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Why arent ther more 1/18 space toys?
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:20 pm
by scbvideoboy
I would love to see space ships and saucer ufo's with crew and removable tops to see inside.
Just think no licenses to buy! And they could be very fun.
Besides the star war figures, were there any 1/18 vehicles?
DH
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:53 pm
by tmanthegreat
There were the Hasbro GI Joe space vehicles from the mid 1980s and early 1990s for their 3 3/4" figures. The best of these was the Defiant Space Shuttle complex, which was a massive and intricate playset on a scale not seen before or since.
In brief, the Defiant set featured a "launch complex" that was on wheels and had a gantry of sorts that could open, raise and lower. The crawler had all sorts of control and engine rooms, and of course guns. Then there were the shuttles:
The Defiant was a small aerodynamic craft (looking uncannily like the X-33) with opening cargo bay with robot arm and a cockpit that held 3 figures. There were also fold out guns and landing gear. It docked to a "Booster" section, which had an awesome cockpit holding 4-5 figures and a "space station" part in the rear that could fold out and had control rooms, beds and an airlock. The airlock connected to a hatch on the bottom of the smaller Defiant shuttle. The entire package came in a box over 5' tall! I never had it, but a friend of mine did and I am describing this from memory. You can still find these on ebay occasionally, though they are pricey if anything close to intact.
Another GI Joe spacecraft was the Crusader Space Shuttle. This was the same shuttle spacecraft as the Defiant, though with black fins and cargobay doors (the Defiant was all white in color). This came with a smaller scout craft that could dock in the cargo bay. The Crusader held 3 figures in the cockpit and one in the scout craft. Both the Crusader and Defiant came with the Payload astronaut figure, which along with the Countdown figure are the most realistic GI Joe 3 3/4" astronaut figures.
There was also a wierd GI Joe line in the early 1990s called Star Brigade that rehashed some of the old Astronaut figures, included a number of new ones and which had a couple funky space craft that were nothing compared with the Defiant and Crusader.
The GI Joe Shuttles, and smaller spacecraft are the only significant line of 1:18 space vehicles that have been produced. Personally, I would love a realistic line of 1:18 spacecraft, made with the same attention to detail that 21c and BBI put into their planes. An Apollo spacecraft and lunar lander in 1:18 (with three astronauts and a detailed interior) would be awesome! I'd also get a Mercury, Gemini or Soyuz spaccraft in the unlikely event they were made.
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:08 pm
by kimtheredxd
21st is going to do it they are slipping in the aliens in the avenger as a teaser

spaced out
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:28 pm
by tderespino
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:52 pm
by Morian Miner
I can't remember the brand, but there was a series of astornauts put out a few years ago of differnt astronaut suits that were fairly close to 1/18. They were at TRU and you still see them at aerospace museums. Unfortunately, the quality wasn't the greatest.
If you ever go to the UFO museum in Roswell, they have a dioramma showing a US soldier inspecting a Foo Fighter painted for Germany. Pretty cool display - that would be something cool for the companies to put out.
Space toys
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:43 pm
by normandy
Anyone remember Major Matt Mason? Now that was a great toy line, it was made by Mattel from 1968 to around 1973. The figures were not 1/18th they were 6 inchs tall, so that would be 1/12th?? Any how very cool toy, I still have most of mine from when I was a kid.

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:58 pm
by Tinman
Wish I still had my Major Matt Mason! Trashed by early 1970s, no doubt.
My brother and I could be very destructive. Now I'm a freak about my stuff, and don't like anyone touching it. LOL!
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:11 pm
by Morian Miner
My brothers had alot of those space figures. I was born in 1973, so when I was younger I didn't really understand what they were. They had already trashed most of them, but I did my best to finish them off. The one I remember, I think was from the Matt Mason line, was some red trailer with white body, and a big black cannon. That was too cool.
Maybe all we need to get cool space toys made is get back to the moon

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:12 pm
by Jericoeagle1
Imagine how cool it would be to have a 1/18 X-wing or Y-wing fighter. To bad Hasbro has a lock on them.
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:49 pm
by aferguson
I had most of the Major Matt Mason line when i was a tike. Loved the stuff. I had several of the astronauts plus Captain Laser, Scorpio, Callisto and all the vehicles except the Space Crawler (and oh how i wanted it...lol).
That and Mattel's Time Machine were my favourite toys when i was a kid..

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:43 pm
by normandy
Aferguson, how's this for a flashback....
http://www.wildtoys.com/MMMPage/index.asp 
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:11 pm
by aferguson
lol.......that brings back a lot of memories. Saw a bunch of sets i'd forgotten about and a few i'd never heard of. Had most of them though.
Thanks Normandy.

