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Post by hdfan67 on Dec 8, 2012 16:26:11 GMT -5
Thought I'd post pictures of this as well. Made by Bandai in the 70's - a "computer car" where you'd insert plastic (or cardboard) strips in it's belly and based on the contour of the edges, the car would turn left or right or pause.    This was pretty fun to play with back in the day. |
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Post by Mr. Ginrai on Dec 8, 2012 19:40:03 GMT -5
HD,
This is pretty cool being a space type vehicle.
Hasbro manufactured a toyline with an identical gimmick - Amaze-A-Matics. The line had four different American muscle and race cars (approx. 1/24 scale, one car to each box) and they came with plastic program strips like your vehicle above, but the directional indicators were based on famous racetrack layouts.
They also came with cardboard strips so you could cut the patterns and make your own set of commands, and a few safety cones were included so your car could weave around them.
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Post by KingboyD on Dec 8, 2012 22:32:23 GMT -5
This is pretty cool. I've seen them a few times on ebay, but not very often. Sometimes they generate some interest (i.e., a bidding war). Other times, they go by quietly. I think I've seen it in blue too. I always wondered about it, but hearing your description that it navigates on its own is pretty cool. So its all plastic, right?
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Post by hdfan67 on Dec 9, 2012 2:26:37 GMT -5
This is pretty cool. I've seen them a few times on ebay, but not very often. Sometimes they generate some interest (i.e., a bidding war). Other times, they go by quietly. I think I've seen it in blue too. I always wondered about it, but hearing your description that it navigates on its own is pretty cool. So its all plastic, right? Yes, I think there's a series of at least 3, as I saw another model on eBay recently. Yes, everything external is plastic. I haven't fired it up for years, so I don't know if it still functions with the guidance strips or not though. |
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Post by repairtechjon on Dec 11, 2012 23:21:42 GMT -5
Cool post! hdfan67, your toy is a beautiful one.
I dug mine out to check the details, and you're right, there is a blue one, as that is what I have.
The box has the same picture of the red one for all I guess. Mine is in much rougher box, missing the firing missles, and I just popped some C batteries in...and a motor gear is slipping inside. May have to open it up this winter to fix, LOL. I want to see at what point in following the card strip, does the missle fire mechanism go off, haha.
It's a decent sized toy, with lots of cool chrome details, and real rubber treads.
Random stuff like this is cool to score once in a while, to round out the "spacey" aspect of the toy shelf.
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Post by hdfan67 on Dec 12, 2012 3:21:00 GMT -5
I fired it up the other day and the card doesn't get pulled through. The motor makes noise, so I may have to open it up as well and have a look. The rubber treads have held up well. I have these 3 wind-up mini tanks whose treads disintegrated long ago. But they were/are cool because they shoot sparks out the front! The turrets were fragile though so only one still has all of his intact.
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Post by bt1 on Dec 12, 2012 10:03:22 GMT -5
I have these 3 wind-up mini tanks whose treads disintegrated long ago. But they were/are cool because they shoot sparks out the front! The turrets were fragile though so only one still has all of his intact. Some great stuff you have. I think I know the sparking tanks you're talking about - I had a set and they are pretty cool. These were made by Eidai  |
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Post by KingboyD on Dec 12, 2012 11:03:36 GMT -5
Very cool! Bill, you are the Eida specialist for sure!
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Post by hdfan67 on Dec 12, 2012 12:48:44 GMT -5
Yeah, that looks right. I don't remember the small pieces, but probably because I lost them so many years ago. Too bad the treads disintegrated, otherwise, they'd still be humming along shooting sparks. My daughter thought the sparks were ultra-cool! I have these 3 wind-up mini tanks whose treads disintegrated long ago. But they were/are cool because they shoot sparks out the front! The turrets were fragile though so only one still has all of his intact. Some great stuff you have. I think I know the sparking tanks you're talking about - I had a set and they are pretty cool. These were made by Eidai |
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Post by repairtechjon on Jan 7, 2013 1:04:03 GMT -5
Just adding my goofy 2 cents, with a beater BLUE variant car. Same box.   |
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Post by hdfan67 on Jan 9, 2013 18:42:15 GMT -5
Cool repairtechjon. Does yours still work with the cards?
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Post by repairtechjon on Jan 9, 2013 21:36:33 GMT -5
Thanks, it trys to go, but skipping a gear internally. I need to make time to open it up and fix it. The rubber treads, guide cards ,and runner slot underneath are in good shape, so it should work once the engagement is locked in.
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