#366 WRESTLING CHAMPIONS – THREE UNKNOWN FIGURES (Around 1995)

The wrestler bootlegs shown in the previous entry are only two samples. Even later than that, and under the same brand “Wrestling Champions”, a third type of figures were available in toy stores, although the quality of the figures kept sinking and sinking.

At this point, I have two theories: It is possible that the manufacturer was only a reseller that bought figures from different companies, attached a belt to them, and packaged them for sale in Europe and America. When all figures were sold, this reseller simply looked for more similar figures to keep selling them.
My second theory, is that these new figures could actually be knock-offs of the figures in the previous entry.

In any case, the blister back card is different and shows many wrestlers, numbered 338/1 ot 338/6 and 339/1 to 339/12, that is 18 figures. It is difficult to say which figure is which, since the back card is printed just in black and all figures look pretty much the same. There even seems to be a second version of these figures with no articulation at all in the legs.

 Pic: toyriffic.blogspot.com

 

But there is even more… check the bald wrestler with the moustache from this group of three. It is again different from the other two… its quality is even worse, and the belt is different. It is so badly done, that the arms do not even fit well in the torso, producing an unintended “ball-articulation” that allows the figure to open a bit the arms (in cross).

The playability is not so good as that of the older figures, as you may deduce from the following pictures.

I have read a couple of blog sources about these figures, but everything is quite blurry. Anybody can provide me information about these figures? Which are made by genuine companies and which are bootlegs? Which are bootlegs of bootlegs?

Too many questions…

Here are some pics taken from eBay. Nice to see all that packages and figures. And some more here:

 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: THREE UNKNOWN WRESTLERS
• Toy Line: WRESTLING CHAMPIONS a.k.a. WRESTLER
• Year: Around 1995
• Company: Unknown (China)
• Size of the figures: Around 11 cm

#365 WRESTLING CHAMPIONS – BLACK CYCLONE and C.G. (Around 1987 and 1992)

Every successful toyline is followed by one or several similar toylines that want to profit from the concept created by the first company. In the case of action figures, one of the most "copied" was the Masters of the Universe, maybe because it was the most popular toyline in the "golden" age of action figures (which would decay with the arrival of videogames).


In this case, the bootlegs are not (only) Masters of the Universe bootlegs, but WCW/WWF bootlegs. The proximity in time of MOTU (1982-1987) and those lines, made that many of the MOTU bootlegs were "adapted" to look like wrestlers. The figures are in many cases old characters attached with a wrestling belt, so you can easily identify them as wrestlers. However, some new heads were casted, especially one similar to Hulk Hogan (which is probably the most "bootlegged" character of all times).

If you´re familiar with Masters of the Universe, you can probably recognise the cast of a Galaxy Fighter in the body of the black wrestler. That bent knees, big head, curved arms... are easily identifiable. These casts had already arrived in China (from Hong Kong), and they were ready to use them in new toylines. By the year 1990, Masters of the Universe was not selling at all, so these Chinese companies needed another concept for their new products.

These pictures appears courtesy of Pablo G. del Río

The copyright below the figure indicates (c) 1986 NISSO S.A., PANAMA - Made in Hong Kong, but no trace of information could be found about this company. Was it really located in Panama? or it is just its name?

This character is based on Apollo Creed, but still reminds me of the actor Richard Pryor.

Arternative Packaging - Pic: knockoffcollector.tumblr.com

The name of the toy line is “Wrestling Champions” although in some countries it was released simply as “Wrestler”. In this case, the character is Black Cyclone. This toyline  gained some popularity in the early 90s, but it was considered to be “2nd class”. It was rare to find them in toy-stores. It was more a cheap toy for press kiosks or pound shops. The relative success of this line came mainly because of the low prices. This first figure is made in Hong Kong, so it must necessarily be older than…

Alternative Package - Pic: Terrible Tony in actionfiguresca.proboards.com

The fake Hulk Hogan figure comes actually from the same toyline, but it seems to have been released some years later, since the body is completely different. The legs are not bent, and the torso and arms are different, actually very similar to other bootleg figures, like the bootleg ninjas shown here. This second type was sold in single or double blister packs, I am not sure if the first version was too. This figure is made in China, so I think there must be at least 4 o 5 years difference between the manufacture of both figures, this one and the previous.

As you can notice from the pictures in this entry, these figures, despite their low quality, have an enormous playability, much higher than Hasbro´s WWF and Galoob´s WCW. Figures are more poseable (with 6 points of articulation) than both those two toylines. They do not perform any action feature.

