Tomland Star Raiders Archive Launches

Tomland (a UK Company who was in the Marx family of companies) marketed these fun and strange 8 inch mego-like action figures under a variety of names but the best known is "Star Raiders" which were obviously meant to cash in on the renewed interest in Sci Fi thanks entirely to "Star Wars" coming on scene.

 Star Raiders hadn't been Tomland's first kick at the knock off can, they got their feet wet with "Famous of Monsters of Legend" an attempt to cash in on the AHI/LIncoln/Mego 8" Monster craze of the mid 1970s and they followed up with "Creatures from other Worlds" which apes the Mego Star Trek Aliens line.

When Star Wars came up, they merely repackaged all of these previous characters, created 8 new, somewhat copyright infringing ones and bundled them as "Star Raiders" and then later "Star Command".

 

What we have here is the beginnings of an archive, which will include every line mentioned. If you have items you'd like to add, please drop me a line. For now enjoy the complete knock off wonder that is the Tomlands Star Raiders Archive on PlaidStallions....

Other Action Figure Galleries on PlaidStallions

  

  

 

Super Joe Gallery

Costume of the Week: Ark 2

It couldn't get more obscure or joyous for me. Growing up, I LOVED Filmation's post apocalyptic series "Ark 2" with a passion. So i nearly did a spit take when I discovered this Halloween costume on the ebay.

I would have fought tooth and nail for it but I was lucky enough to snag it for $10, which makes it all the more sweeter. As an aside, I wore that mask to bed one night and got the reaction I was hoping for. It was worth it...

Monsterous Fashion

From the "I wish they made these now dept" come these cool mock horror shirts, adding funny captions to vintage horror pictures dates back to Famous Monsters magazine so it's nice to see them getting a nod here but it's pretty obvious whoever wrote the catalog copy wasn't a reader:


Which one is Dracula? Mom, did you write this one?

Halloween in the UK

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Lovin' this selection of Party masks I found in a UK toy catalog, I'm assuming those are the Ben Cooper Universal Monsters masks being sold as a set without smocks, the things you learn!

Shrink some head with Vincent Price

I never got my hands on one of these sets as a kid but I knew by the picture of Vincent Price on the box that it was a high quality item. I was also recently delighted to learn that my children already knew who Price was,  thanks to Scooby Doo and Hilarious House of Frightenstein re-runs.

Countdown to Halloween 2011

It's that magical time of year again when a consortium of blogs gather to celebrate my favourite holiday, Halloween! For the third (or is it fourth, I can't remember) straight year Plaidstallions will be taking part in the annual Countdown to Halloween along with cool pop culture blogs too numerous to list, here (but you can see it here)

Look for horror themed posts all month long including vintage Halloween costumes, new catalogs and some old favourites. I hope to even drone on about some of my favourite UHF monster  movies.

So stay tuned for spookiness!

1977 Centisible Catalog

Centsible is best known for their inflatable line of boxing gloves called "Socker Boppers" which sold for decades. The thing I remember most about these was getting the seam in the face, which hurt a whole lot when your sibling  opponent is five years older than you (what was my dad thinking?).

The company had a whole line of fun toys and definitely had a penchant for velcro. Take a peek at the 1975 Centsible catalog, sorry about some of the scans, this one had a bit of water damage.

Click Here to visit the 1977 Centsible Catalog

More Fun play

When Big Jim was new

This early ad for Big Jim immediately whisks me back to the my earliest memories of "Action Figures". I took a few breaks but the damn things have been a part of my life since then, probably better off because of it...

Lime and Pepto

An unstoppable pair of ladiesmen, an unforgettable colour combination. It's sexual TNT!

Dough Boy Love

I gotta give a shout out to my Poppin' Fresh doll, a childhood toy I still have and love for no good reason other than I equate him with deliciousness..

Tattoo Alternatives

These are the funkiest sleeves in existance.

Here come the Microbots

No that's not a misspelling, six years before Mego launched Micronauts, Kenner had tried their luck with the Microbots, a series of futuristic robots who could build their own environments. They even had their own (one shot) comic book by Gold Key!

Sadly, the line didn't take off and was quickly forgotten, the toys themselves are very hard to find these days but there is eveidence that some made it onto store shelves..

