#1026 MATCHBOX 2000 – ROCKET (1990)

I often talk about Matchbox lines which are not the superfast or the ordinary 1-75 series. I would like to review also those series, maybe I will do that more often in the future, as there are still hundreds of cars in my collection waiting for their turn to have their blog entry.
 

Matchbox 2000 was a short lived series of small cars equipped with a magnet on the rear half that could be steered (well, more or less) by placing an additional piece nearby. This key-piece also had a magnet, so when it came close to the car, the magnets would repel each other, as they were built with the same polarity.  Simple and nice. Mostly considering that the models chosen were all futuristic prototypes, dream cars with names such as Streak, Rocket, Gamma or Spark. Unfortunately, they are not based on real models, I would say they are all invented.

Magnetism is nothing new, but it something that attracts people (and especially children), as it has something magic in it. You can steer a toy car without touching it, using no batteries. Cool. And there is no better name than “Matchbox 2000” for a product made in 1990. This was how we expected the year 2000 to be.

I got this blisterpack from Steven (from the Motorcade). It was already partially opened, so I carefully removed the contents and tested it myself. It is fun to play with. The “key” piece can also hold the car and can be clipped to the pocket of your shirt for carrying it, although, I would say, if you do that, there is a 99% chance of losing the car within the next 2 minutes. It does not hold very well.

The line included all these 12 vehicles in the picture plus two playsets with plenty of magnets to fit, hold and move your 2000´s cars. The first one was called R.P.M. (Robotic Positioning Module) and the second one V.S.C. (Vertical Service Center)

There was a second series comprising the same 12 cars in alternate colours, but these were sold in 3-packs without magnetic key.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MATCHBOX 2000 ROCKET
• Scale: Approx 1:72
• Year: 1990
• Company: Matchbox (United Kingdom)
• Size: 7 cms

#1025 M.A.S.K. – THUNDERHAWK with MATT TRAKKER/ SPECTRUM (1985)

The most popular reference from this toyline has to be the Thunderhawk, the red Camaro from Matt Trakker that can fly in its alternate mode. It was the vehicle that featured most of the comic stories and cartoon chapters, and included the main character of the M.A.S.K. organization, so it was 100% the favorite toy of children, when they had to choose one of the boxes in a toystore.

 

The car in which is based is one of the most iconic American cars of the 80s, and the toy is an accurate reproduction: the Chevrolet Camaro Z28. The transformation, however, is not so great, it just opens the doors, as if they were wings, and the spoiler takes a different position to reveal two afterburners. The wheels do not move to the inside to be hidden, as in other models of the toyline but the interior is well done with two seats, security belts and a nice steering wheel. The security belts are common in this toyline, which I find nice, and, in this case, they are necessary, as the figures may fall down, when the car is flying with opened doors.

Another action feature of the model is that it can drop two bombs. The bombs are fitted in two small compartments in the chassis, and they are activated from behind.

The figure included in the pack is the most iconic representation of Matt Trakker, the main character in the whole toyline. The hero that saves the day in every single chapter of the TV series and the leader of the M.A.S.K. He is also the father of Scott Trakker, the child that usually gets into trouble and has to be rescued. The mask is Spectrum, and it pretends to create radio interference. There are two versions of it. The one in the pictures and another smaller one that fits over the head of the figure but not over the shoulders, chest or back.

Another interesting fact to comment is that the toy is over 35 years old (soon it will be 40) and the rubber tyres are usually in bad shape. If played with it again, sometimes they break into pieces (literally). I hope somebody can create repros for those who would like to play with this toy again. Other fragile parts are the exhaust pipes below the doors and the bomb, which is really small and can be easily lost.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name:  THUNDERHAWK with MATT TRAKKER/ SPECTRUM (Ref. 37370)
• Toy Line: M.A.S.K. (Wave 1)
• Year: 1985
• Company: Kenner (U.S.A.)
• Size of the vehicle: Around 8’’ or 20 cm
• Size of the figures: 2½’’ or 6,5 cm

#1024 TOMICA – TV TRUCK (Nr. 75 or Nr. 29-75) (1974)

I haven´t shown any die-cast made by this brand since a long time. (Almost) All cars I had in my collection have been shown already in this blog, but this one was my last acquisition. I bought it in my city and collected it directly from the seller. It was not very expensive, and since it is my first and only carded or boxed vintage Tomica, I decided to buy it.

