Space Station - Pocket Playset
| Class of Bootleg |
Class 3 - Concept bootleg
|
| Class Notes: |
Yet another appearance of the double-cockpit Falcon!
|
| Bootleg Source: |
Star Wars Vehicles and concepts
|
| Bootleg Rating: |
 (Three out of five stars)
|
| Sightings: | California, Georgia (at Dollar Tree Stores)
|
| Vintage: | Summer 1999
|
This is another in the long tradition of Star Wars knock-offs that come very close to the real thing, but veer off just enough not to get sued.
Say hello to Space Station, Pocket Playset.
This toy is one of three different playset. Each comes in a clam-shell case that looks like a minimalist Millenium Falcon.
From left to right we have:
- A set with a Space Shuttle and booster rocket
- A set with satellite, moon rover, and tricked out Apollo lander
- THE set - with a concept bootleg of the Falcon and TIE Interceptor.
The first two sets, obviously, aren't really that big of a concern. (Unless NASA has copyrighted the look of the shuttle and "classic" space ships)
Here's a better look at the layout of the Falcon-Playset. It comes blister carded on a single-sided backer. From left to right, we have:
- TIE Interceptor-like ship
- Falcon-ish ship
- 3 Missiles that attach to the launcher at top right.
The playset itself has sort of an "underground lair" type feel to it. The left-side has two landing platforms that are made to look as if they were carved from the sides of a rocky hill. Between the platforms there is a sticker of water emerging from a pipe to fill a little pond area. At top left there is a computer terminal with a sticker showing a drawing of the space shuttle from set #1.
The right had side has the missle launcher mentioned above, two unmarked computer terminals (cast in light blue plastic), a sturdy looking exit at far right, and some interesting stickers on the floor. Detailed at left is the best of the bunch. Under a larger sticker proclaiming "DANGEROUS U-V 05" is a smaller
No Smoking In This Area
tag with a little cigarette with the "no" sign over it. Nice to see Bootleggers having a sense of social responsibility.
Finally, let's take a look at the ships that make this playset a bootleg.
Millenium Falcon-Ish Ship
This ship has the common "dual cockpit" design that has been appearing in bootleg images of Han Solo's ship for years. The ship is roughly and inch across, and is cast in an off-white plastic with no other detailing.
I guess we should be happy for the off-white...the package shows this ship as being a lovely shade of lavender.
TIE Interceptor-like Ship
Having just the Falcon toy above would've been enough for me to give this Playset a class three bootleg rating. Happily, the makers provided us with one more item...a knock-off of the Imperial TIE fighter.
At left is an image of the toy as seen in the package - from the top. Doesn't look much like an Imperial craft, I know. But let me show you the package art, rotating it 45° or so...
Looks a lot more like a TIE from this angle, doesn't it?
There are several variations on this set. The ones I saw had to do with the color of the playset casing. (I've seen red, silver and blue.)
There is apparently also a version with CHROME ships. Can't wait to get that one....
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