Check out the amazing world of the Microbots!

More Robots

Our love is funky

Farbs: Fantastic Car Kooks

Man, I remember these but would have never remembered what they were called. Hopefully, this brings back some happy memories for folks.

More defense for the jumpsuit lobby

Again, I would like to apologize to jumpsuits for ever doubting you and um....grrrrrrowwwl!

Primitive Lego

I still have some of my old Lego sets, my kids look at the faceless people and the less than sophisticated bricks as odd but then, I immediately  lose them for an hour playing with it.

Colouring Book Theatre: Doctor Who Press Out Book

‘Doctor Who Press Out Book" by World
It's been entirely too long since I did a colouring book theatre, this is mostly due to laziness as I've actually got some material kicking around. This fine book was gifted to me by Ray Miller, who runs the cool Micronauts fan group Micropolis Embassy.

The punch outs are long gone, part of Ray's happy childhood but the colouring pages remain.

I must attest to  being somewhat fascinated with Tom Baker/Doctor Who merchandise, a lot of it is really kind of gloomy and unkidlike. The BBC has a weird reputation about licensing and it shows.

The cover is really nicely illustrated although it's a bit dark looking for something being marketed to children, note the Lizard:

More after the jump.

1978 Milton Bradley Electronics Catalog

In 1978, Milton Bradley who had already been known for board games for well over 100 years,  brought the world some inventive and memorable electronic offerings in the form of Simon and Star Bird.

While primitive by today's standards in the late 70s, these were high tech and hours of fun.

Click Here to visit the 1978 Milton Bradley Electronics Catalog

I just love my job!

Frank's over enthusiasm for the arrival of the Monday morning train eventually grated on his fellow commuters. He was beaten with brief cases one particularly gloomy February morning...

Puff the Magic Dragon-Mobile?

Also doubles as a fantastic bong..

Dial "P" for pants

I'm not sure where you put the coin or exactly what you speak into but that buckle is ready to take international calls.

PS Ain't nothing sexier than a woman in a CN rail cap!

She's Alive!

Walking Barbie is a new one to me, although it makes perfect sense. I wonder if we'll see this return?

Evel's Crash Car Today

Recently I got an email from a fellow by the name of Jerry asking about Evel Knievel's famous Crash car. I get a lot of emails (I don't have any Stretch Armstrong's for sale, sorry) and just assumed he was another interested toy collector. Which was a total mistake because while Jerry likes toys he's into the real deal!   More after the jump (which is over 14 school buses):

1980 Knickbocker Superheroes Catalog

Knickerbocker was always known for plush novelties but in the late 70s, they decided to enlist some heavy hitters, in the form of the hottest TV and movie superstars like the Incredible Hulk and Mr. Spock.

Knickerbocker chose some of the more popular TV and movie characters to captilize on for some interesting plush toys and construction sets.

Click Here to visit the 1980 Knickerbocker Superheroes Catalog

More Superheroes and Star Trek

Now Showing at Home

One of my earliest memories is watching a film strip of "Charlie Chan and the Chan Clan" on my neighbour's basement wall, it's a pretty happy one. I'm surprised I haven't got a large collection of "Give A Show" type projectors as a result..

This Dude Wins

There is nothing you have that this man cannot talk you out of.

Gramma loves you

I've seen these Gramma and Granpa dolls in many catalogs, so somebody must have bought them. I just don't understand the appeal, not that I have anything aganst grandpeople, far from it but it just seems kind of weird to have a cradle for elderly people.

International Order of Hamburglars

"Robble Robble mutha*%$ers, what's happenin'"

Kidco Silver Warriors/Space Defenders Catalog

Kidco (a pretty logical name for a toy company) made some pretty unassuming toys during the 1970s, the most interesting items they produced in 1979 are not one but two different lines of Shogun Warrior inspired toys.

Sliver Warriors and Space Defenders are the things you find at toy shows or in lots and have no idea as to what they are. Hopefully this catalog solves some childhood and/or toy collector mysteries

Visit the 1979 Kidco Catalog or suffer a flying fist!

More Spacey Goodness

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Goodbye Summer

Button up Fellas!

My favourite season begins!