These are not the only wrestler bootlegs, but only two samples. In future entries, I will show more wrestlers from different manufacturers.

 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: BLACK CYCLONE and C.G.
• Toy Line: WRESTLING CHAMPIONS a.k.a. WRESTLER
• Year: Around 1987 and 1992
• Company: Unknown (Hong Kong/ China)
• Size of the figures: Around 11 cm

#364 MONOGRAM MINI-EXACTS - VARIOUS AMERICAN SEDANS (H0 SCALE) (1989)

SHORT HISTORY OF MONOGRAM

Monogram was founded in Chicago in 1945 by two ex-exmployees of Comet Kits: Jack Besser and Bob Reder. They started with balsa wood models of planes and boats.

In 1953, Revell starting making similar kits in 1953, only in plastic, so Monogram also started producing plastic kits to compete with Revell, named "Plastikits". First models were a red plastic midget racer and a Hot Rod model A. Followed by some other models, some of them offered with C02 "Jet Power". At the time it was advertised that models were made of "acetate parts moulded to shape". At the time plastic was still quite rare in toys.

Planes were the last balsa wood toys by Monogram. The assortment was gradually changed to plastic. By 1954 the airplane series were called "Speedee Built", that were rubberband powered. The planes made of all plastic were rare, other had balsa wood fuselage but also plastic parts.

The competition on car kits came later, by the end of the 50s. The manufacturers AMT and Jo-Han started also around 1953, but focused first on promotional models. At some point they started with kits, so Monogram had to react against them including more and more models, both real and imaginary models. These competition extended for over 20 years and many scales, ranging between 1:8 and 1:87. Some models had even an electric motor.

During 1960, Monogram and Revell excelled over the rest of competitors, like AMT, Jo-Han or MPC. Their catalogues were more extensive, including not only cars, but also planes, naval craft and military vehicles. Monogram also offered some additional features like moving parts, or removable pieces.

The 70s would characterise for larger models, including some of the most impresive cars in 1:8 scale. Those years would be dominated by Hot Rods and custom vehicles, which waa a change in the company policies, until that moment quite conservative in their models both civil and military. The responsible for these models was stylist Tom Daniels, while other companies hired George Barris, Bill Cushenberry, the Alexander Brothers (all AMT) or Dean Jeffries (MPC).

Tom Daniels would also be an important designer for Hot Wheels diecast. Monogram was bought by Mattel (also owner of Hot Wheels!) in 1968. Some models were released in both Monogram and Hot Wheels: Ice-T Buggy, the Red Baron, the Paddy Wagon, the Sand Crab, the S´Cool Bus or the Tarantula (which was also made by Mebetoys, Italian company owned by Mattel). Monogram focused on race and custom cars, while Revell would release more real cars, American or Foreign. Other designers that worked for Monogram are Tom McEwan and Don Prudhomme.

In 1984, Mattel sold off Monogram to Odyssey Partners of New York. That same year, that same company would purchase Revell of Venice, California, merging both rival companies in one. The factory would move to Des Plaines, IL, and the headquarters to Northbrook, IL. This is the time in which the Monogram Mini Exacts (in H0 scale) were released. These cars have plastic bodies and metal chassis. On this particular models, it can be read: Monogram Models 1989, but not the name of the car.  The bodies are very well casted, although the colours are not very appealing. With some extra paintwork, they would be great models. The line would be sold to Herpa in the early 1990, and the chassis would be then casted in plastic instead of metal.

Revell-Monogram would be sold again in 1994 to Hallmark Cards, and again in 2007 to Hobbico (RC Airplane maker). Between 1987 and 2005, the logo of the company showed Revell logo and below Monogram logo, but since the acquisition by Hobbico, the Monogram logo has diappeared. Hobbico owns under one brand Revell, Monogram, Estes and is exclusive distributor for Hasegawa.

Cars in this entry:
-Yellow: Z-28 Camaro
-Black: Buick Grand National
-Red: Pontiac Grand Prix SE
-Blue: '89 Ford T-Bird SC

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: Z-28 CAMARO (Yellow), BUICK GRAND NATIONAL (Black), PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE (Red), '89 FORD T-BIRD SC (Blue)
• Scale: 1:87
• Year: 1989
• Company: Monogram Models (U.S.A.)
• Size: approx. 4 cm

#363 INTERNATIONAL PAYÁ vs. MATCHBOX - VARIOUS MODELS (Around 1968)

“International Payá” was the die-cast line in 1:64 scale made by Payá, the famous Spanish toymaker from Ibi (Alicante). There were more than 50 references made in the last 60s or the early 70s, and most of them are copies from Lesney’s Matchbox.