I love it, it is a nice TV van, based on an Isuzu van. The cast shows several doors and compartments on both sides of the vehicle and a practicable rear door, but there are no other details (such as antennas) that would help identify the car more properly, except for the stickers on the sides of the vehicle, which, by the way, can be red “NHK COLOR TV” or blue “TV TRUCK”. (NHK is the Japanese national broadcasting company)

My toy was released in the Pocket Cars series, which, as you know, it was intended for foreign markets (these are all marked “TV TRUCK”. They are not so sought-for as the Japanese releases (“NHK COLOR TV”) in the standard black box, and there is a earlier variant with another type of wheels. In particular, this one is partially written in German, and includes a backcatalogue with several Tomica references of the same series.

There are several  alternative decorations in the same colours, but with alternative tampographies on the sides: “Minicar Shop Open” in green, “East Land” in red, or even both at the same time (I have spotted one model carrying both tampographies).

In 1979 the same cast was also used in reference nr. 8, Isuzu Blood Bank Car, in white and green. Many years later, it was reissued in white and blue, but with a darker shade of blue.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: TV TRUCK (Nr. 75)
• Scale: 1:122
• Year: 1974
• Company: Tomica (Japan)
• Size: 6 cms

#1023 FIGURAS EN ACCIÓN (F.E.A.) Nr. 28

This time we chose a slightly different cover story, as we are going for My Little Pony. This toyline is 40 years old and it was a nice occasion to review all the series ever made of this neat and cute creatures. We rarely review toylines "for girls" as we do not have the experts for that, but this time we had the chance to collaborate with Perikoala, and we simply couldn´t miss that!

Other big topics are the boardgames made by Edilev in Spain (all of them very rare and sought-after, even thought they are not well designed); Connectors (a.k.a. Socket Poppers) by Matchbox/Ertl/Giocchi Preziosi; a very extensive article about the spanish die-cast models made by Mira which are based on Matchbox, Corgi Juniors or Majorette; a short bio of Kim Simmons, the toy photographer of Kenner and Hasbro for most of their Star Wars toylines and, last, a short and simple discussion about bootlegs and how are they have become popular and expensive nowadays.

The general sections are always there: news, books, travels, old ads, one "treasure" (the Thunderhawk from the toyline M.A.S.K.), and other stuff. Many kinds of toys, figures and games, mixed altogether.

The magazine can be downloaded from the official blog. It is free and completely anonymous (no registration or whatever required) Check this!

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#1022 NOREV – RENAULT VAN (Around 1995)

This time I want to show only one die-cast van marked Norev, which is, to my knowledge, very rare. I haven´t seen any Norev like this before. The quality is not very good, the base is plastic and the paintwork is also not the best possible. It is also a "Made in China" model. The wheel design is, to my knowledge, unknown to this brand.

Other Norev from these years are much better casted, have metallic base, practicable parts, detailed interiors and other nice features. This van could be part of a bigger set/playset and maybe they required a cheaper model. It is known to me, that it is based on a Corgi Juniors cast, but for some reason, it was labelled Norev afterwards.

