Sinclair User Issue 4 – Original “Runway” Artwork

Following on from the “Flycatcher” artwork from issue 6 of Sinclair User, I have also managed to pick up this piece of artwork. This original painting by William Scolding was included in issue 4 of Sinclair User, published in July 1982, in an article on machine code.

This article featured a computer program call “Runway”, hence the illustration of a plane landing.

A cropped version of this artwork was also used in the 1983 Sinclair User Annual, published later in the year, in an article on the growth of software. The painting is on card and covered by a tracing paper overlay for protection.

The tracing paper has the following sentences written on it in red pen “Sinclair Annual Page 14. Repeat of colour illustration from Sinclair User July. Crop as indicated to 100mm deep. Proof of cropped pic please.”

This is another ebay purchase, costing me just under £15.

Gran Turismo 2 – Promo Discs

These are the promo discs of the Playstation’s Gran Turismo 2, release in 1999 by Polyphony Digital. This game was the sequel to very successful Gran Turismo, and although well received, did not quite eclipse the sales of the original game.

These discs were picked up off ebay for about £10, which I am more than happy with.  I’ve not seen another one of these which make putting an actual value on this item difficult.

Silent Hill – Original Soundtrack

This is the official game soundtrack on CD which was originally released in 1999. The disc contains 42 tracks of ambient music from the first game in the franchise.

The music, created by Akira Yamaoka, has been recognised for producing a creepy, unnerving accompaniment to the game that added greatly to the overall play experience. The CD can be a little difficult to track down, but expect to pay about £5 if you are lucky to find one.

Sinclair User Issue 6 – Original “Flycatcher” Artwork

Now here is something a little unusual that I picked up recently. It is an original piece of artwork by William Scolding and featured in issue 6 of the Sinclair User magazine, which was published in September 1982.

The ink drawing on card is covered by a tracing paper overlay for protection. The words “Illustration for p27 Sinclair User – Sept” appear on the front, followed by the word “Flycatcher” which is circled underneath.

The artwork was to accompany a program listing for the ZX81 called “Flycatcher”, and indeed in the September 1982 issue of Sinclair User, on page 27 there is the artwork in question.

This was a bit of an impulse purchase from ebay, as it is not something you’ll see everyday, and at just £12 I think it was well worth the money.