I have to admit I really liked Star Trek The Motion Picture as a kid, not really the movie itself but the merchandising. As a kid I had all the Mego figures and the styrene bridge playset. I never saw this southbend enterprise or phasers but those would have been once they hit clearance because almost everything related to TMP eventually did……
AKA Brian Heiler author of "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" and co-editor of "Toy-Ventures Magazine". Co-Host of the "Pod Stallions" podcast. Host of the Brick Mantooth Youtube channel, painter, designer, writer, mental health advocate, toy collector, Mego, and Mego Knock-Off enthusiast. I have large feet, ADHD and I live in Canada. Talk toys, not others. 
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I had the phaser water gun as a kid, and recently for a time I had the 2 phaser set which functioned vaguely like Laser Tag, but I sold them at a toy show. I regret that.
The Motion Picture phaser is my favorite design by far.
I had the model that came with LEDs that you could light up the saucer section. I really was excited about that movie as a kid, then I went and saw it and was kind of like “Oh, they changed the Enterprise!”
My first experience with what movies do to your most beloved characters or shows, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the worst. The design sort of grew on me though.
As a kid, I really liked the new enterprise, but wondered why the crew were all wearing pastel-y velour pajamas.
They rectified that mistake pretty quick in Wrath of Kahn, didn’t they?
Yeah, the outfits were regrettable even as a kid I thought they looked silly.
At the time I remember everyone going on about “The Bald Chick”, which I really didn’t find a problem with that as a kid. It was a little exotic, but heh, it was Star Trek! No one had a problem with Kirk’s baldness…
You are right about those uniforms. What were they thinking?
I remember reading that the costume designer wanted the uniforms to be pale so that the star’s faces would stand out and be more interesting…I don’t think the effect worked.
I don’t think anything from ST-TMP has aged well. The refitted Enterprise reminds me of those ridiculous bespoilered Corvettes and Trans Ams that were clogging the roads when the movie was released. Klingons and some other bits aside, the rest of the production design was an attempt at ’70s-style minimalism that didn’t work then and doesn’t work now.
I remember for years afterwards Ilia figures clutered the shelves at Toys R US, I mean Star Trek III must have been in theaters and you could still find Ilia figures at Toys R US. Which sort of reminds me of my local Toys R Us- they still have all the 2009 Star Trek Toys- "On clearance" with no significant discount, meanwhile all the other stores cleared them out even the Ross/TJ Maxx/Big Lots seem to have gotten rid of them but not my local TRU.