Comments on: Missing a Trend.

By: CantinaDan

CantinaDan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:36:41 +0000

Hasbro did make those “Complete Galaxy” sets. The container was a planet and the inside was a mini playset with 3 3/4″ scale figure. ie:
http://www.rebelscum.com/POTF2cgyoda.asp

By: MisterPL

MisterPL — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:08:23 +0000

Julius is correct. Galoob was the granddaddy of micro-scale playsets. I always wished Hasbro would have looked at some of the truly innovative designs Galoob offered and simply scaled them up for the 3 3/4″ line, especially after they bought Galoob. Now they hold the Micro Machines brand and it seems like they don’t know what to do with it. From Micro Machines to Action Fleet, these were some fun toys!

By: JuliusMarx

JuliusMarx — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:06:52 +0000

But Galoob was making the micro sets. I think they were one of the first to put the scenes in little heads with their SW line. And then they even did a micro-micro line of heads that was just a single figure inside of a little version of their own head.

By: Jason "Plastic Soul" Lenzi

Jason "Plastic Soul" Lenzi — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:12:15 +0000

Yes, I believe they did. I just don’t seem to remember micro sets being on my ‘radar’ until ID4 or so.

By: Jason "Plastic Soul" Lenzi

Jason "Plastic Soul" Lenzi — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:09:58 +0000

Hey JM! I did indeed mention Galoob, along with some other fine folks working on the same stuff: “I should say at this point that I’m not being fair to other companies that made similar sets back in the day. Kenner did an amazing run for the Batman and Superman animated series, Galoob did wonders with Star Wars, Toy Biz made several Spider-Man sets, and a UK company called Bluebird made my favorite of the bunch, a Doctor Who Dalek micro play set.” I didn’t start with Micro Machines because to me they’re completely different animals, though you could see where the micro sets were influenced by them. Oh, and because the micro sets are cooler!

By: Jim Abell

Jim Abell — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:29:53 +0000

Ah, but didn’t Mattel (or, rather, BlueBox) make the first *hit* micro playsets with Mighty Max and the original Polly Pocket lines?

By: JuliusMarx

JuliusMarx — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:37:15 +0000

I feel like you HAVE to mention Galoob in this blog. If Trendmasters saw far it’s because they stood on the backs of giants… What Galoob did with their Micro Machines, specifically their Star Wars line set the bar for all the other companies you mention.

But great blog!

By: vancleef9000

vancleef9000 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:12:51 +0000

Mattel just did this with Secret Saturdays, they look great. I’m not sure how into it collectors would be but kids would probably love it.

By: Hourman

Hourman — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:34:37 +0000

I have a Trendmasters Tarzan on my desk that still does the Tarzan yell 15 years later on the original battery. That’s some kinda quality.

By: demoncat

demoncat — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:49:24 +0000

nice post. the venture brothers would be cool to include min play sets for all the action fans could recreate. esically with the venture compound and the monarch cocoon lair. and flash gordon there is so much cool stuff that could be done that way. though the hard sell would be getting retailers to carry them since they hate play sets and vehicles.

By: Jeff Cope

Jeff Cope — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:39:45 +0000

I’d actually dug the two packs of the smaller scaled figured that Trendmasters did. No idea where mine disappeared to. But, I’ve I’ve recently going back and reading older pulp sci fi I’ve been jonesin’ to track those down again.

I’d love to see Bif Bang Pow! do something along those lines with Flash Gordon moreso than the mini-playsets. A set of Micro Machines-like spacecraft would be awesome too!

By: Tanner

Tanner — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:19:42 +0000

Great blog! I thought I was the only person who remembered the Tarzan line. If it weren’t for those toys, I probably would have never gained an interest in John Carter. I’m still trying to find their Tars Tarkas figures.

By: Tony C

Tony C — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:22:22 +0000

nice blog! You guys have to make “Venture Bros.” minis! You could do the Monarch’s cocoon, the Venture compound, Spider-Skull Island; the list goes on and on.
Now I’m going to be obsessing about this all day. Thanks for that. )

By: Lt. Clutch

Lt. Clutch — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:06:27 +0000

The one thing I’ll never forgive Trendmasters for is not giving us an anatomically correct Mimi Rogers figure through their Lost In Space movie line. But on the other hand, that sounds more like a job for Hot Toys or Sideshow. ;-P