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ERTL Star Trek 3 Figures

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    Museum Robot
    • May 9, 2007
    • 5788

    ERTL Star Trek 3 Figures



    I thought it would be fun today to talk about a Star Trek action figure line that nobody really ever does, from 1985 let's explore the ERTL toys Star Trek 3 line and I've got prototype shots! More about this fun (and very affordable) line after the jump!




    So after the merchandising disaster of the Motion Picture, the Star Trek property was kind of radioactive to toy makers. The sequel "Wrath of Khan" didn't see much merchandise save for some Dinky die-cast ships. However, "Khan" was a hit and AMT/ERTL was still selling lots of Star Trek related model kits and branching out into action figures, so they gave the next movie "The Search for Spock" a go.





    This is ERTL's press photo to the public, it's kind of telling that they are just repainted Mego Star Trek the Motion Picture figures. There is another press photo which shows a Lassie like dog as a stand in for Kruge's pet.


    ERTL went all out with these and created O-Ring type figures popularized by Mego and Hasbro. These were actually well made but you occasionally saw them in stores having broken in the package.



    The nicely made figures suffered only in two regards, the accessories were too big (Seriously is that an ipad or a communicator with Kirk?) and the movie uniforms gave the figures a bland and generic look. A far cry from the explosion of colour the TV uniforms were.

    Also, Spock is NEVER in uniform in this movie! I just realized that.



    So even though Star Trek 3 was a hit that summer, these figures were not.


    They languished on store shelves and were sold on clearance. I started collecting vintage SF toys in the summer of 1985, these were easily found for under a dollar and even though they were modern, they gave me a Mego vibe so i snapped them up.





    So why did they bomb?


    There are a number of factors as to why these didn't succeed. The first being that Star Trek was still a risky property after the Motion Picture fiasco.


    ERTL was also a manufacturer primarily known for die-cast toys and models, so they didn't get the presence on the action figure aisle like many competitors (I remember them mainly from grocery store cereal aisles).


    And lastly, 1984 was a super crowded year for action figures, you had returning winners like Masters of the Universe, Star Wars and GI Joe along with new choices like Power Lords, Super Powers, Lords of Light, Secret Wars, Man Tech, Go-Bots and Transformers. Star Trek merely was lost in the shuffle with all those brands vying for a kid's pocket money.





    It truly was the last time the original cast would be marketed to children. Galoob would try (and fail) with the cast of the Next Generation in 1988 but every time after this line that you'd see Kirk or Spock, the words "Limited Edition" would be stamped somewhere. Star Trek became about the adult collector.

    What's great about this is, they're well made toys that can be had for a song. I paid $99 for this set and I got the whole collection done in a shoe box, yay me!



    As a kid who actually played Star Trek in my back yard, this line will always have a place in my heart.

    For more Fashion Mockery and 70's toy love visit us at Plaid Stallions.com


    More...
  • Mikey
    Verbose Member
    • Aug 9, 2001
    • 47242

    #2
    Back in the day when they were new, the only place I could find these for sale was in a Truckstops of America (TA) store.

    I grabbed them all, but a weird place to see them for sale and nowhere else

    Comment

    • jwyblejr
      galactic yo-yo
      • Apr 6, 2006
      • 11141

      #3
      I saw them in a farm supply store back in the day. Might be another reason why they didn't sell.

      Comment

      • palitoy
        live. laugh. lisa needs braces
        • Jun 16, 2001
        • 59204

        #4
        funny, truck stops, grocery stores and farm supply is not the channel to attract trekkies is it?
        Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

        Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
        http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

        Comment

        • rykerw1701
          Persistent Member
          • Aug 27, 2007
          • 1026

          #5
          Originally posted by palitoy
          funny, truck stops, grocery stores and farm supply is not the channel to attract trekkies is it?
          I don't about that. Last convention I went to, it looked like the Trekkies spent quite a lot of time in the grocery store.

          And yes, I was at the convention, and yes, I probably spend a lot of time in the grocery store too.

          Comment

          • Mikey
            Verbose Member
            • Aug 9, 2001
            • 47242

            #6
            I don't know anything about toy distribution for retail but I wonder if it was because they were made by ERTL ?

            ERTL was/is crazy big for making diecast toy tractors --- Maybe these places were just on their generic distribution list ?

            Around these parts if you want a nice toy tractor you don't go to the toy store, you go to the local tractor seller, lawn mower dealership or even feed store

            Comment

            • palitoy
              live. laugh. lisa needs braces
              • Jun 16, 2001
              • 59204

              #7
              Originally posted by rykerw1701
              I don't about that. Last convention I went to, it looked like the Trekkies spent quite a lot of time in the grocery store.

              And yes, I was at the convention, and yes, I probably spend a lot of time in the grocery store too.
              Oh man, i wasn`t even going for that, ha!
              Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

              Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
              http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

              Comment

              • Mary Canary
                Career Member
                • Jun 21, 2017
                • 589

                #8
                Nice article and a fun way to start my Friday morning.
                Thank you!

                Comment

                • Spyweb007
                  Persistent Member
                  • Apr 18, 2006
                  • 1449

                  #9
                  Nice figures, They would looked great on the Mego Star Trek Motion Picture bridge, and much nicer figures than the Motion Picture ones were.

                  Comment

                  • enyawd72
                    Maker of Monsters!
                    • Oct 1, 2009
                    • 7904

                    #10
                    These are cool.

                    Comment

                    • Bravestarr
                      Museum Super Collector
                      • Mar 26, 2017
                      • 185

                      #11
                      Love these figures thsnk for thus post on them

                      Comment

                      • phil
                        Persistent Member
                        • May 11, 2007
                        • 2078

                        #12
                        I bought the four figures but I can't remember what store was selling them. At the time it did seem odd that they were made by Ertl.

                        Comment

                        • Nostalgiabuff
                          Muddling through
                          • Oct 4, 2008
                          • 11290

                          #13
                          i actually got my set as a kid at the air and space museum in Washington DC. they are cool but there were not enough characters made

                          Comment

                          • Mikey
                            Verbose Member
                            • Aug 9, 2001
                            • 47242

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Nostalgiabuff
                            i actually got my set as a kid at the air and space museum in Washington DC. they are cool but there were not enough characters made
                            Really ?... that's cool

                            When I was there in the early 90's they had the same ERTL diecast Enterprise but was on a special Smithsonian blister-card.

                            Comment

                            • Hedji
                              Citizen of Gotham
                              • Nov 17, 2012
                              • 7246

                              #15
                              Great article! So, they did have their prototypes based directly on Mego. The headsculpts always seemed identical to me.

                              Comment

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