning, one of the reasons this is going up later than I’d originally wanted, and that was a big box of Thundercats goodness. Not much in it, a couple of Mumm-Ra figures, one in his mummy form, the other in his Ever Living form, both of them from LJN and both of them complete with all their accessories. A very good start I must admit, then there was a card back from the original run, okay not something over special but it will go into the display when I’m next at a convention, so that’s good. Next thing I pulled out the box was something I never expected to find in the box, a modern three-and-three-quarter inch Cheetara. Okay it’s not all that special, loose and weaponless, but it’s a nice bonus to find. Then we have what’s really got me excited about this new arrival. Two boxed items, they have both been opened, but they are still complete, still polybagged, in the original bags they came in no less, and they are just awesome. They are from the new Thundercats series, and they are iconic items from that show and the original. One is a Thundertank, I already have one of these in my collection so I know how awesome it is already. The other is one I don’t have in my collection, but I may have to add, and that’s the Tower of Omens. It may not have the most play features, but it makes such a lovely display piece, even if it is very brown. As most of the bags had been opened I was able to put it together and have a play around with it, take some action photos with it, and put it away again no worse for wear. I’m looking forward to getting these photos up, as well as the video review of it too, and wish I could keep it for myself. I knew this would be the worst thing with Kitsch Itch Toys, wanting to keep, but knowing I must sell. Expect it to be on the site this week, along with the others that have just arrived.

That about wraps things up for this week, visit the usual sites as mentioned above, especially kitschitchtoys.webs.com and I’ll see you on Wednesday for the new video and back here next week for another blog entry.

Sithee

Countdown to Countdown

Alright,

Welcome back to the official blog of Kitsch Itch Toys, the UKs home for retro and vintage toys, check us out at kitschitchtoys.webs.com  www.facebook.com/kitschitchtoys or www.youtube.com/woolicane there’s pretty much something for everyone there with new stock going online more or less daily.

So last week I talked about trading at my first con in Leeds. I was expecting to gush about it this week, saying how well we’d done and how I was looking forward to the next one. Unfortunately it didn’t work out like that for me, it was all about the comics at that one. Now I love comics, ten years ago I’d have probably spent a ton there getting missing back issues, but I don’t love the fact that comic collectors didn’t seem willing to part with much cash for toys that day. It was a great event that I would recommend to any comic book collector but it just isn’t my market, shame really. Still some good contacts were made and I enjoyed the experience, I have learnt a lot from it too, like how to set out my stock, so far from a total loss. Plus I might have struck a deal to bring a whole load more stock to Kitsch Itch Toys without costing me the Earth (but meaning I won’t get much profit back either because it’s a commission situation)

So what next, well I’ll be booking onto more shows in the coming weeks, so look out for announcements about that, but the immediate plan is to set up an ebay shop to help broaden the amount of people Kitsch Itch can reach, I’m also going to look into the amazon market place, but I don’t know enough about that yet. Expect me to have added another link to the opening paragraph next week to show off this store. The best thing about an ebay store is that I can actually use it to bring people to the main site, which is always my main objective really. So that’s my excitement for this week, keep watching www.twitter.com/woolicane  for more on how it’s going and then be back here next Monday for more details.

On top of the ebay shop though I’m adding something else to the Kitsch Itch family and that’s top ten countdowns. Over on my youtube channel you will already find a few countdowns, but they are an irregular thing at the moment, I want to make them something more regular. Now I’m already releasing one video a week on there (every Wednesday there’s something new) but I will be releasing countdowns fortnightly on a Friday. I intend to start this week with a countdown based on my picks for the most underrated Disney films, though circumstance may push this back to next week. So that’ll be a blog here on a Monday, a new review/haul/misc video on a Wednesday and a top ten on a Friday, plus all the new stock on the website and my other big project action photos, though I’m going to talk more about them next week. Soon Kitsch Itch Toys will be taking over the whole world.

I think that more or less wraps things up for this week, a little disparate perhaps with mostly housekeeping but hopefully it entertained at least a little while it informed. Remember to check us out on facebook (www.facebook.com/kitschitchtoys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/woolicane), YouTube (www.youtube.com/woolicane) and of course www.kitschitchtoys.webs.com and until next time,

Sithee

I Hate Technology!

