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Toy-Ventures: Space Apes : Planet of the Apes Knockoffs?

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    Museum Robot
    • May 9, 2007
    • 5788

    Toy-Ventures: Space Apes : Planet of the Apes Knockoffs?





    After a long break, I have another wonderful mystery box of Knock-Offs from the United Kingdom, this week we're going to meet The Space Apes, a series of action figures that seem to resemble the Mego Planet of the Apes figures but with some noticeable differences.

    We're publishing a Toy-Ventures Magazine this Summer, here's a link on how to be kept in the loop: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/magazine/

    Like Mego Knock-Offs? Join our Facebook group dedicated today, it's an intimate group that focuses just on vintage toys: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Megoknockoff/


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


    More...
  • Confessional
    Maker & Whatnot
    • Aug 8, 2012
    • 3410

    #2
    Wow!!!, I'm as equally excited as I am skeptical on these… please forgive the host of questions!

    Some observations… that header card includes the classic POTA (perhaps electronic, hard to tell) font and the imagery/type combo has been seen on some contemporary bootlegs and KO-tributes coming out of Mexico and Germany. In fact, the some of those are now 3rd-generation knock-offs (recasts/repaints) of the original 70's/80's bootlegs. So I'm finding weird mash-ups now combing pieces/parts across four decades, fun yes, but not always what the seller/finder claims them to be.

    Don't get me wrong, I love all this stuff and they could be 80's product, but the packaging has the look of a contemporary (90's – 21st C.) assemblage, and perhaps uses vintage bags(?). I've even seen people use vintage staples to keep the look consistent. Any thoughts on the header printing/paper?

    Zira doesn't *look* to be a factory second; from what's in the video she appears to a quite nice, well-kept Palitoy-Bradgate sleeveless variant (with head oxidation?). Ursus/Urko is far more curious with the odd head paint. Is the head typical (soft vinyl) otherwise and that white paint applied or factory mask? We already know those weapons types are well traveled. I'm curious if anything inside the package shows playwear/wear as the bags looks very crumpled.

    There's no way in hell I could resist opening these for an autopsy!

    Comment

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

      #3
      Honestly, I've bought a lot of stuff from this guy and from what I can gather from most of it is it's from the 1980s, the designs on the cards are really crude computer work. I understand the skepticism but I've known this gent for a long time and this stuff has been sitting in his storage for decades. He has oodles of legitimate old store stock as well, sometimes whole cases of eye-popping rare things. He doesn't do the internet at all, it's all been purchased from auctions for 30 years.

      The cards are definitely press printed and bear zero tells of any kind of inkjet or laser printer. There is no signs of play wear on Zira, i should examine her for any defect.

      The head on Urko is a vinyl rotational head but the eyes are botched, I didn't even notice the smile prior.

      I would not have made this video if i suspected for a minute that there were fan-made or custom in anyway.
      Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

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

      Comment

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

        #4
        First thing I noticed from my photos is Zira's boots both look like they were pulled from the mold too early.
        Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

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

        Comment

        • Confessional
          Maker & Whatnot
          • Aug 8, 2012
          • 3410

          #5
          ^^ I certainly can buy that. I've dealt with several Mexican seekers/sellers who have similar history of finding 80's stuff, even today. I always hoped there were more oddball Mego-style Apes figures out there, but up until his/your find those have only been legit in Mexico. Congrats on setting these free and I really hope some folks in the UK can add info/images now that there's a real reference point.

          Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020… a new discovery in the world; Apemania lives on.

          Comment

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

            #6
            There is another Space Ape BTW, I saw a very quick snap of his stash and there was an Ursus wearing a jumpsuit of some kind. I'm dying to see it in better detail but I'll bask in these two for now.

            I'm waiting patiently too for someone to pipe remembering these, usually helps with the dating. When I launched the baggy Mego Superheroes video, about 4 different people pinpointed them to seeing them in the early 90s(!) pound shops.

            Then again, two years ago, my local dollar store got a mess of "Warriors of Virture" figures in.
            Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

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

            Comment

            • Werewolf
              Inhuman
              • Jul 14, 2003
              • 14616

              #7
              Are these a mix of factory seconds and bootlegged parts? It is amazing there was still 70s factory leftovers by the 90s. Have you been able to check to see if the original markings are on the heads or body? Neat find.
              You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...

              Comment

              • Marlonbrando
                New Member
                • Jun 13, 2021
                • 1

                #8
                Thanks for the information,as a long time collector of Apes toys,I'll see if I can track these down.

                Comment

                • J.B.
                  Guild Navigator
                  • Jun 23, 2010
                  • 2881

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Marlonbrando
                  Thanks for the information,as a long time collector of Apes toys,I'll see if I can track these down.
                  “A man who doesn't spend time with his Ape Toys can never be a real man.”
                  You are transparent; I see many things... I see plans within plans.

                  Comment

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