Reader Koestenbraunstar commented this morning on his new Pon Pon Space Car toy.
It related to a question I once posed in a post: "Is Microman Driving the Pon Pon car?"
Now I'm in no way a Microman or Micronauts expert. I'm not even a fan really as the whole line passed me by.
However I do appreciate a good sci-fi toy range whatever it is and I'm always interested in knockoffs.
So it was gratifying to hear from a Mircroman fan that the Space Pon Pon Car fitted right into his collection.
This got me thinking. Are there more Microman-Micronauts knockoffs? To find any I thought I'd best bone up on the genuine stuff first so I read this excellent summary on That Figures.
Armed with basic info [always risky!] I set off to look for more Micro-knockoffs.
Browsing my old pal the Space Pon Pon car again I found what appears to be a colour variation of the pilot. Rather than lime green this fella's dark green. Is this darker green more Micromanish - or less?
Can a genuine Micronauts figure fit in it cuckoo-like?
Oddly enough this search took me very close to home as there's a Space Pon Pon car available in Whitby on the Yorkshire coast [unless its gone that is. The Space Car, not Whitby!]
Next up on this voyage of piracy was an old friend too and something about which I once asked 'What the Hell is it?" in my Ugly Space Toys run of posts.
Reader Lance knew and said at the time. Yep, its a Microman bootleg alright and here it is, the Climbleader Pioneer No.1 Car. Has anyone got one with a Microman or Micronauts figure sat in it?
The white trailer behind the Climbleader really calls to mind the yellow 02 trailer in the old Playmates Space Station line pictured below. Do you agree?
For some reason the name of the Climbleader Pioneer No.1 Car reminded me of this old Lucky toy, Lunar Probe No.1 I featured on MC 10 years ago! It's probably just the No.1! Doh!
OK, getting back to Micro matters proper, I dug a little deeper into the Micro-soil and found the Climbleader is in fact a knockoff an a genuine Microman vehicle by Takara, the Climbleader Police Keeper shown below. So there it is!
My foray into the microverse of false idols took me once again to a question I posed on MC 3 years ago. I'll re-phrase it for the thread of this post - can the Fisher Price X-Ray Man and Woman be classed as Microman relatives?
As a reminder here are the X-Ray couple
Further fishing in the Micro-sea inevitably brings you to Denys. That's Denys Fisher and his Strawberry Fayre line of Cyborgs and Mutons. These really do look Micronauty but I couldn't see them on That Figure's summary, so I ask you guys, are they related to Microman and Micronauts?
Here's a Muton with his rubber gloves on [he's about to do the Micro-dishes of course!]
And so, this particular voyage into Micro-mismanagement is over.
Have you ant Micro-knockoffs or bootlegs or indeed Micronauts themselves you would like to see pictured on MC? All welcome.
All that remains for me to do is introduce the original Microman in my opinion,
Robert the Robot from Fireball XL5!
[I wonder what colour the original translucent body was?]
From what I understand,Cyborg is based on a Japanese action figure called Henshin.These 12 inch figures were the inspiration for the tiny Microman figures, which then went on to become Micronauts in the U.S.,Micronauti in Europe,and other names such as Microtimer,Interchangeables ,and Lords of Light in other parts of the world.Part of what attracted me to Micronauts was that translucent quality of the Time Traveler.Mix in the shiny chrome metal and all that futuristic geometric design, and I was sold!I've often said I wish I could live in a Micronaut's world( Without the war of course).It's what I envision the "future" to look like.I would accept the Adventure People figures as Micronauts.I already mix Micronauts with Metalman,Shogun Warriors,Henshin Cyborg, Tomy Mighty Max,and a few other similar Japanese toy lines.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you now what youre talking about Bri! Fascinating stuff and thanks for info. Would you say that the pilot of the Space Pon Pon Car is a Micronaut?
DeleteMicroman or Microman rip off
ReplyDeleteThanks Bri. I thought it was.
DeleteI am bringing out Micronauts right now, but the pictures probably wont arrive til sometime tomorrow.Keep in mind my days are 5 hours behind yours!
DeleteTime waits for no man or no Microman!
DeleteLuckily I have the day off,so the pics are in your mailbox.Enjoy!
DeleteYay, thanks Bri! Enjoy your day off!
DeleteI would never thought that I will find here a Microman stuff (even if bootleg)
ReplyDeleteToday is really good Sunday
Yep Ran, I'm branching out! well, just a little! Glad you liked it.
DeleteI can find orginal Microman from 2nd or 3rd generation for around 4 Euro, but those prices are in Japanese only on-line shops (don't ship outside of Japan) but my firend lives there so I can grab some if you want.
DeleteThanks Ran. The blog's open for Micronauts but my small wallet isn't! I'm saving for the last bits of Project SWORD toys for my collection! Thanks anyway. Very kind.
DeleteNo Problem I will get some stuff for you and for Hugh Walter in my next order from Japan (but I choose the cheapest shipping so it takes 2 months to come to my place)
DeleteAlso, send me email if you can
DeleteHi Ran, I cannot afford to buy any Micronauts from Japan I am afraid. Sorry, Woodsy
DeleteI am NOT selling them
DeleteI can give them as gift, you know most bigger figure/toy reviewers gets packages from viewers and here will be the same. I give packages (I buy more stuff than I have place for) to people I like and RESPECT for what's they do.
Think about that as gift/package for unboxing video
Thats very kind of you, Ran. Woodsy needs all the support he can get.
DeleteI am mostly in toys/model kits from 80's and 90's and bit of early 00's.
DeleteFor me it is normal, to support blogs/groups of people who do what I like. Some people takes donations, patreons, free gift packages.
Also it makes ME feel good, the feeling when you see stuff you send for someone and it makes that person happy - it also makes ME happy (and Proud, so I can brag a bit about that to others). Also gives me a possibility to "shovel" my interests into someone else so I can talk with new people more about stuff I like.
Sorry Ran, I misunderstood. Yes of course, donations are always welcomed at Moonbase Central and often become prizes in one of our occassional competitions as well as being photographed for MC and discussed by our readers.
Delete