Disclaimer : These links are sponsored by eBay, my opinions are entirely my own.

Matchbox MAC Commando Challenge (sponsored link)

Wow, this is a sealed set from 1975, everything in there perfect and unplayed with. I have a real soft spot for MAC, the pocket version of the GI Joe Adventure Team and this set is gorgeous.

Display box for the Imperial Grizzly Jigglers (sponsored link)

Hey it’s October and a lot of cool Horror and Monster toys come out, like this, a display box of Grizzly Jigglers. Grizzly is a late 70s “Jawsploitation” movie that looked like it was going to be a hit. As much as I love the merch and the entire genre of rip-offs, I find this movie just OK. I have friends who really love it however.

Takara Japan Gi Joe Wind-Up Machine Gun (Sponsored Link) —

What I don’t know about Takara and 12″ GI Joe could probably fill a warehouse. I’ve got no real head for military toys, but this wind-up machine gun playset is amazing. That is some really innovative thinking.

Six Million Dollar Man Jacket (Sponsored Link) –

If I had this as a kid, it would have made me look less weird when I ran around the playground in slow motion. I wasn’t imitating Steve Austin, I’ve got “Slow Motion Running Syndrome” according to my unbelievably scary grade six gym teacher.

Mattel Talking King Kong (sponsored link)–

I’ve always dug the Rankin-Bass King Kong cartoon that was spun out of the classic “King Kong Escapes.”  I had no idea Mattel made a doll of him and he comes with a tiny Bobby Bond! I just don’t know why they made him blue and yellow? That seems out there….

Toy-Ventures Weekly- The Source for Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions news. Regular columns, CustoMego and more!

The Toy-Ventures Weekly 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!

Issue #13 of Toy-Ventures 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 catalog, gloriously coloured by Robyn Adams, founder of the Mego Museum.
https://www.toyventuresmag.com

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 Issue 12- Stretch MonsterClick Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

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Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 10

Issue 10 starts with a stunning piece of art by Peter Carsillo, who told me he’d do a Pulsar cover ages ago should the need arise. So when I reached out, we began to explore concepts. When the idea of a movie poster came up, I mentioned “Infra-Man” probably because I was staring at it while messaging him.

Just from that, Peter crafted a Basil Gogos-inspired movie poster for a Pulsar movie that, sadly I cannot watch. I also want to point out that I will get that movie made or die trying.

My favourite thing about this is the “Pulsar Universe” Peter brought to life here. A bevy of beauties, a fleet of vehicles but also adding the ironic twist that they all are repurposed from other Mattel toylines. That is…Chef’s Kiss toy satire, and I love it. There are a couple of other toy easter eggs in there that I will leave for you to find them all. 

SPECIAL LIMITED-TIME OFFER-

If you order Toy-Ventures magazine issue 10 through our shop, you will get a free “Amigos Del Terror” patch while supplies last.

Toy-Ventures Issue 10

Issue 10 is a milestone for us, and we’ve packed with a diverse grouping of stories that we’ll be doing more in-depth reveals on this coming week.

Finger Puppets:
Robyn Adams joins us for a great piece about Sesame Street Finger Puppets.

Toxic Crusade
Bert from “Ed’s Retro Geek Out” shares some history on the Playmates Toxic Crusaders line.

The Hero with Heart (and Lungs)-
Toy Industry insider Greg Autore talks about the Mattel Pulsar toy line and his research at Mattel.

The Deadly Dresses of Kung Fu Man
Vicent Cerbone tells about solving the age-old mystery of who is “Action Jose.”

The Terror BEST Friends
Uriel Barros shares his knowledge of the “Amigos Del Terror” toy line and the Argentinian toy trade.

Basement of Horror

Leicester Vintage Toyshop

Mego Planet of the Apes Part 6
Cancellation on the Planet of the Apes!

Bootleg Bionics
We’ve got the OSI files on all the Knock-Off Steve Austins on those toy shelves.

Super Joe Part 4

Were you in the Super Joe Club? Steve shares the memorabilia and explains how the club has returned.

The Warriors Toybox

They Call Him SLADE: Super Agent
We discuss the groundbreaking company Shindana Toys and their man of action.

PRE-ORDER ISSUE 10 Here

TO SUBSCRIBE and BEGIN WITH ISSUE 10 Click Here

Thanks again for all the tremendous support these past two and a half years. Please, tell your friends about us, and tag us in posts whenever you can.

BrAiN

Do you miss reading print toy collector magazines?

That’s why we created Toy-Ventures magazine, an old-school print publication dedicated to vintage toys from the 1960s to the 1990s. Each issue is packed with never before seen images and information written by some of the top collectors. We’ve got nine issues and climbing; please check our page here or visit our store.

Our long running Pod Cast, Pod Stallions is now available on Spotify.

The PlaidStallions Polyester Pals have arrived and come in green and orange. Be the first kid in the sandbox with our Podcast mascots!

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)

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAID STALLIONS

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 Monsters, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

5 Awesome of the Things on eBay this week

toy magazine, toy-ventures magazine, mego, knock-offs, records, ebay list, top ten ebay, best things on eBay,

#Mego #toyventures #toymagazine

The post Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 10 brings you Pulsar the movie! appeared first on PS.

Matchbox MAC or “Mobile Action Command” is one of the 1970s most forgotten toy lines.

That’s a shame because of how wonderful they really are. A series of quasi-futuristic vehicles that come with a nameless driver (I always pretended he was a robot), this series would run for years and was a good use of two bucks!

