Vintage Microman stuff

[prostockjohn]

I was looking over some toys I had when I was a kid, and started to put them back together... I've forgotten how they were supposed to look but that Microman Forever site was pretty helpful... I guess I got some of these toys in the 70's when I was in Japan staying with family over there...

[admin1 aka Ed]

Awesome photo! I can see the corn-nuts in the deep carpet LOL.

Ed

[DaveZav]

The blue and white "Biotron" with helmet is Robotman 2 (or 3?).
Either way, Microman.

The blue and white part in the back is Microman also

The ship on the left is Mego Micronaut colors.
That would make it the Mobile Exploration Lab.
www.innerspaceonline.com/mel.htm
It looks like that is a Microman piloting it.

The orange grey and white vehicle is also in Micronaut colors
rather than Takara Microman. So it's a Star Searcher.
www.innerspaceonline.com/starsearcher.htm

The robot missing one leg is Giant Acroyear and both the Mego Micronaut
and Takara Microman are very similar and have the same colors.
Mego will say "Mego" and Takara will say "Takara" on them somewhere.
www.innerspaceonline.com/ga.htm

If you have more toys that you suspect are Microman or Micronaut
or other Takara toys, post them and I'll try to identify them.
If you want to sell these toys, please send me an email!
-Dave Zav

Dave Waugh made the innerspace online site. Thanks Dave.

[prostockjohn]

I found more parts, I'll post a newer pic once I get some replacement parts to fix one of MEL's arms.

[prostockjohn]

Adam, thanks for the arm parts, they are great! I will take a new pic soon. I am having problems removing the broken off piece of the thruster, I might have to drill a hole in the part and somehow extract it....

A pic I posted in another section (before the parts from Adam)

[prostockjohn]

Forgot to add, Adam:

Robotman is Takara.
MEL is Mego '76 Hong Kong.
Startsearcher or Boingo is Mego '78.

[micromanzone]

Whoa! Nice stuff! Just to help identify—and using the picture right above this post—the vehicle on the right is a Microman Rescue 2 Bongo. Missing the 6 wheels wheels. The missile you have in the while launcher actually goes with the Giant Acroyear cannon gun. The red spear-like missile you have in the back there is what should be in that front gun with a string connected to the winch in the front. If the string is missing, you can open up that winch and replace it with nylon kite string.

You can get a better idea of the setup if you check out my pic of the Jetters and Bongos I own over here.
bit.ly/bFQ39n

The Mobile Exploration Lab is to the left of that, but it could definitely be Japanese in origin since the colors were similar. The big difference is the Mego version had a reworked rocket launcher from Galatic Warrior, and the Japanese version had a custom silver launcher. Mego always loved to cut corners! But since you had it mixed with these other items, I would say that this is a Mego version; by 1979 there was a new version of the same basic toy issued for the Rescue Team line. Check for markings saying "Made in Hong Kong."

Ditto, look on the back of the chest for Giant Acroyear. Some are made in Japan. Others in Hong Kong.

The blue guy in the cockpit of the M.E.L. is a mashup from what I can see. The body is from an M122 Michael and the head is from a Microman Command M16x figure also known as the Pharoid Type 1 figure.

The Star Searcher to the left of M.E.L. is definitely Mego, but one of the better quality reworkings they made. The plastic is comparable to the Japanese version.

And behind that is Robotman 2. Now THAT is the true star of this collection. I just scored one myself recently, but no guns or missile launchers or those leg wings. If I were you I would check to see if the motor works. Two C sized batteries in the silver compartments on the left and right side. Just pop open those hatches and all should be good. Flip the switch and if the motor works, awesome!

Just so you know, Biotron in the Mego line was simply known as Robotman in the Microman line. You have Robotman 2. And past that is Robotman God Fighter.

Since the "newest" piece you have is Rescue 2 Bongo (1979) and next up Robotman 2 (1978), I'd say you definitely got them at those times.

