Ideal Planet of the Apes inflatable Galen

Behold what happens when you’ve had a little much Christmas cheer, and everybody went to bed. Apparently, I really had to have this inflatable Galen from Planet of the Apes, which totally checks out. Everyone needs an inflatable Roddy McDowall, right? Right?

Turns out this was like a series, and I borrowed this image from Hunter’s Planet of the Apes Archive (which is amazing, go there!) to see them all blown up.

We got a General Urko, Doctor Zaius and Galen; sadly no astronauts, but I don’t blame them. 

I don’t think I’ll collect them all but this will be going in my Planet of the Apes display.

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Our latest book is “Knock-Offs: Totally Unauthorized Action Figures” a love letter to cheeky copyright-infringing toys. You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop, On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or eBay (eBay Link)

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Pod Stallions is based on our podcast and is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember folks, you keep the glass! If you like our show, then you have found your tribe.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.
Planet of the Apes
 

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After years of being marketed as an Evel Knievel toy line, Ideal toys had a severe problem with Knievel’s career hitting rock bottom. They had a hit toy concept but needed a new marketing method. Ideal tried classic monsters with the Scare Cycles in 1979 but regrouped and launched Team America in  1980.

Armed with a TV budget and a comic tie-in with Marvel, the gambit paid off. So much so that in its third year, Team America added figures of the Team America comics characters themselves, including the mysterious marauder. They also added a familiar face to the team, Marvel’s Captain America.

Ideal Team America

The proposed Team America vehicles were also from Evel Knievel tooling.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I bought those comics and really enjoyed them. Never saw the toys, however.

I wonder how many licensed Team America products were made?

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Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures,” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

Order Rack Toys 2.0 Here through our Affiliate Link►https://amzn.to/3Bkm9z1

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is based on our podcast and is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass! If you like our show, then you have found your tribe.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

5 Awesome Things on eBay

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The line, despite having an animated special, was not a commercial success. This may have been due to Hasbro’s Transformers launching the same year, really making Maxx Steele and his crew look a bit old school.  The line endures cult popularity to this day and it’s one of the last Ideal action figure lines to be released. Roboforce is now set for a major comeback from Nacelle Company, scroll down to see more on that.

While the Robo Force figures would look clunky compared to Go-Bots or Transformers, I love that they look like they came out of a 1960s Patrick Troughton Doctor Who episode.

The figures had suction bases and gripping crushing arms. The arms really bring home that wonderful esoteric look that I enjoy about this line.

Robo Force Robocruiser

Robo Force Dread Crawler

Robo Force Command Patroller Vehicle

Robo Force Fortress of Steele Playset

The 80s were a golden age for playsets.

RC Max Steele!

ROBO FORCE: THE COMEBACK

The Nacelle Company Reveals Pre-Sale Info For Wave One Of Their Robo Force Collectible Figure Line

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Nacelle Company, the studio behind Netflix’s The Toys That Made Us, The Movies That Made Us, A Toy Store Near You, and Behind The Attraction on Disney+ are excited to announce the first wave of Robo Force 7.5 inch collectible action figures will be available to pre-order for $49.99 on NacelleStore.com starting April 22, 2022! After spending the last year acquiring nostalgic IPs like The Great Garloo, Power Lords, Big Loo and the legendary Marx Toys brand, Nacelle is kicking off their first wave of Robo Force action figures with highly detailed and fully articulated versions of Maxx Steele and Wrecker.

In 2021, Nacelle Company announced its acquisition of the beloved 80s franchise, Robo Force, with plans to reintroduce the characters through a television series, books and other lifestyle products. Now, less than a year later, the company is revealing the first images of the Robo Force action figure line created by renowned toy designer, David Vonner. Painstaking detail was used to make sure that Robo Force’s rich history should be taken seriously, yet updated with modern aesthetics meant to broaden the audience.

Robo Force’s Maxx Steele and Wrecker return as part of Nacelle’s Very Important Toy Line of 7.5-inch scale figures. These deluxe, fully articulated, 7.5” figures feature beautiful package art, alongside its own collector-friendly window box.

Maxx Steele was destined to be the latest and greatest in law enforcement (he was literally built to do it), but on the day before his first patrol, the UTOPIA101 line was revealed to the world. Maxx Steele was quietly reassigned to the traffic beat. Despite his best efforts to conform, Maxx Steele’s passion for crime fighting, along with a growing distrust of the UTOPIA line, leads Maxx down a path into other, unauthorized, lines of police work. This will create problems. A LOT of problems.