The Matchbox MAC toy line seemed to be taking some cues here from the Hasbro GI Joe Adventure team line. A group of jumpsuited men that were primarily interested in rescuing people, it also feels a little bit like the Thunderbirds as well. Their mountain base was the big “Christmas” item for the line and would appear in more than one Department Store wish book.

The Matchbox MAC line would see a major transformation in 1976. The figures would receive taller and bulkier figures meant to be more realistic (but some would argue didn’t fit the vehicles as well). Also, the boxes would be abandoned for blister cards, which greatly helped their sales appeal.

We’ve done an episode on Matchbox MAC for Toy-Ventures.

We also have the 1977 Matchbox MAC catalog as well.

Toy-Ventures Magazine

Do you miss toy magazines?

That’s why we created Toy-Ventures magazine, an old-school print publication dedicated to vintage toys from the 1960s to the 1990s. Each issue is packed with never before seen images and information written by some of the top collectors. We’ve got six issues and climbing; please check our page here or visit our store.

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 this week

The post 1975 Matchbox MAC Catalog- Mobile Action Command appeared first on PS.

The concept is centered on the nameless men of MAC, an international rescue operation similar to the Thunderbirds, each man has his own quasi-futuristic vehicle. The combination of a 2″ figure and attractively priced vehicle lured me many times and the lack of a back story intrigued me and millions of other children worldwide. The thing I hear most about MAC these days from collectors is “I had that but never knew what they were called!”

The men of Matchbox MAC were based in a secret mountain fortress complete with three vehicles and three Mobile Action Command agents. This playset was the most expensive piece in the MAC arsenal and today it’s not uncommon to find this piece in a department store mailer box.

The Mobile Rescue Headquarters and Oceana Sea Rescue Unit (with cool shark!) were higher price point units. Note that the gun on the boat only stuns the shark.

These MAC vehicle sets were the bread and butter of the line and what most people remember, I personally had the police patrol unit and remember thinking it was from the future!

Even the military sets are devoted to rescue, one of the cooler things about MAC. I also that frogman set as a kid, I was obsessed with scuba diving.

We did a video on Matchbox MAC a couple of years back (Hey that rhymes!)

Toy-Ventures Magazine is our newest creation, an old-school print magazine about vintage toys! Professionally laid out and written, each issue is brimming with obscure and rare toys from companies such as Mego, Kenner, Remco, AHI, and much more. Monsters, Superheroes, Adventurers, Knock Offs, Apes, and so much more, it’s in Toy-Ventures.

Toy-Ventures Issue 4 is available now:
Ebay: https://ebay.us/XSS1X7
Plaid Stallions Store: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop/
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3d9Q0AS

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, not others. It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, and all those companies that never thought to put their name on things because….lawyers.

The post 1977 Matchbox MAC (Mobile Action Command) Catalog appeared first on PS.

Hey everyone, I’m excited to announce that I’ve finally gotten the swing of this WordPress thing, thanks to some very good friends’ advice (thank you, Robyn and Aaron).

So, I’m able to bring the Action Figure Archive  and information into a more browser-friendly format and obviously add things to them from my recent Toy-Ventures publications. This is what I love to do and I’m super excited to get back to work. Look for galleries on some of my favourite toy lines of the 70s-80s and tons from my Knock-Off Collection.

So, to kick things off, may I present the new Matchbox Fighting Furies Archive and Gallery. I honestly think this toy line is a work of art and one that needs to be celebrated, so it excited me to launch the new Archive with this one.

Matchbox Fighting Furies Gallery

Look for a new update every week.

Cheers!
bRaIn

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!

The post PlaidStallions Action Figure Archives are Back! appeared first on PS.

This week we look at a toy line that seems to always get forgotten, Seriously I get so many emails about Matchbox’s Mobile Action Command (MAC) and it’s wonderful array of fun toys, we even look at the knock offs it inspired.


Check out this Wonder MAC site:
http://www.mobile-action-command.de/eng/index.php


Link to the MAC Commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWt6G08tZKc


Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions)




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Twitter: @plaidstallions


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I recently picked up this two pack of Matchbox M.A.C figures, while i was fan of the series as a kid I have no memory of these. Its gate fold packaging with 3-D overtones is truly one of the nicest, most well thought out cards i’ve ever seen. I paid $25 for this, sometimes the best stuff is hiding in plain sight.

The post M.A.C two pack appeared first on PS.

Matchbox Mobile Action Command (MAC for short) is a largely forgotten toy line but happily remembered toy line of the 1970s. At least judging by the “What were those cool vehicle/figure sets called?” type emails i get about once a week.


It’s also a toy line I actively collect but with one caveat, I have to find it in the wild. In this marvelous digital age, I have come to savour the old fashioned hunt that toy collecting once was and about once a year, I find a MAC piece for $20. Last weekend, I discovered the air rescue unit and I’d thought I’d share some pics.


More after the jump!

All my memories of MAC stuff involved them being carded (like this set I found last year) but the earliest stuff came in these boxes. 


I remember the appeal of these being you got a figure and a futuristic vehicle for well under 5 bucks. I could usually con my grandmother into one of these every six months or so.

The lack of a backstory on these guys never deterred me, in fact it’s one of the things I now treasure about early 70s adventure toy lines. You put whatever you want on these guys.

And just to prove how awesome these toys are, Matchbox could have stopped with pilot/helicopter but no, they gave him a freaking jet pack which only adds play value!

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