Pretty nice set of stuff to have!

[prostockjohn]

Thanks I did look on the toys and they are:

The Robotman says Takara on back.
MEL is Mego '76 Hong Kong.
Startsearcher or Boingo is Mego '78.

I might still have Robotman's missing chest cover and red wing thing that goes on it, we'll have to see what toys are at my mother's house still. Robotman still also has the treads on back too.

[micromanzone]

Not too sure why you are saying "Startsearcher or Boingo" since those are two different vehicles.

Star Searcher is made by Mego. It's the larger of the two vehicles you have and has wheels. The Rescue 2 Bongo is the other smaller vehicle that is missing the wheels.

Robotman 2 with complete treads and the other parts would be perfect! A true gem piece! Congrats!

[prostockjohn]

Cool eventually I'll get the remainder of the boxes from mom.

Sorry, yeah Boingo is the little 6 wheeler. So far I've found 4 of the wheels, but they don't stay on never did. My Acroyear also seems complete but my white little jet that comes with is missing one of the small wings and one of the big ones...

[dokuroking]

Hey John,

I'm glad the parts worked out for you. I may have some spare wings for your Giant Acroyear as well. If not Takara pieces I may have some extra Mego parts that you could substitute for the time being. I'll let you know what I come up with. Hopefully you'll get a bunch of bits from your mom yet.

Sept 27, 2010 19:58:23 GMT -5 prostockjohn said:

Cool eventually I'll get the remainder of the boxes from mom.

Sorry, yeah Boingo is the little 6 wheeler. So far I've found 4 of the wheels, but they don't stay on never did. My Acroyear also seems complete but my white little jet that comes with is missing one of the small wings and one of the big ones...

[prostockjohn]

Thanks again Adam!

[dokuroking]

No problem John. BTW you should be careful removing a stuck peg. A drill bit will often work but sometimes the torque of the drill can also split the sides of the peg hole. If you drill it be sure to use a very small bit in a hand piece. Another often used method is to heat up a pin push it into the broken peg piece, wait for it to set and pull it out. I've used both ways with success.

[micromanzone]

Here is a technique I have used successfully to remove a stuck peg. You need a small eyelet screw hanger. The kind you would get in a hardware kit for hanging frames, there should be a small eyelet with a screw end. I scored mine at a 99 cent store.

First I would make a starter hole with a strong pin or thin nail. Then I would screw the eyelet in. Slowly and carefully to make sure it doesn't bulge the piece out on the sides but is in securely. Once in securely you now have an eyelet in place so you can tug it out in some way. Either with a small hook. Or even tie off some string to something solid, and then work the string into the eyelet and pull.

Once out, you can then remove the pin. And I would then file down the broken edge on both sides of the piece with some kind of file and glue them together.

[prostockjohn]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think the eyelet approach sounds like the way to go. I can drill a guide/pilot hole for the eyelet, and then thread it in. Then I can carefully draw out the broken peg.

micromanzone, Adam hooked me up with a rocket for the back so I won't glue what I have, I think it will just break off again.

I looked and while I have the vertical wing part for the rear wing.. the big one, both of the pegs broke off. I might attempt a repair using some left over peg material let's see what happens.

[prostockjohn]

Hey guys, I fitted the red missiles into the black launchers, they fit right. Does anyone have a pic of a stock robotman 2 so I could see if the red missiles are supposed to be in his shoulder things?

EDIT... found this pic on skullbrain:

[micromanzone]

Found these pics of a mint-in-box Robotman 2 on Yahoo! Japan Auctions for reference:

[prostockjohn]

Thanks. I managed to stop by my mother's house and grab two more boxes, not sure what's in there. I saw some funky plastic robot in there, I'll have to take a pic.

[prostockjohn]

If anyone is interested, I could part with the Microman/nauts stuff I have, just pm me. Dibs to Adam cuz of his help.

[Falconhood]

wow, your robotman is awesome!