Disclaimer: The links are sponsored and also, some guy farted in here.

Welcome Back Kotter Guitar by Fleetwood Toys (sponsored link) 

Did the Sweathogs ever show any musical prowess? I watched the show a lot as a kid and only remember John Travolta’s singing. 

Hal Needham Stuntman Playset by Gabriel Toys (sponsored link)

This is a truly innovative toy concept from the mid-1970s, a doll based on the legendary stuntman Hal Needham. This allowed kids to do real stunt work. Obviously, this set saw some play, as Hal’s head came off, which is probably not something that happened to the real guy.

The Mighty Hercules Book and Record set from Japan (Sponsored Link) 

As a Canadian kid, I thrilled to the Adventures of the Mighty Hercules and his idiot sidekick, Newton, his idiot sidekick, Newton.  (if you get that joke you are cool) I am blown away that this show had any popularity in Japan but now this is all I can think of.

Spider-Man Super Klobbers by AHI (sponsored link)

I’m not surprised that AHI chose to rip off Socker Boppers; they sold a lot of inflatable toys and well, they had the Spider-Man license. What’s surprising is how rare these are, I guess they did not take off.

Big Jim Cipsa Kid Acero Lobomovil (sponsored link) 

This vehicle was known as “The Beast” in the USA and was the first vehicle available for the P.A.C.K toys, mainly because it’s a repainted Camper. In Mexico, they didn’t have the same characters so they drew over the (GLORIOUS!) Jack Kirby’s art and turned them into bad Guy Garfio and Good guy Hombe Bionico. I love this so much but this freaking thing is such a space killer. Ugh, this is going to bug me….

Oh God, I just realized Hombre Invisible was added! Agggghhhh I have no money!

Issue #13 of Toy-Ventures Magazine will feature the never-before-seen plans for the 1983 World’s Greatest Superheroes toy line and a cover featuring artwork specially commissioned for Mego’s catalogue, gloriously coloured by Robyn Adams, founder of the Mego Museum.

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

Toy-Ventures is our magazine; we’re an independent publisher trying to bring back print toy magazines; if you would like to support us, please check out the latest issue: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

Toy-Ventures Issue 12- Stretch Monster

Click Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

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We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass

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The Mighty Hercules, Sweathogs, Rack Toys, Fleetwood, Book and Record, Japan, Spider-Man, AHI, Socker Boppers, Inflatables, Big Jim, Kid Acero, Cipsa, Big Jim PACK, Dr Steel, Jack Kirby,  Hal Needham, Gabriel Toys, Stunt man, 1970s toys, action figures, PlaidStallions, 5 Awesome Things on eBay, 5 Awesome eBay,

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Mattel Mega Force Catalog

MegaForce was poised to be the action blockbuster of 1982. The 20 million dollar Chinese/American co-production had an impressive marketing budget which wisely targeted kids with it’s sci-fi military stunt show of a movie.

It also easily found licensors; on paper, this looked like a slam dunk.

The only problem was that people eventually saw “MegaForce” and found its campiness, lacklustre effects and weird thumb-kissing scenes very much bad.

There are rumours that Mattel had MegaForce action figures in the works, but for Toyfair in 1982, they wisely regulated the offering to Hot Wheels items. This way, they highlighted the film’s true stars, the vehicles. No offense to Michael Beck (Warriors rules!)

Mattel MegaForce Catalog

The Megaforce Desert Strike Stunt Set is a modified Hot Wheels set. 

Mattel MegaForce Catalog

The Verti-Bird is another item that Mattel has repurposed for several licenses including Space:1999 and Battlestar Galactica. 

Mattel MegaForce Catalog

The biggest investment Mattel seems to have put into Mega Force is tooling 3 new vehicles from the film and repurposing some stock cars into the line.

Deeds, Not Words Party People.

#megaforce #mattel #hotwheels
 

The Lincoln Monsters are here!

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

Toy-Ventures is our magazine; we’re an independent publisher trying to bring back print toy magazines; if you would like to support us, please check out the latest issue: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

Toy-Ventures Issue 12- Stretch Monster

Click Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

Join our weekly newsletter.

The Super Collector Newsletter combines all the news from Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions and a lot of other fun stuff across the Interwebs. It’s got customs, new action figures, vintage finds and a lot of pop culture. Sign Up Here!

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass

. 

 
Megaforce, Mega Force, Mattel, 1982, Mattel Catalog, Hot Wheels, Hal Needham, Golden Harvest, toy catalog, Barry Bostwick, toy prototypes, movie toys, 80s toys,

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1977 saw Gabriel Toys try an interesting experiment in action figures.

Instead of licensing a hollywood movie, they sought to captilize on the making of a movie by creating a set based on then legendary stuntman Hal Needham. 

Gabriel devoted six pages of the 1977 catalog to this line and it was clearly their big feature.

 

Gabriel’s spokesman was Dick Van Dyke that year and here is a rare toy fair sales reel for the line.
 

The unique concept allowed kids to film an action sequence in a Western complete with breakaway sets, a camera and our titular Stunt Man, who wasn’t a household name.

This really was a great and well-made concept.

This should have been as big as Evel Knievel…

Issue 4 of Toy-Ventures magazine ships this June

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!

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