Mini Space Toys - Mexico - Pt 3 Mini Space Station #1 Light Green SP

At 1.75" (4.44cm) W x .375" (.952cm) H, this is a pretty small space station. This toy has the word 'MEXICO" molded into the bottom. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Shown here with a GIANT 25mm spaceman for comparison

Mini Space Toys - Mexico - Pt 1

This next series features nine space toys from Mexico. Molded in soft plastic and measuring 1.25" (3.17cm) - 1.75" (4.44cm) long/high on average, I don't know if these were cereal premiums, or if they were available as a set or perhaps as part of a larger series of space toys??? Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Triang SpaceX Nuclear Pulse Space Station

The second series of Triang SpaceX toys has the following sets:

SPACE STATION
17 Nuclear Pulse
4 Rocket Ship "Hawk"
5 Supply Force "Mercury"
6 Reconnaissance 2
7 Needle Probe

Of these five sets I have three and am missing two of them so we'll just have to go from there if, when, or until I can flesh out the collection a little more!

The SpaceX series tended to feature larger 'premium' toys - my description - like the Mobile Launch Pad or this Nuclear Pulse Space Station. This Space Station is what model railroaders would call a 'selectively compressed' model. That is, it's a much smaller version of an original meant to be quite large. By taking certain key design elements, concentrating on them, and then kind of shrinking everything down, you come up with a toy that is representaive of the orignal (whether the original was real or just a piece of artwork). The toy itself has several operating features like two rotating blade stabilizers, the two 'flying saucers', and the hangar bay door which flips up to reveal a small silver spaceship which can be launched. The rotors can be removed (although I didn't try) and can be used as flying saucers as well. Design origins for this can be found here on SpaceX Central. The toy measures 8" (20.32cm) L x 5 1/4" (13.33cm) W x 1 1/2" (3.81cm) H. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

The silver discs are the stabilizing rotors while the blue discs are the flying saucers.

Hangar bay open and spce ship ready for launch

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Launched!

This is the 'launch pad' for the small silver space ship

Multiple Toymakers No. 3004 U.S. Orbital Lab

Now here is one of the most interesting offerings from the Multiple Toymakers / MPC line of Space Race toys, the No. 3004 U.S. Orbital Lab from 1970. This orbital station pre-dated our own real world Skylab by 3 years. Skylab was only occupied for 24 weeks during the period of May '73 to Feb '74 and was much smaller and only three astronauts at a time would man it. Multiple's orbital station on the other hand had three levels and was equipped with many more astronauts. More on that later.

The station is of the soft carry-case vaiety but unlike others of its ilk, it is cylindrical, not boxy and measures 20 1/2" (52.7cm) H x 7" (17.78cm) diameter. There are two latches on the side with the handle sticking through a hole in the opening flap. There are three levels: an upper level Control Observatory, a middle level Navigation/Communications Center, and a lower level Nuclear Power Station. Each level has a central seating area and access from one level to the other is made via ladders which can be positioned at various locations within the craft. There are several shepherd's crook-shaped pieces that serve as lanyard's or life-line's that can be placed on any level and stick out from each floor. You wrap the 'hook' end around a figure and it appears as if they're engaged in a space walk.

The photo below shows all the pieces that came with my set but it's apparent there were extra's like that Space Center observation dome. BTW, that bag of astronaut figures in the front holds 150 of Multiple's astronauts! I don't know how many of those originally came with the set but it does seem excessive. That being said I have seen header bag sets offered with 150 astronauts in them and MPC / Multiple sprayed these suckers on the market like fire retardant on a forest fire. Good Lord why? I don't know. Given that the small Space Control Center playset I posted a few days ago had 50 astronauts in it, it's no strecth to believe this set could've included 100-150. But that's just pure speculation until confirmation comes of a mint example with all the figures and accessories. Ina any case - Enjoy! Opa Fritz

The Control Observatory level left-toright

The Navigation/Communications Center level left-to-right

The Nuclear Power Station level left-to-right

Astronauts 'outside' the station on a space walk