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Yes, just what is wrong with the Star Bird? I ask this question as this space toy has virtually never been mentioned on this blog, which seems odd now I think about it. Does it represent a nadir in space toys? A break from the classics of the Sixties and early Seventies? A herald of the commercially-controlled video games pandemic?
Hard to say. Made by Milton Bradley in the late Seventies, it looks like it has everything. Its a big toy with detachable parts and sound effects. What's not to like? A quick google and I can see it's a very popular toy covered on many other blogs and websites. Just not here! There are colour variations, different names, companion toys like the Intruder and Big Trak and custom jobs. In fact one site declares it to be the best space toy ever! Perhaps for some kids it was and is their Zero-X!
Despite finding several Star Birds at Car Boots in the Nineties, in their distinctively huge flat boxes, a possible clue as to its invisibility here at MC is the fact that I never had one as a kid. By the late Seventies I was already in my late teens. Perhaps this is the crux of it. Moonbase readers may just have been too 'old' for the Star Bird for it to mean anything to them.
What do you think readers? Are we simply not the Star Bird generation?
At the time, being a Star Wars purist, I took an immediate and total dislike to it, partly because of its obvious plagiarism of the Y-Wing, but mostly because it didn't do anything!
ReplyDeleteAt the time, I was into Micronauts and star wars toys, which had interchangeable parts, firing missiles, action figures... Star Bird makes a few noises. Hmmm. And the base set was cardboard, a definite cheapo no-no. Ok, there were a couple of plastic bits to clip onto the base and a small buggy, which I might not turn away, but the whole thing was symptomatic of the new breed of electronic tat that moved away from dangerous firing missiles and swallowable small parts.
Even the black Invader failed to improve on the design, just re-using a shorter fuselage and existing tooling. A definite crash and burn into the lacklustre Big Trak, which was only partially rescued by having a nice futuristic trailer. Space toys in Us and Uk would not peak again until the launch of Colecos Starcom, some years later. Now that is a good toy!
I can vaguely remember it being advertised on TV a couple of Christmases maybe? Other's were the Roc'em/Sock'em robots and "TCR...Total Control Racing!" along with that awful thing that looked like a UFO and had coloured buttons you had to press?
ReplyDeleteA neighbor had the Starbird with the giant cardboard base which was not really impressive imo. I ended up with the Intruder and while it was ok, it suffered the same scale issues and the rear "landing strut" was actually a handle to trigger the laser guns. It got delegated to COBRA as it seemed something they would fly against the hordes of GI Joe, plus it is in decent scale for them as a vehicle.
ReplyDeleteStarcom toys were awesome but their unique scale was a drawback to me. During those years I was more focused on 1/18 scale. Which is why my Captain Power Dread Jet was also part of COBRA's arsenal.
Captain Power, another cool line! Is the Powerjet still going?
ReplyDeleteIt is however the XT-7 belongs to my friend who was my roommate at that time. My Phantom Striker is still going strong. It sits not too far from one of my favorite space ship toys, the Brittania II from Lensman.
ReplyDeleteCap Power was a much more intelligent use of electronics and knocked Starbird into a cocked hat. Ive got some of the figures and a vhs tape. Some pics of your Phantom and any other items would be most appreciated!
ReplyDeleteStarbird influenced TRANSFORMERS
ReplyDeletehttps://tformers.com/daily-prime-robot-master-optimus-prime-autobot-warship-ark/41622/news.html
https://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-titanium-3-inch-robot-masters-autobot-warship-ark/14878/
A different STARBIRD
https://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/1980/star_bird
thanks. very interesting stuff about the starbird.
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