Alright,

Welcome to this weeks –LATE- instalment of That Kitsch Itch, the blog from Kitsch Itch Toys; the UKs home for retro and vintage toys. Visit us at kitschitchtoys.webs.com check out my YouTube page at www.youtube .com/woolicane and follow me on twitter @woolicane. So that’s the shilling out the way now on to this week’s main topic.

I admit that this week’s title may be a little strong, I don’t actually hate technology, what I hate is technology when it’s not working, which is most of the time it seems. Phone’s that need charging twice a day, tablets that crash because they’re half full and computers that, well that just die. If you hadn’t guessed this is why this is late going up, I’ve had some major computer problems, problems that have led to me having to borrow a computer just to get this up at all. Something of an issue for someone running an internet business.

I blame iTunes, I’m probably being unfair, but I do. I downloaded it yesterday onto my computer and instantly things started going wrong. Subtle ways at first, my computer slowed down, iTunes store couldn’t connect to the internet. Annoying yes, but not life changing or even work threatening. Then came this morning, that’s when things changed. It was taking a lot longer to boot up, especially considering its one of these lightning quick solid state drives, and then it wouldn’t connect to the internet. Nothing I did helped it, I tried turning it off and on again, nothing, I followed a load of instructions found on the internet (which helped me get rid of some malware), still no internet. Finally I managed to make it to the set up screen and restored my settings. I really thought that was going to work. Now the computer won’t boot up at all. Oh and I’ve only had the dam thing since February.

What this means is I may be about to lose a load of photos that I was going to use for the site, a few videos that featured stock walkthroughs and who knows how much other work. Nothing on it that’s irreplaceable, just inconvenient to replace, especially with no computer to replace it on. It also means that I can’t edit down the photos I do still have to upload onto the site or the facebook page, which is even more annoying, I want to move along but the tech won’t let me. –Oh by the way check out Kitsch Itch Toys on facebook and drop us a like, it does us loads of good- So instead of spending the day reviewing my new Amazing Spider-Man figure I just got in (along with a few others for that series still boxed) and photographing and uploading more stock I spent the day failing to fix something that shouldn’t have gone wrong yet, and in the end handing it over to the IT department of my accountant, yes really.

This was not the blog I was intending to write today, I wanted to talk about films that got kid friendly toy lines that probably shouldn’t, you know the likes of Terminator 2 and Robocop, it’d be like the upcoming Deadpool movie getting its own line of Mashers. I also wanted to talk about the upcoming cons Kitsch Itch Toys will be at, I’ll save that for next week though where it gets enough space. The last thing I want to mention is Eon Quest it’s a kick starter that I’m supporting and it’s coming to an end, get in while you can, I want that graphic novel here at Kitsch Itch Toys. I think that’s enough of a rant for this week, pop in to kitschitchtoys.webs.com ,  facebook.com/kitschitchtoys or twitter.com/woolicane I need a good cheer up.

Sithee

Timey-Whimey

Alright,

Welcome to this week’s instalment of That Kitsch Itch, the official blog of Kitsch Itch Toys, the UKs home for retro and vintage toys from the ‘70s to today. The store is now officially open, though due to unforeseen illness the big social network push has had to be delayed until this week. Expect lots of stuff being posted across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, the forums and who knows where else. The invasion begins in ernest. In the meantime don’t forget to check out kitschitchtoys.webs.com  

As exciting as that is though what I really want to talk to you about today is Doctor Who. This probably isn’t a shocking choice of topic if you’ve read the title, but it is one very close to my heart. That’s right I’m a Doctor Who fan, I’ve been a Whovian since well before that term was in common usage. I remember watching the show when I was seven and Sylvester McCoy was the man with the TARDIS key (now that’s giving away my age). I remained a huge fan during those dark, dark years when it was off telly, or at least it was only there in reruns. I was one of those there cheering and jumping for joy when Russel T Davis returned the show to our screens bringing Christopher Eccelston out as Doctor number 9. And I’m still here now eagerly anticipating its return for the new series, even if I’m not such a fan of Clara. If you want more on my problems with her check out my reviews of the last series over on my YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/user/woolicane) but that’s not what I want to talk about here, I want this to remain upbeat and positive, let’s just say I have issues with the character and how she’s written, I think Jenna Coleman is a very good actress.