B.R.M. F1 and LOTUS F1 (2 models)

One of the most important collectors of this particular brand is Miguel Pascual Laborda, who in www.autoescala.net published a list of all known Payá International models, taking as a reference his own collection, cardbacks, catalogues and everything he could find. The list is the following:

2102 - Lotus Formula 1
2103 - B.R.M. Formula 1
2104 - Chevrolet Impala
2105 - Cadillac Ambulancia
2106 - Ford Galaxie (Jefe Policia)
2107 - Ford Galaxie (Jefe Bomberos)
2108 - Camión Volquete
2109 - Fiat 1500
2110 - Ferrari Berlineta
2111 - M.G. 1.100
2113 - Microbús Mercedes
2115 - Camioneta auxiliar
2116 - Ford GT40
2117 - Seat 124
2118 - Mercedes 280 SL
2119 - Ferrari P5
2121 - Seat 600 D
2124 - Seat 850 Coupé
2130 - Simca 1.000
2131 - Renault R-8
2132 - Citroën Dyane 6
2133 - Road Master
2134 - Ferrari 312 Formula 1 (NM)
2139 - Barreiros Volquete (NM)
2140 - Barreiros S-42 Volquete (NM)
2141 - Pegaso Volquete (NM)
2143 - Jeep
2144 - Barreiros Caja (NM)
2145 - Barreiros Industrias Lácteas (NM)
2146 - Barreiros Maderas (NM)
2147 - Barreiros Correos (NM)
2148 - Barreiros Congelados (NM)
2149 - Pegaso Caja (NM)
2150 - Pegaso Toldo (NM)
2151 - Pegaso Ganado (NM)
2152 - Pegaso Frigorífico (NM)
2153 - Pegaso Mudanzas (NM)
2154 - Barreiros S-42 Caja (NM)
2155 - Barreiros S-42 Abonos Químicos (NM)
2156 - Barreiros S-42 Construcciones (NM)

(NM) indicates that the model is Not Marked on the base as International Payá. These model are all trucks (Pegaso oder Barreiros) plus the Ferrari 312 Formula 1.

All these models were die-cast made. A few models were also made in plastic, those were intended for special racetracks, and were equipped with some kind of wind-up mechanism (I’ll show this racetrack in a future entry).

LOTUS F1 (Matchbox / International Payá)

Vehicles were available in two models of blister cards, being one larger than the other. There are some very rare promotional sets as well: the most complete and famous of these sets were promotional giveaways from a washing powder brand “Skip”. There were 4 sets of 3 cars and a few traffic signs each.

Some of these models were copied from casts made by Matchbox. Other models are not 1:1 copies, but have some differences. In my case, I only have models which are copies from Matchbox, as you can see in the pictures.

CADILLAC AMBULANCE (Matchbox / International Payá )

The condition of the cars varies from one to the other, but they’re all quite worn. Note that the chassis is made in all models except the formula 1s in plastic, so the durability is more limited, than if it was full die-cast made. Paintwork is also not that good; all cars have many chips, probably because of a mixture of bad storage and playtime. Even carded models present sometimes different kinds of problems like paint damage, plastic chassis about to crease and break… definitely, they were not made with the high quality standards that the company applied in its other toys. No matter what, they’re super-rare models, so difficult to find. And even if they’re not mint, they’re very sought-for collectibles.

FORD GALAXY (Matchbox / International Payá)

The models with the lower reference numbers seem to be easier to find than the later ones. Probably, these were available during a longer period of time, and sold more units than the higher reference numbers. It is unknown to me, in which year was each reference available. Maybe in the future, we will be able to find this out.

CAMIÓN VOLQUETE Ref. 2108 (International Payá)

DUMPER TRUCK (Matchbox) / CAMIÓN VOLQUETE (International Payá)

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: PAYÁ INTERNATIONAL: LOTUS F1 (Ref. 2102), B.R.M. F1 (Ref 2103), CADILLAC AMBULANCIA (Ref. 2105), FORD GALAXIE JEFE BOMBEROS (Ref. 2107) and CAMIÓN VOLQUETE (Ref. 2108)
• Name: MATCHBOX: LOTUS RACING CAR (Nr. 19D), S&S CADILLAC AMBULANCE (Nr. 54B), FORD GALAXIE (Nr. 59C), DUMPER TRUCK (Nr. 48C)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: Payá International: Around 1970
• Year: Matchbox: 19D and 54B (1965-1970), 59C and 48C (1966-1970)
• Company: Payá International (Spain) Matchbox (G. Britain)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm