#589 YOLANDA - DRAGON BALL (MATUTANO PROMOTIONAL) (1992)

This four figures were give-aways from Matutano in the early 90s. They were available during the summer of 1992, although I got mine later. To get them you had to eat Matutano snacks, and collect 4 stickers that were included in each pack, and then exchange them for one figure.

The collection comprised 14 figures, despite the package stated that there were 10 different ones. Matutano´s figures are made of rubber, and some people used it as a pencil eraser. I am not sure if it was intended as such, because they didn´t work very well.

The figures were manufactured by Yolanda, which is a company we have talked about a few times in this blog. Each figure is marked with "Yolanda" and has the copyright of (c) Toei Studios 1986.

The same figures were also available in the classic Yolanda hard plastic; either monochromatic or hand-painted (like the Supermonstruos). Monochromatic figures had the typical Yolanda colours, like green, gold, purple or grey... I cannot say right now if the figures were sold after or before the Matutano promotion, and I do not have any figures other than these for comparison purposes.

I have never been a great fan of Dragon Ball, even though most people in my age watched the cartoons and read the comics at the time. I remember there was a lot of merchandise to this series, and it was easy to fall for them. Today the cartoons might be considered a bit violent for children. On the other hand, I always loved Matutano chips, in any of their versions, and I still do.

And now, all the four figures again, but this time, the pictures are taken without flash. I think you can see the sculpts better now.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: SON GOKU, KRILIN and SON GOHAN
• Year: 1992
• Company: Yolanda (Spain)
• Size of the figures: Around 7 cm

#588 SIKU - MC LAREN M8F and PORSCHE 917/10 TURBO LADER (1045/1328 and 1046/1329) (1976)

I really like these two models. The grey Porsche was one of my first (if not my very first) Siku model. I found it in the Rastro, which is Madrid's most famous flea market. I was fascinated by the bulky, hard-built Sport Prototye and with the data written on the chassis: power, máximum speed, number of cilinders... I had no cars like this one.

Much later, I found the other two, and now, writting this article, I find that both were first released in 1976 (with two consecutive reference numbers 1045 and 1046) but in different decorations: the Porsche in red and the McLaren in blue, both with wáter tampographies. Mine are later reeditions (references 1328 and 1329) with simpler tampographies, and the McLaren is missing all 6 exhaust pipes (they should be a bit longer each).

The production years for each model were:

• Porsche 917/10 Turbo Lader 1976-1992 - #1045
• McLaren M8F  1976-1986 - #1046

So, a nice pair of models. I think they were also available in a bigger set with van and tráiler, but this information is hard to find without the appropriate catalogues. I leave here two more pictures for you, although the vehicles do not belong together. I just thought they look nice because of the base red with white decoration.

 

 

 

Check more SIKU entries here: http://toysfromthepast.blogspot.com/search/label/Siku

UPDATE 1 (May/2017) Blue Porsche 917/10 Turbo Lader

 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MC LAREN M8F and PORSCHE 917/10 TURBO LADER (1045/1328 and 1046/1329)
• Scale: 1:66
• Year: 1976
• Company: Siku (Germany)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#587 MAJORETTE - FERRARI 312 T2 F1 (N° 232) and F1 SHADOW DN5 (N° 243) (1977)

Formula 1 reproductions are rare in the early years of Majorette. Only two casts were made in 1:64 scale during the late 70s and the early 80s, since a long time (see #10). After these 2-3 models, there wouldn´t be any more new F1s until 1986.

The first semester of 1977 brought two models: a Ferrari 312 T2 and a Shadow DN5. They are nice reproductions, but still far away from the Polistil models.

From 1977 to 1982, the Shadow was available in black, but in 1983 and 1984 it was released in white. The Ferrari kept its classic red colour from 1977 to 1983.

The white "Shadow" was renamed simply F1, and it is a rare model, or at least much rarer than the first version. I recently got a second unit, which is in a much better shape. I'll change the pictures soon.

Another interesting difference/variant is the colour of the driver. The Ferrari normally came with a blue driver, and the black shadow with yellow driver, which is a nice pick, because the constrast of those colours (black/yellow and red/blue) is very nice.

However, there are Shadows with blue drivers, and probably also Ferraris with yellow drivers. If I have not dreamt it, I own a black Shadow DN5 with a blue driver, I will show the picture as soon as I can. These variants are real rarities, probably factory errors.

There is a third color for the Shadow, and it is blue. This model has the same decals as the black version. I have no information regarding this model, so any information is welcome. Unless I missed it in the catalogues, it does not appear in them!

As seen in the first picture of this entry, the Shadow was also available in the 300 series together with a Jeep.

UPDATE: "Family Portrait"

UPDATE 2 (NOV/2019): Rare Ferrari 312 T2 with red cockpit and Blue Shadow DN5 (mentioned above)

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: FERRARI 312 T2 F1 and F1 SHADOW DN5 (Nr. 232 and 243)
• Scale: 1:55 and 1:50
• Year: 1977
• Company: Majorette (France)
• Size: approx. 6 cm

#586 AIRGAM COMICS - GREEN DEMON and RANK (1986)

Time to return to my favorite action figure line of all times. I could finally take pictures of my figures last summer, and I will now be able to present them in new entries. I´ll start with two figures from wave 2, which are characterized by having articulation on knies and elbows. These are two of my favorite figures in the whole collection, for their great design: Green Demon (Ref. 1111) and Rank (Ref. 1113).

Green Demon is some kind of reptilian creature with spines in head and shoulders, the colour combination green/yellow is simple but very effective. This figure came with an exclusive accesory, which is a golden curved sword with a ruby in its handle.

Rank looks like a robot, with a very big head and spines in head, shoulders and chest. Maybe these spines are intended to give it a more menacing appearance, since it is a Super Diabolic, not a Super Fantastic. Again, the purple colour combined with black is a perfect match for this figure. The figure came with a golden trident, which is exclusive to this figure.

Additionally to those weapons, each figure included one or more black guns, rifles, but it is difficult to re-order them, since there are not many pictures of carded figures where you can clearly see the accesories. And if you can, sometimes you can see the same figure packed with different accesories. I am working in such a list, but it is difficult. So far, I have seen these two figures with the following accesories:

• Green Demon: Rifle
• Rank: Pistol ("Thompson" type)

There are three types of pistol used for this collection. The first type is kind of futuristic, the second one is the "Thompson" type and the third one has a ball below the cannon. If you are familiar with the collection, you know what I am talking about. In a future entry, I will talk further about accesories.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: GREEN DEMON (Ref. 1111) and RANK (Ref. 1113)
• Toy Line: Airgam Comics (Wave 2)
• Year: 1986
• Company: Airgam (Spain)
• Size of the figures: Around 8.5 cm (3.25'')

#585 CGGC GRISONI - FIAT 128 RALLY and BMW 2002 (Around 1977)

This small company has not been researched so far, the only information I could find was on http://www.87thscale.info/cggc.htm

CGGC Grisoni was a small Italian producer of plastic scale model kits and plastic toys in several scales. The company was active during the 70s and the 80s, although it is difficult to find the exact years of foundation and disappearance.

 The name of the company is Grisoni Giocatteli S.p.A. and was based on Zola Predosa (Bolonia). A source in a discussion board also says that Grisoni took over Cané Giocattelli, a competitor producer of plastic toys.

 

The plastic kits were mostly cars and motorbikes (in 1:43rd and 1:48th scale) as well as robots. Other known plastic toys were made in 1:72nd to 1:120th scale. Some are similar to Kinder Surprise toys, other are beach toys.

 

 

My only toys made by this company are these two cars. They are made in a 1:43 to 1:48 scale... the Fiat has a smaller scale than the BMW, and is surely older, since the wheels are more elaborated with white hubcaps. These cars (and all the other models) were made in many different colours and colours combinations.

 

 

Maybe not the best models, but something curious to talk about in this blog. If you have any information on this company, please don´t hesitate to leave a comment below. Thanks!

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: FIAT 128 RALLY and BMW 2002
• Scale: 1:43
• Year: Around 1977
• Company: CGGC Grisoni (Italy)
• Size: approx. 9 cm