Another toy I never had was and is the lustrous SpaceX MOLAB [or Mobile Laboratory] by Pippin Rovex Tri-ang pictured above [courtesy of Ferryman]. Its a really futuristic-looking vehicle, more or less a space car and was probably first illustrated for the general public by Alex Schomberg on a Rocket Stories magazine cover.
I've never seen the front of the backing card for the Triang MOLAB, only the back, so instead I've photoshopped in an image of the rarer US Golden Astronaut boxed version in their Deluxe Die-Cast Chassis sub-range I found on an American auction site years ago. Like a number of SpaceX toys, the MOLAB had a metal baseplate or 'die-cast chassis' as an added gimmick to tempt us kids! [I wonder if this makes them easier to repair?]
The small side missiles look green in the picture. For some reason I thought they were yellow but the green looks great. I bet they were the first things to go bye bye!
Has anyone got a carded or boxed MOLAB?
I got the Spacex II carded version. The missiles are lime green, essentially the same ones we see with the likes of Supply Force Mercury. I got mine in 1974 along with the LAMA, both vehicles have a sturdy die cast base and are considerably larger than most other Spacex ground vehicles.
ReplyDeleteAnd judging by the combination of warped corner and astronaut pose, I believe that's the exact GA boxed Molab I have. :)
ReplyDeleteBest -- Paul
Ha ha! Great stuff. Between the two of you you've got all the MOLABs! The boxed example is the only one I've ever seen and I don't think I've seen a carded one! Does the chassis unscrew? What's underneath?
ReplyDeleteChassis is secured with a sing screw. Square diecast base fits neatly into a recess, theres nothing underneath. Base is moulded with spacex logo
ReplyDeleteSo what was the attraction for kids? And what's a sing screw? Just thought, where the bases interchangeable with other SpaceX die casts?
ReplyDeleteI think Bill meant a single screw, since indeed there's just one. First Molab I got has a plain metal plate without the logo btw.
ReplyDeleteBest --- Paul
Forgot your other question: no, bases are specific to each toy. I believe (most) Stage 1 Spacex has a metal plate inside as a weight, which would also be specific to each model, so having a metal chassis makes it easier to produce (one component less) and looks like better quality to the buyer as well.
ReplyDelete-- Paul