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:07 pm
by Morian Miner
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:37 pm
by Bravo_26
Jerico, what do mean?
We have an X-Wing in 1:18 scale (well, close to it anyway). Remember the electronic full-scale version with flip-down hand-held handle??? It came out about 7-8 years ago. Very cool with retracting optical sensory display for Luke & voice of Ben. Remember? C'mon, remember??
This was not the stubby-winged, snub-nosed version from the '80's - re-released in the '90's version toy X-Wing.
Anyway, pretty darn accurate for a Star Wars toy. Am I alone on this? And did anyone else pick this beauty up beides me & a couple of others?
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:48 pm
by Jericoeagle1
I bought one of those too (the electronic X-wing) It was okay but not up to 21st Quality in my opinion. Also thier Y-wing was just awful. I think any of the three companies could make a better Star Wars Vehicle.
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:45 am
by Birddog
Bravo_26 wrote:Jerico, what do mean?
We have an X-Wing in 1:18 scale (well, close to it anyway). Remember the electronic full-scale version with flip-down hand-held handle??? It came out about 7-8 years ago. Very cool with retracting optical sensory display for Luke & voice of Ben. Remember? C'mon, remember??
This was not the stubby-winged, snub-nosed version from the '80's - re-released in the '90's version toy X-Wing.
Anyway, pretty darn accurate for a Star Wars toy. Am I alone on this? And did anyone else pick this beauty up beides me & a couple of others?
Don't forget about Luke's X-Wing and Red Leader's X-Wing that were sold at TRU'S. I picked both of those up and since it's anyone's guess as to scale in the Star Wars Universe, they are darn well as good as 1/18 in my opinion. The level of detail isn't too bad and when put together with the recently re-released large panel Tie Fighter, they make a cool scene.
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:49 am
by luftpanzer
Dont forget the star trek next generation that was out in the mid to late 90s. I think they had the shuttle as a full ship, and then some playsets like the bridge and enginering and the transporter. I think I still have a carded borg some wear around the house.
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:13 am
by scbvideoboy
Bravo_26 wrote:Jerico, what do mean?
We have an X-Wing in 1:18 scale (well, close to it anyway). Remember the electronic full-scale version with flip-down hand-held handle??? It came out about 7-8 years ago. Very cool with retracting optical sensory display for Luke & voice of Ben. Remember? C'mon, remember??
This was not the stubby-winged, snub-nosed version from the '80's - re-released in the '90's version toy X-Wing.
Anyway, pretty darn accurate for a Star Wars toy. Am I alone on this? And did anyone else pick this beauty up beides me & a couple of others?
I bought mine off QVC or something like that " not sold in stores" and weeks later saw it at TRU.
Push artoo down and hear phrases from the movie...
Anyway mines in great shape, I was thinking it's closer to 1/24.
Dave
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:20 am
by scbvideoboy
as we're talking Star Wars I'd would love to see a super detailed accurate scale 1/18 or larger B- wing.
something about that design.
I'd heard that before from a hobby shop guy, "Its not real so how can they scale it"
The Area 51 UFO from tester's is molded as 1/48. Any body have that, I do and it comes with a great little booklet about the gravity wave anti- matter reactor that powers it from the Robert Lazier(?) guy who supposely worked on it.
dave
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:17 am
by luftpanzer
If they could scale it to 1/48 then it must be real Uh uncle sam. By the way I saw that guy on the History channel when they did a show on Area51. He could describe the area in detail that only an insider could know, But yet the Government has no record of him ever working there.
Gee who do you trust?
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:09 am
by scbvideoboy
I might have a different electronic X wing! Mine does not have a handle, there is a plastic lever for firing a red plastic "proton" torpedo and has artoo, when you push down once it says in lukes voice " Artoo fire up the converters"
A lever on the top deck rotates artoo and lukes head toward the targeting computer, and if you push the lever pack you hear phrases from the movie
I put batteries in it today to check it and everything still works cool!
DH
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:05 pm
by Morian Miner
That's one in the same. The plastic handle snaps on and off or can fold up, so maybe yours got lost/misplaced.
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:38 pm
by scbvideoboy
You know I vaguely recall that, now. I probably threw it away that and the box! As I bought this way before I started collecting cars and 1/18.
Dave
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:15 pm
by DocTodd
I was pretty impressed at the time I bought the larger X wing. I hoped that it signaled larger more detailed ships from Star Wars. Oh well, wishful thinking-maybe if I hang around long enough they will run out of other things to make and make some nice ships. I heard rumor they are going to make a 1/32 Millenium Falcon. I wonder if that will happen.
Todd
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:18 pm
by aferguson
Interesting, their new Unleashed figures are about 1/32 so i guess it's possible they'd make a Falcon to compliment them. Even in 1/32 it would be a good size at around 3 feet long..