Wrecker was built to be the jack-of-all-trades for the ROBO FORCE line; he has a tool for every occasion. Sadly, due to the rise of the UTOPIA101 line, those occasions never occurred. Reassigned to use his staggering strength and empathy codex to do the most mundane jobs in the basement of Police Rhombus HQ, Wrecker eventually teams up with Maxx Steele to help protect the innocent, and keep an eye on the increasingly erratic UTOPIA Force (as well as Hun-Dred and his evil minions).

Nacelle Company’s Robo Force revival proves that nostalgic public interest in the franchise is higher than it’s ever been and this is the perfect time to reintroduce Robo Force to a new generation of fans and collectors.

“Of all the IP’s we’ve been buying, we wanted to launch our toy division with Robo Force because not only are they fun and iconic, but due to them being crushed at Toy Fair in 1984 by another line of charismatic transforming robots, we wanted to give them their due with a reimagined storyline and high end redesigns.  But don’t despair lovers of the 80’s version, our new figures will of course have the infamous suction cups, but these will be attached to something the originals never had; legs!” said Nacelle Company Founder and CEO, Brian Volk-Weiss.

• 7.5-inch scale (19.05 cm)
• Injection Molded Action Figure
• Highly Detailed
• Fully Articulated
• Reimagined from the classic Robo Force line
• Part of The Nacelle Company’s Very Important Toy Line

This limited edition set includes both books, all six magazines (with available premiums) and a Captain Canuck action figure. It’s a $150 value for a great price. I only can make six of these, so don’t wait.

Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 6- PlaidStallions

Issue 6 of Toy-Ventures ships next week, order now from our shop and get a free Star Team Poster by legendary artist Dave Waugh!

Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

Order Rack Toys 2.0 Here through our Affiliate Link►https://amzn.to/3Bkm9z1

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass!

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs of Mego action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman! It’s a really fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoy, and other generic greats.

The post 1984 Ideal Toys Robo Force Catalog appeared first on PS.

During these years, the EK stunt set was a top ten bestseller in North America and it was a steady rocket ride for the next couple of years.

A nice depiction of the carnage that can be had with these toys, as a bonus, the Evel Knievel figure had no bones to break.

The crash car empowered little boys to break their toys, a brilliant stroke of marketing. Growing up we all want to see what would happen if we ran our toys into a wall, this gave us a safe way to do this.

Evel’s steam-powered Rocket was a bit of a bust that nearly killed him but it sure made for a cool toy. It was later recycled into Ideal’s Star Wars clone, Star Team.

The old standard, I think most of us think “Motorcycle” when we think of Evel.

The Stunt Stadium was one of the bigger playsets of the era.

The scramble van was on Santa’s “most requested” list that year..

Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 6- PlaidStallions

Issue 6 of Toy-Ventures ships next week, order now from our shop and get a free Star Team Poster by legendary artist Dave Waugh!

Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

Order Rack Toys 2.0 Here through our Affiliate Link►https://amzn.to/3Bkm9z1

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass!

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs of Mego action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman! It’s a really fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoy, and other generic greats.

The post 1974 Ideal Toys Evel Knievel Catalog appeared first on PS.

In an effort to create a back story kids might enjoy Ideal contacted Marvel comics (Yes, the people making the officially licensed Star Wars comic) to create a promotional piece outlining the adventures of Zem and the evil Knight of Darkness. It’s a gripping tale written most likely in an afternoon

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Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s dimestore goodness, we talk vintage toys, not others!

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Planet of the Apes was a new hot ticket item for 70s wunderkind Mego who also produced the World’s Greatest Superheroes around the same time. Big Jim was Mattel’s answer to G.I. Joe and Dinah-Mite was Mego’s stab at Barbie, who was the original.

Child Guidance was one of the bigger players in Sesame Street merchandise, it’s so nice to see Roosevelt Franklin. Etch a Sketch is never going to stop being cool..

I have many fond memories of Play-Doh Pumper No. 9. The Mego Superheroes “Supervator” was a complicated game where you used strings and a glove to make the heroes retrieve “Nasty Secret Plans” and avoid villain cards like the enemy of Tarzan. See video below:

Planet of the Apes and Superhero Puzzles from HG are collector’s items now. Another toy I forgot I had until now is the Mattel Put-Put railway, along with Spirograph and Lite-Brite. I had to explain to my son what Lite-Brite was last week, that made me sad….

Here is a whole page of toys that made my four year heart go pitter patter, the Big Jim Kung Fu studio was a cool set up that allowed Big Jim to kick a little ass. The Mego Batcave was also recycled by clever Mego into the Planet of the Apes village and the Action Jackson “Lost Continent” playset, we kids didn’t mind. I consider both the Matchbox Fighting Furies and the Gabriel Lone Ranger to be two of the nicest toy lines made in the 1970s.

