MORE PLASTIC EXPLORERS

BHS Explorer 12 is a firm favourite on Moonbase. I've covered it several times and Bill B is a keen fan too having helped another site devoted to the line.

Never bored of Explorers and their relatives here's a few more!

First up is this mystery. We've featured this red Blue Box monster before but its name is unknown.

Other than this new picture I found of a green version I'm none the wiser regarding its name. I understand that underneath it says Blue Box Patent Pending.

What is it?

Here's a toy new to MC i think, the M-12 Explorer. More akin to the Galgo line than BHS it's still related I think. The 12 certainly connects them and refers to the number of wheels.

Its has tons of actions and features and came in 3 colours.

I can't see a maker's name other than the model number HK 208.

The cars on the front box art are interesting. I recognise a black Pontiac Trans-Am in the Explorer's claw but not the other. Which toys are they?

Anyone know any more?

Next up is another newbie. This is a relatively modern Japanese Space Crawler. It has 14 wheels and a remote control.

At the rear of the blister pack is a leaflet depicting the vehicle - coloured a sort of military green-yellow - in action.

Here's the same vehicle in blue [top right] in this montage from Unusuallocomotion.com

Having perused You Tube as well here's an Explorer - style articulated truck. Again its more in the Monster style but still recognisbly Exploreresque.

Here's two stills of the same make of truck again from unusuallocomotion.com. It says FAUN on the cab. Is that a real make of trucks?



The picture above of the striped monster brings me to Galgo proper. An Argentinian toy company, Galgo released several different multi-wheeled monster-style explorers called Multiruedas or multiple wheels.

Here's the pale blue version with the make's distinctive cab-roof gear-stick.

You Tube offers us this short action clip as well.

Then there's the red version.

With a little video action as well to finish.

Another Explorer range was the Star Explorer. These had grabber arms and came in window boxes or loose from a shop display box. 

This one is Neptune in purple.

This is heading away from the BHS Explorer style and moving more towards a monster/SHADO2 design, which many multi-wheeled toys had.

I love the features:

Super Friction [ wow - super!], Striking Colour and just plain Awesome!

Finally we close with an old favourite and a definate relative of the BHS style Explorer 12 toys.

This is the Mars Mission by Tandy Radio Shack.

The toy was always dark purple as far as I know and battery operated.

It came in two different boxes.

One.

Two, the GO version.

Mars Mission was a cool Explorer.

The maker's mark for Tandy Radio Shack appears to have been a sticker on the base.

Can anyone supply some short video of this toy actually working?

Have you any explorer toys?