PLAYMOBIL DSE-1 DEEP SPACE EXPORER

I was impressed with the simple space station that was also a lander.  But I wanted something to be bigger and more realistic.  About 10 years ago, I came up with a design that was inspired by the model spacecraft USS PILGRIM.  Using an old Playmospace station, I used as a hub that also had cylinder habitats that connected as well as escape capsules for the crew, should there be an emergency. Safety first in Space...ALWAYS.  My design also included a stem that contained fuel and oxygen cells as well as water. All in all, I thought it to be very realistic and within our grasp of being able to accomplish the mission of space exploration.

Cut to 10 years later , it seems Playmobil was inspired by my design and kicked it up a notch.  To say I am thrilled is an understatement. Finally, someone at Playmobil saw what I was trying to accomplish and took it a step further.  I had sent Playmobil designs and suggestions and the reasoning behind my ideas because I was disappointed that they were playing it safe and not truly stepping up their creativity and showing what they could really accomplish.  Hans Beck has always been a personal hero and inspiration.  This is just an incredible looking toy playset that was really well thought out.  Obviously there were changes but there are more similarities as well.  I have written to Playmobil to at least get an acknowledgment out of it, maybe a few free toys for my contribution to this incredible line.  One can hope. My design for the Rover was also well received

RETURN TO THE MOON....MAJOR MATT MASON IS BACK!

With the recent passing of Astronaut Niel Armstrong, I took a long hard look at what I really loved about the space program and all the cool reality-based stuff that had come out, especially MAJOR MATT MASON.  I know there is a movie that is coming, probably by the end of next year or year after.  Mattel recently put out a MAJOR MATT WRESTLING BUDDY--big stuffed doll and in his standard moon suit to boot.   SDCC 2012, Mattel had ALL vintage Major Matt Mason toys in a display case.  Considering that Hasbro's TRANSFORMERS and GI JOE had movies to help support the line, Im hoping this is Mattel's way of seeing MAJOR MATT is BACK.  Questions that hit my mind are A) Will Mattel just re-issue the classic bendy body w/helmet and new head and all the classic toys it came with?  B) Will Mattel come up with a new and improved version based on the old or have the look and feel of the old MMM and some new and interesting vehicles?  C) Will they do both a classic line and a 3 3/4 line?  D) Will they have playsets and vehicles?  If so, what should Mattel be shooting for?

Here are my thoughts

A) CLASSIC LINE IS A MUST--Using the same body, 4 different colors (white, red, yellow, blue) , 5 if you want a silver version, the same heads should be used and come with a helmet w/visor.  Why?  Nostalgia and folks that remembered MMM back in the day want the same as it was in yesteryear.  Vehicles, I would hold off on unless Mattel would do something small like a sit down track sled or accessories card like they did in the day---keep it small, but they can easily charge 12-14$ MSRP and make a killing.

B) 3 3/4 figures would definately work, again same body-I would go with what Hasbro is doing with Joes/SW but keep the articulation a bit simple and focus on detail and playability.  This leaves Mattel a chance to make some great vehicles ---what vehicles I have no idea, but I know I would love to see a LUNAR LANDER, COMMAND MODULE W/SERVICE MODULE (Make sure they can connect) and a ROVER of some sort to start.  

C) Yes, DO BOTH!

D) God I hope so.  If I was MATTEL, I would be shooting for the nostalgia factor and base everything that are thinking of doing on reality based vehicles and sensible playsets.

Vehicles-

-Some sort of Lunar Lander with detachable ascent stage--#1) Its classic and its based on the Apollo landings, I know MMM lives and works on the moon, but this set could also be used to help educate kids about SPACE and MOON EXPLORATION, especially from the beginning.  Also this could be sold thru Discovery Channel/History Channel as well as NASA and NATL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM and other SPACE MUSEUMS.  It has never been done other than on a very small scale, 1/48 I think.   Allow for two astronauts, opening/closing hatch, compartment for storage and some minor accessories and lights/sounds if you really want all the bells and whistles. Below is the incredible PAT LeBLANC's Lunar Lander, you cant tell me this wouldn't work, its just too damn incredible, if Mattel could pull anything close to this off, I'm IN, ALL IN!

-Command Module w/Service Module---A capsule may not work here but I like the COMMAND MODULE to connect to the LUNAR LANDER, but with this connection, I wanted the COMMAND/SERVICE Module to be able to be a playset unto itself and possibly connect to other Command/Service modules via a multi docking port that can be sold with it.  Inside can be opened by opening a side panel similar to the old MMM TRANSPORT  but with small connectors for feet on inside and outside, an umblical line, hatch to open and close, duty stations,  stand up sleeping bags.  The idea is to turn this playset into a component piece to make a Lunar Station. 