Rodney Allen Rippey was made by Shindana, a company that catered to people of colour. Shindana made some wicked cool toys and below is one of my favourites, Slade!

Barbie always got the best vehicles and playsets, lucky for us boys Mattel converted her country camper for Big Jim so we boys could play with it and still feel masculine. .

Another great vehicle is the Barbie friendship, again Mattel recycled this for us boys in the form of the Big Jim Skyhawk. It is a pretty awesome piece, my daughter has the modern version, which isn’t made of vinyl…

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Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s dimestore goodness, we talk vintage toys, not others!

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The stunt cycle itself was still a great concept and in 1979 Ideal attempted to mix them with Monsters, thus giving birth to Scare Cycles..

In 1980, a more successful rebranding was born, in cooperation with Marvel comics, Team America triumphantly brought back the stunt cycle and inadvertently set the tone for the 1980s.

The original launch just had the riders as “red, white and blue” but as the comic progressed Ideal would add characters to the line based on the comic and sell the characters on cards.

While the characters would show up in different parts of the Marvel universe, in 1982 Captain America joined Team America and got his own stunt set which was wicked cool.

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Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s dimestore goodness, we talk vintage toys, not others!

The post 1980 Ideal Toys Team America Catalog appeared first on PS.

Manglors were a pretty interesting concept from Ideal and one you remembered seeing, first, everybody in the line was a monster, which is cool in itself. Secondly, the concept was that you hatched the figures from their eggs and then you could stretch, squeeze and even rip the body parts off the figures and attach them to other figures. An organic version of the Micronauts I guess.

The only problem was, it didn’t really work all that well and when it doesn’t work as advertised, people get upset, Manglors were a huge problem for Ideal.

Here we have Manglodragon, Manglodemon and Manglord, who is in charge I guess. The catchphrase here was “made from the strangest stuff on earth”, as I recall it also had a weird smell. Each of the figures came in a “Prehi-Storage” Play Egg in 1984, although figures also came in window-less boxes with stands. One of the biggest problems with the line was kids wanted to test the amazing claims made in the commercial while they were in-store, resulting in a lot of damaged goods.

Manglizard, Mangldactyl, and Manglsaurus round out the set of creatures from another dimension. The striking packaging art was done by artist Ken Kelly, best known for his album art for KISS and his Mego Micronauts packaging.

Manglor Mountain seemed to be a pit of “Lava” (very close to Mattel Slime) and you raised Manglord up and down into it using an Iron Maiden like device. Not sure if you were helping him or torturing him here, it didn’t matter, it all resulted in some carpet staining, I am sure..

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PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #2 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s dimestore goodness, we talk vintage toys, not others!

The post 1984 Ideal Toys Manglors Catalog appeared first on PS.

The robotic ZEM21 was built on a retooled Ideal JJ Armes body. Knight of Darkness, was a Captain Action made “Darthier” with a new head, original boots and a pistol from the Flash Gordon set. Zeroid was exactly that, a Zeroid from the 1966 line of robot toys.

Kent and his cosmic cruiser are recycled Evel Knievel tooling, mainly the sky cycle.

Zeroid and Star Hawk were also leftovers from the 1966 Zeroids line, what’s weird is how much that figure looks like R2-D2 but actually predates him.

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This is a display from a place called “Toy Barn” in 1977, showcasing all the cool Ideal STAR TEAM and Shogun Warriors that took Star War’s place that holiday season.

I’d like to add the promotional Marvel comic to the new site but for now, the link can be found here:

Check out the amazing Knight of Darkness Knock Off I recently found.

Electroman and Zogg weren’t part of Star Team but I thought they deserved a knod, these hulking figures used to baffle me when I saw them at toy shows. The two of them are a game ala Laser Tag, just a bit cruder.

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #2 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

The post 1978 Ideal Star Team Catalog appeared first on PS.

This is the third Toy Flier I have from 1975 with Mego Star Trek on the cover, thank goodness for Star Trek collectors saving these.

The Fisher Price Sesame Street set is the big get here, this was the first year it was launched.

Mego’s Wizard of Oz line was also launched in 1975, it was a big year for licensed toys.

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It’s kind of weird to see the Planet of the Apes adventure set mixed in with growing up Skipper and Holly Hobbie.

Evel Knievel was still a super hot toy in 1975 and surprisingly the Mego planet of the apes dolls still sold despite the series getting canceled almost a year earlier..

Those flock haired Karate Men were under my tree that year, I always wanted to turn them into action figures.

Hedstron, Huffy and Murray….

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #2 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

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