Monday, June 16, 2025

Jumbo Smurf

Smurf, FIBA, Italy, 1983
 
One of Belgian's best exports are Peyo's little blue Smurfs. These were part of my youth, of my son's youth (I think some even disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean during one of our trips to the beach...).

Read more about them here.

With normal sized compadre...

Friday, June 13, 2025

Takara's Biotron - The Micronaut robot

With a micronaut inside !
 
Biotron, 1977, MEGO (Takara)
Hong Kong












Now that there is a Super7 remake of this guy, I'd like you to show you the original toy. 

Not very known here in Europe, but he had the support of the Micronauts Comic books in the USA.


1982 Micronauts issue #48

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Bandai... the early years

Grandizer, Bandai, Japan, 1970's

Yes, you had to paint these...

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Before the cell-phone

Chatter Telephone, Fisher Price, Belgium, 1961

Generations have played with this toy... Later versions came with a plastic chassis instead of wood w/paper litho. This thing is so iconic it even had a part in the Toy Story franchise...

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Nono - modern

Nono, High Dream (HL PRO), 2003, China

This one comes with a trapdoor in the belly where he can keep his "petits clous" ("little nails" - favorite snack)

Monday, June 9, 2025

The Charawheels Gerry Anderson collection - HotWheels

FAB 1, Mattel / Bandai, 2001, China

SPV, Mattel / Bandai, China, 2001

Stingray, Mattel / Bandai, China, 2001

These models were obviously made for the Japanese market only as seen by the packaging. But these are awesome ! Much better proportions than anything Matchbox did (their FAB one is much to short and square). It is a pitty they did not sell these in Europe, except for parrallel imports from specialized shops.

These vehicles came out with a number of other completely Japanese Super Hero vehicles under the Charawheels collection.

Read more about it here.

SPV (Spectrum Patrol Vehicle) out of package

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Robo who ?

Japan
Robocon GA14-R, Bandai, 1999



Looking for cockroaches ? 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Reading material needed ?

The drawings were quite desastrous, and the storylines way more crude than what we saw on TV... but we just did not care... we were happy.

Special Ulysse 31
BOTP, Le Piège
Receuil Capitaine Flam


Monday, May 19, 2025

Sunday, May 18, 2025

The smell of vintage blisters...

Klaatu, Kenner, Hong Kong, 1983

I do tend to actually play with most of my toys, so the concept of keeping one in the packaging is a little strange to me, but this was a double...

Click here to see what Wookieepedia says of this character.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Another fin !



Windup tin futuristic (Tatra ?) car,
Technofix, 1930, Germany

In a period where most of the German toy production were making reproductions of guns and tanks, this little beauty came around. The metal narrow wheels seem to indicate this toy ran on some circuit or tracks, tipical for Technofix toys.

It has a certain air of a Tatra 700 with a different grille. 

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Long necked Spidey ?

Spiderman (?), China, 2010 ?

No people, it is not IA. It is a toy I found at my usual hunting ground (Feira da ladra in Lisbon).

Either the designer of this thing smoked something he should not have or there has been a crossover between a spider and a giraffe. No one will never know.

Strangely enough, it takes me back to my childhood super hero style. The major amusement park in the Netherlands, de Efteling, has a similar figure called Langnek...


Read all of it here.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Galactic Boom spaceships

Galactic Boom, Pedro Miras, Spain, 1980's
Galactic Boom, Pedro Miras, Spain, 1980's


 

Monday, May 5, 2025

Super Kawai

Supergirl + Superman, Burger King, China, 2024

 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

1950's ? Bats...

1950 Batmobile, Corgi, China, 2004

Ahhh... fins 'n fenders !

Monday, April 21, 2025

Buck Roger's ride... remember Twiki ?

Buck Rogers Space Fighter, Fleetwood, Hong Kong, 1979
 

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Keeping your audio tapes the pirate way ?

 (thx Didier...)

Captain Harlock audio tape box, Japan, 1970's

(also existed in yellow)
Toei Animation

Sunday, March 23, 2025

NP 5357 ?

Atomic Robot Men, Schylling, China, 1990

These are repro's, but boy do I like the design of this toy. Never came in blue in the past though... Vitamin D deficiency ? 

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Diapolion Sofubi's

Diaplon 3-pack, Bullmark, Japan, 1970's

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Making 8 sounds... the pirate way

8 sounds laser pistol, China, 1980's ? 

Well of course it's a bootleg... it's the pirate version... got it ? 

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Key-powered Robocon ?

Robocon windup, Popy, Japan, 1970's