Last month I had the pleasure of meeeting up with fellow SWORD and SpaceX fans Wotan and Mike B. One of the topics we discussed was the Miniature Apollo Exploration Set [pictured here courtesy of Mike B.] A beautiful set both full of SpaceX lookalikes and its own attractive vehicles and features like the orange rocket. I have been trying to complete a set for some time and one of serious matters we looked at was a full and comprehensive list of the set's contents. We agreed that the rather blurry box art doesn't really help particularly with the smaller items like the various astronauts and aliens. We had a look at the list in Playset magazine, which may indeed be the definitive one. In the meantime Mike has kindly supplied these snaps of his set, which is in super shape and complete with its moonscape play-mat. Does anyone have their own version of the box contents?
Mike has also included this gallery of his nifty Apollo Moon Exploring carded sets by Imperial 1970. Does anyone else collect Apollo Moon Exploring, Apollo Exploration Set or any of the many varitions? Pictures and observations welcomed. Do you think that they compare well with SpaceX?
I wish I had a good list, and would be very interested to see the one from Playset mentioned in your bloglet. I believe I own a complete set of the contents excepting a few figures and the play mat (wonderful to see that!). I've so far based that assumption on the Ward's catalogue picture I have - this set was a Ward's exclusive in the US.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't see in Mike's picture is the blue stand for the Apollo command module, the aerial to the plated piece of equipment that looks like an opened toolbox, and I have 3 domes (in two sizes, where the two larger ones fit together to make what could be a ball-shaped wheel). I also have two versions of the rocket - one yellow moulded in one piece as per the box lid, the other orange with a separately moulded nose cone (missing on mine).
I only have the box top surface, no sides, but afaik there's no mention of Imperial Toys (from LA) on it anywhere?
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Paul
These little jewels look great! In particular, the set that appears to be a 'mission control' (red & chrome with 3 radio dishes up top) is a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteI love these toys. Although I would regard then as vastly inferior to Spacex, both in terms of design and production, they are an essential piece of my childhood. I only ever came across them in the blue LP window box sets as a kid, one large vehicle, a couple of rocks, orange rocket and a spaceman. The big set shown here mostly cropped up in the states, but i do recall reeing it in a catalogue as a kid along with the Miniflex Space Safari set.
ReplyDeleteSad to say I don't have the blue stand, Paul. It Isn't even in the bubblepack version.
ReplyDeleteAnd I must admit up till now I've never noticed something missing from the toolbox thingy.
As to domes, I only have the one as you can see. Don't think I've come across those others you mention.
CS, I, too love the radar control - first one I got to restart my collection.
I do think they're a lot of fun, though. We all had a few of these toys when we were kids and like Wote says an essential part of childhood.
Afaik the blue stand only came in this boxed set, Mike, unless LP added it to some of their own sets as well. Possibly the same is true of the aerial - I'll need to check what pics I have of Imperial cards to see if that was included. And I don't think the domes ever appeared on those cards either (I'm at work so can't check straightaway...). What has me wondering is whether there was another small one other than the one I have.
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Paul
actually, the blue stand appears in LP boxed sets with the LEM/Apollo in them. Thats where I got mine back in the day, a four window boxed set with the usual array of rocks, orange rockets and the red/green bubble car.
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