Tri-ang Earth Launch Pad Set #1176-20 - Pt 4 (Final) Set-up

This was an enjoyable set-up to do. As you can see by the photo of the launch pads at Cape Canaveral, Tri-ang did a nice job of capturing the essence of a launch facility in a limited space. I would say the only thing that really doesn't belong is the Rocket Ship 'Hawk'. This portion of the installation is strictly for launching missiles and rockets - there is no active runway for aircraft. The helicopters are sort of okay, but they too would have been located near the runway on a different area of the installation. All that is minor though, as the one thing to keep in mind is: it's a toy! 

First, I set this all up with the pieces that originally came with the set. As you can see there's a lot of open space on that big playmat. The playmat itself is rather fragile because it's paper not plastic, making it more prone to rips and tears. That said, plastic isn't perfect either and I have plastic playmats that are wrinkly & crinkly and next to impossible to set figures down adequately. Next, I placed all the Rocket Base U.S.A. clones on the mat and they made a really nice addition to the overall look and feel.

Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

Launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Courtesy Wikipedia

Without Rocket Base U.S.A. clones

With Rocket Base U.S.A. Clones

Triang SpaceX / Golden Astronaut Mobile Launch Pad (M.L.P.)

I hate to start a series off on a bad foot but the reality is, of all my SpaceX and Golden Astronaut series of toys, I'm missing three of the four original SpaceX toys in their packaging. Why? Because they either have been scarce or out of my price range when they did become available. Sooo, here's what I'll do: I'll post a photo or two of the Golden Astronaut version and provide links to photos of the SpaceX versions. What's the difference? Well, when Triang struck up its deal with Multiple Toymakers to distribute SpaceX toys here Statside, Multiple changed the colors and names of the vehicles to more better suit the American market.

The first series consists of the following:

EARTH BASE
16 Mobile Launching Pad
1 Tractor T5
2 Fork Lift 7
3 Helicopter P3

According to Paul Vreede's excellent website (which we've sort of been calling innformally 'SpaceX Central') the colors shown here for the gantry and mobile platform would be correct for the later SpaceX version however, the white rocket was only for the American Golden Astronaut line. The original SpaceX version of the Mobile Launch Pad would have had a blue platform, yellow-ish gantry, dark orange hammerhead crane, and green rocket. Both rockets have the peel-&-stick applique 'INTERPLANETARY 1'  in vertical letters on the side. The Golden Astronaut version also has a 'USA' applique.  You can also view more M.L.P. pics on Moonbase Central's blog.  Here's the breakdown is size:

MLP = 11 1/8" (28.25cm) high overall. 
Mobile platform = 4 7/8" (12.38cm) D x 3 3/8" (8.57cm) W  x 1 7/8" (4.76cm) H
Gantry = 9 1/2" (24.13cm) H w/crane
Rocket = 7" (17.78cm)  H x 1 1/2" (3.81cm) dia
Silver Dyna Soar Roket = 1 1/8" (2.85cm) L x 1 1/4" (3.17cm) wingspan

Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's an interesting pic of the MLP on the reverse of the MEV2 card

This shows a red gantry, yellow crane, and white rocket