When the series came back though it went from being this classic cult series to totally mainstream. It was a proper hit series, to much rejoicing from old school fans such as me even if there were a lot of differences that us classic series fans sometimes like to moan about, it even cracked America. Now this was a show that cranked out a tone of merchandise even when it was off the air, this went into overdrive when it became the smash hit it still is now. Alongside so many other great items, toy company, Character brought out some amazing five inch scale figures and we’ve just got a load of them in at Kitsch Itch Toys. What did you think I was talking about one of my great passions just for fun, no this is still going to tie back to new stock that I’m excited about sharing with you. The figures we’ve currently got in stock include the incredibly popular Tenth Doctor, the first New Who companion Rose, spinoff superstar Captain Jack Harkness as well as a bunch of awesome monsters such as the Slitheen, a pair of Autons, an awesome looking (and massive) warewolf and even a Cyberman. As well as a load of loose figures I have also managed to get my hands on a box set from series four comprising of companion dark horse Donna, the base breaker River Song and the Narrator who, in David Tennant’s last story, turned out to be…

Sorry I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. If you can’t tell I’m pretty excited about getting these figures in. I’m a huge fan of the show and a huge fan of these figures. Some of them might not even find their way to the site because I might sneak them into my Doctor Who display. Watch this space for more on that dilemma. Either way I think this just about finishes this week’s post, if you want to chat more about the Doctor and his adventures feel free to message me on the contact page of Kitschitchtoys.webs.com and check out the other stuff on sale there too.  Until next time.

Sithee

A Mega Win

Alright,

Welcome to That Kitsch Itch, the blog for Kitsch Itch Toys, the UK’s home for retro and vintage toys. Three weeks in and already this blog is going up late. Okay it’s only a couple of hours late, but still, sets a bad precedent. Saying that it’s been a busy prepping for the launch of the store going live, along with having been away all weekend and shopping for new stock, so I think I do get a little bit of a free pass for today.

As I say, today the shop official opens for business, I was hoping to hold off until we actually got the unique URL, but it’s taking too long so we are launching with http:kitschitchtoys.webs.com be sure to come and check us out. If you’ve been following the development of this store, either through this blog or my YouTube channel (youtube.com/woolicane) then you’ll know some of the exciting stuff we’ve got on there and due to arrive in stock as the weeks progress. This includes rare and common items from Thundercats, Masters of the Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers and so many other classic brands or forgotten gems. If you are looking for something in particular that isn’t on the site yet or you are shopping from beyond the shores of the British Isles then there is a contact page on Kitsch Itch, getting in touch and I’ll see what I can work out for you. We love to hear from fans of these brands and of toy collecting and similar pursuits in general, drop us a line, say what you like, what you don’t, how we could improve the site. We at Kitsch Itch want this site to be the heart of the collecting community.

Despite all the hard work that has gone into getting the site ready for the store itself opening tonight (or if you are reading this after Monday it should already be open) but I’ve still managed to get even more stock in, there is still so much to go on the website yet, make sure you keep checking back as new stock should be added every day. Today for example I just managed to secure a few Power Rangers Megaforce figures. They may be in the less collector friendly 3 and ¾ inch scale and still be pretty recent figures (they may even be the most recent in stock right now) but they are very cool figures with great articulation and are shiny. Oh yeah and they are also in their original packaging, that’s our first piece of stock still mint on card, which is really exciting, especially if you’re a Power Rangers fan. There is even a chance we’ll be able to bring in a few more of these as well which is creating a bit of a buzz round the Kitsch Itch table.

It’s not just about the modern toys this week though, because we also have managed to secure a whole lot of MASK toys, including 15 figures and 8 vehicles. They are all in what we like to call preloved condition, with quite a bit of ware on a couple of the vehicles, but all the figures still have their masks, which is kind of important with this line. Not one I’ve followed that closely, so I think some research may be needed, but as it had one of the best theme songs ever so I have no problem with that.

Lots of other things I could go over right now, but I think I should be getting on with going live with the website so one last plug for kitschitchtoys.webs.com once you’ve finished this blog and keep your eyes on youtube.com/woolicane for some videos featuring some of the upcoming stock. We will return to normal scheduling next week.

Sithee