That is why I think it has some interest to be shown here. Do you have any of these Norevs in your collection? Do you know where does it come from? Any information is welcome.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: RENAULT VAN
• Scale: Approx 1:64
• Year: 1995
• Company: Norev (France)
• Size: 7 cms

#1021 BIKER MICE FROM MARS – LAWRENCE LIMBURGER and DR. KARBUNKLE (1993)

The Biker Mice from Mars was maybe one of the last great action figure collections of the 90s. Galoob made very good action figures, accesories and vehicles. The toys had a supporting TV series that was also well done, and, in general, had everything they needed to succeed. Unfortunately, it was already 1993 and children were not so interested anymore in action figures. The market was saturated with all kind of action figures, and the videogames were the most desired toys of the day.

Also they started during a time of crisis, that explains why in Spain sold very badly, but in other richer countries they made slightly better, like in France or Germany. Shame! I look at them today and the style looks to me a bit childish, maybe the target children were the same that already had the Ninja Turtles, Bucky O’Hare or Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys.

I was not so young anymore and I do not recall watching the cartoons. I recall vaguely the toys in the lanes of some big commercial center, but they didn’t catch my interest, because I was more interested in other lines and toys.

Today they have a base of fans and the prices are rising fast. Also many figures came with lots of accessories, and they are difficult to find, increasing even more the prices. I have very few of these, that I got mostly in big lots together with other toys, and today I am presenting two of the villains in the series. I like the non-mouse characters best, as the heroes are very similar to each other and come in over a dozen versions each.

In this case, I present Lawrence Limburger, the boss of the evil creatures. Coming also from Mars, it is a fish-like monster that disguises itself as a businessman, mafioso or tycoon (or all three at once) and wears a mask to hide its true identity. It came with that mask and also with a trap full of spikes to catch maybe the mice or other characters from the heroes side.

  

The second character is Dr. Karbunkle with his minion Fred, a rendition of the classic mad scientist, with its white overall and a strange cable that connects a bottle in the belt to his brain. Due to the long overall, it is not very poseable, but it looks great althogether.

Fred is some kind of mutant creature with two different feet (one reptilian, one hairy) and one tentacle instead of the second arm. It also has three eyes, and an action feature, that opens the face and the brains pops up.

Both figures are relatively easy to find and cheap to buy.

Next time, hopefully soon, I will present one of the mice maybe even with a motorbike. I have to re-organize my collection of Biker Mice from Mars. Meanwhile, here is this picture of Dr. Karbunkle and Fred and the original German/Italian/Dutch cardback for Lawrence Limburger.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: LAWRENCE LIMBURGER and DR. KARBUNKLE
  
• Toy Line: Biker Mice from Mars
  
• Year: 1993
• Company: Gaoob (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figure: Around 15 cm.

#1020 GUISVAL - CENTURION MK.III TANK + KNOCK-OFF (1977 and Around 1993)

MONTH OF THE BOOTLEG AT TOYS FROM THE PAST

Today I want to show two small toy tanks.

The first one is made by Guisval and is a Centurion MK.III model, which appeared for the first time in the catalogue from 1977. There were several versions of it made those first years: in green (with british or Spanish roundels on one side), in light brown (with Spanish roundels) on and also in light brown with dark brown stripes (with a green flag and a crescent moon, which, to my knowledge, does not represent any real country).

Later reissues would also use new decals, like a British flag, and the last known issue is a completely white version from the United Nations, which I find quite original and I would like to own.

All of them have turning turret and the cannon moves up and down.

The second toy tank shown in the pictures is a low quality knock-off of the Guisval model made by an unknown company much later. The model is unmarked, except for “No. 462”, and it is almost identical to the Guisval model. The cannon is slightly longer, the plastic base and wheels and different). The metal and paintwork used are of lower quality, the paint scheme shows a green/yellow camouflage pattern and the stickers on the side say "U.S. Army".

Does anybody know about it? In any case, it is a very curious one, although the quality is very low.

 FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: CENTURION MK.III and KNOCK-OFF
  
• Scale: Approx. 1:100
• Year: 1977 and Around 1993 (respectively)
  
• Company: Guisval and Unknown Toymaker (Spain and China)
• Size: approx. 7 cm