BATTLE OF HOTH

 Seriously?  Like I need to write anything else?  My favorite part of STAR WARS TESB.

Flight of the EBON HAWK

Coming out of the game STAR WARS:KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, I was astonished to see a Millennium Falcon type vehicle called the EBON HAWK.  It was antiquated but grand in one fell swoop.  She appeared to be a cargo ship much like her descendant sister ship the Millenium Falcon.  IF ONLY Hasbro would do this line, I would ask for nothing more.  The characters and vehicles are as diverse as the first STAR WARS movie A NEW HOPE.  It is creativity in this vein that keeps me ever wondering about the possibilities and potentials of anything. This particular ship is based on the original Kenner sized MF and is made mostly from cardboard, the flight stabilizers on the sides were 4 lids from chinese takeout containers, the top opens to seat 2 pilots and 2 passengers and a couple of droids, there is a turret on top, the engines are from button lights with the plastic lens painted yellow.

Return of the MAN FROM ATLANTIS

Back in the 1970s, there was this really cool show called MAN FROM ATLANTIS, Patrick Duffy was the hero of the story, a fish out of water, possilby the last citizen of ATLANTIS, he had webbed hands and feet and could swim at great depths.  What was just as cool was the submarine, THE CETACEAN, it had 4 bathyspheres and could reach uncharted depths, during MFA's first adventure, he thrawted an evil scientist and captured his incredible craft.  I have never seen clear pictures of it and I decided to make a JOEVERSE toy out of one of my childhood dreams.

THE CETACEAN--original film model 

My CETACEAN will be posted shortly.

My CETACEAN build was made by using things that I commonly see and can acquire at low cost.  My trip to the local PetSmart garnered the 12 inch plastic hamster spheres and you could open them at the top/bottom (easy access for lighting and what nots) but they have slits on the side, but no worries, black painters tape hides that pretty well. My sub is about 5 feet tall, with 5 inch plastic tubing in between each sphere and an engine mount for the back end.   I want to try making a USS DISCOVERY with the same materials but that is for another time. My goal was to make this action figure friendly but guess that is not the case so far but Im working on it. 

USS FLAGG 2.0

The GI JOE USS FLAGG is the largest playset known to all toys.  Its simplicity and excessive 1980s style all in one fell swoop.  If you had one of these as a child, you were the envy of the neighborhood and very popular with your friends.  I never had a USS FLAGG, but I have one now and I'm impressed but also underwhelmed.  I had heard for years how incredible it was....and it was an incredibly large pieces of plastic that held together by clips on a somewhat sturdy frame, not a hull, a frame ...like for a house.  Looking at large aircraft carrier models via many a trip to our nation's museums, I wanted to one day see something grand, something that said..THIS IS NAVAL POWER, albeit  GI JOE NAVAL POWER.


What I do like about it--
It's an aircraft carrier, its huge and it ignites imagination like a match to gasoline spilled in the driveway.  It is a huge diorama-ish playset.  Being there with Ace and landing on the flight deck after a grueling but successful dogfight with Rattlers, You and Ace make the most impossible landing with one engine flameout and losing fuel fast, you have one chance ....and b/c you are Joe enough...you make it.  You live to fight another day and your aircraft is repaired by best that GI JOE has to offer.



What I dont like it--
It is basically a 6 inch elevated coffee table--which what it was called at Hasbro "the coffee table"

Its static, it wont and cant be moved unless you placed it on a very large table with wheels. 
You cannot really store underneath it, unless it hits the 6 inch tall criteria, granted storing a KILLER WHALE hovercraft would be awesome but that just will not happen, the waterline for this beast is very low.
Flight deck can only fit TWO skystrikers at a time, 3 if you really want to push it....wtf...its gotta carry more than that.

Because of these very reasons, I started to make my own.  I actually made quite a few, but there are two versions that are my biggest focus, a DIY FLAGG that would require just the decals and the Superstructure, b/c the FLIGHT DECK and the Hull will be made by me from everyday items found at HOME DEPOT/LOWES type stores.

 
Flight deck is cut out from a 4ft x 8 ft wood plank-1/4 inch to 1/2 inch---your call, then painted black or dark grey, lines and numbers stenciled in.  Obtain a rubbermaid diy shelving system, I chose the 2ft by 3 ft base, two tops, two bottoms, 8 pillars--set them end to end and you now have your hull frame.  These shelves can be secured to wood 2x4s , with rollers inserted into the 2x4s on the bottom side and the shelves secured to the topside.  Then apply the flight deck.and secure with plastic ties or bolts of your choosing or even glue.










The Second FLAGG aka as MUSEUM FLAGG is huge.  Its 16 feet long and 4 foot wide. 

Granted, its still a work in progress, but I think she is coming along just fine.