unclescott58

Here's one I haven't thought of in quite a while. Mattel's VRROOM bike/trike engines from the mid 1960's. Did a little looking online as I hadn't seen them in a long time. The one everybody remembers, and the one I wanted as a kid, was the battery operated Hot-Rodder-Engine. Which looked like a one cylinder motorcycle engine. The one I got was the non-battery operated Booster-Engine. It looked a bit like a two cylinder BMW motorcycle engine. But, unlike the Hot-Rod-Engine which you just inserted your key and turned a switch for the motorcycle noise. The Booster-Engine had a manual pull lever to generate the noise. No where near as cool. I got mine Christmas of 1964 or '65. (I don't remember which?) Not a good time to get a toy like that, living in Minnesota. For it was too cold to ride your bike at that time of the year. And the toy was not a good indoor toy. Way too loud! So, for the first few month's I only got to try it a couple times down in the basement. But spring came! My VRROOM motor got mounted to my bike. Sadly soon after, the pull handle that made the noise got broken. After that it was not vary easy to use. Plus it just wasn't as cool as the neighbor kid who had the Hot-Rodder one. Looking online, I didn't realize there were other VRROOM toys. I kind other remembered the race car. But, I had never seen a VRROOM Bronco bicycle before. A very cool looking bike. It looked simular to a Schwinn Stingray. Naturally it came with the VRROOM Hot-Rodder-Engine already built on to the bike. But, it also a cool storage box that looked like a motorcycle gas tank. Very cool! Even today, I want one. Im happy to see there is quite a bit of stuff showing the VRROOM toys on line. And there are few commercials on YouTube for them too. I wonder how well they sold? And how long they were on market? I don't remember if we talked about the following toy or not here on this thread. I believe it was same the Christmas I got my VRROOM Booster-Engine, I got one of my all time favorite toys. An Ideal Motorific set. The set I got was a special promotional set sold through DX gas stations. And I'm happy to say a couple of years ago, I found a "mint" copy of that set on eBay. And at a very reasonable price. It even still had the same green Ferrari GTO my first one had. With the gold sticker still on the side. A year or two before I found that, a friend had given me the Alcan Highway set and a '64 Cadillac. Besides the Ferrari and Cadillac, I also have a '63 Chevy Impala convertible and a '63 Ford Country Squire. Man! Toys were so cool in the 1960's. It was a pretty good time to be growing up.

Chuck Most does a series of reviews at the above web site. And the ones I looked at were all pretty good. Thanks for posting the link Alberto.

Very cool kits. About 10 years to late for me. The shows I liked like that were all in the 1950's and 60's. So I built the Starship Enterprise, Batman, the Batmobile, the Bat Plane, Superman, the Green Hornet's Black Beauty, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea's Seaview, and things like that. The Six Million Dollar Man came out when I was in high school and probably thought I was too cool and mature for that. The same way with Knight Rider, Welcome Back Kotter, and other kits based on those shows. The only show from the 70's that I ever built a model of is the Space 1999 Eagle. And that only happen in the last two years. But, still the above kits you have Jesse are very cool. I can see why kids who grew up with that show would want them. Steve Austin is basically the TV Superman of the 70's. And like Superman, I can see where the Six Million Dollar Man could be very cool. Especially to a kid of the time. I hope someday you build them. I'd love to see Steve Austin fighting both the gorilla and the crocodile. Breaking down the door doesn't look all that interesting to me. After all, the Aurora Superman model from the 60's looks almost the same. Just a little cooler with him punching through a brick wall. But, didn't Steve Austin have only one bionic arm? And two bionic legs? So I guess that's why he has to kick his way through his.

Is there a link you can give us to the comparison? It would be interesting.

Interesting, but only a bit for me.

By the way. The biker looks more gorilla than human. I wonder what the deal is with that? If you ever paint your figures, it might be fun to paint the biker up to look like a gorilla.

Thanks Jesse. That is very cool to finally see what that kit looks like out of the box. Looks like a simple kit to assemble. But, an SOB to detail with paint. I've never been a fan of the Six Million Dollar Man. I may have been too old for that type of program when it came out. But, I've always curious about this one kit. For some reason I could not imagine what it could look like out of the box. Now that I have seen it, I'm kind or impressed with how they engineered it. Yet I'm not impressed enough to ever seek out one for my own collection.

Sad News From Minnesota Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma, complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the Califorina Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The gravesite was piled high with flours. Aunt Jenima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Born and bread in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baker schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

And last, what came with the Rallye Pack? Rallye Pack Includes charcoal grille and headlamp doors, black greenhouse moldings, black painted lower bodyside, black window frames, dual sport mirrors, front spoiler, rear spoiler (Runabout only) with "RALLYE" lettering tape, all glass door with black hinges (Runabout only), load floor carpet (station wagon only), four white painted styled steel wheels with trim rings, "RALLYE" bodyside tape, narrow tri-color border tape for black treatment, black luggage rack (station wagon only), inner and outer quarter panel filler panels (station wagon only), porthole on quarter panels (station wagon only), quarter filler panel carpet (station wagon only), sports package, and deleted standard narrow bodyside molding. Not available on Pony models, 2 door sedan, station wagon with Squire Ootion, or with luggage rack, tu-tone paint/tape treatment, accent tape stripe, exterior decor group, Cruising Package, ESS Option, appearance protection group, or wire wheel covers. Requires power front disc brakes. Runabout model.... $369.00 Station wagon model.... $625.00 Station wagon model with - use with interior decor group.... $598.00

Prices for the Pintos themselves that could be had with the Cruising Package? 3 Door Runabout.... $4654.00 2 Door Station Wagon.... $4941.00 The wheels that come in the MPC kit? Wheels, Four Forged Aluminum Spare tire equipped with standard wheel. Use with Cruising Package or Rallye Pack.... $225.00 Sport Package mentioned as being part of the Cruising Package? Sports Package Includes tachometer-ammeter-temperature gauges, sport steering wheel, and optional ratio axle on sedan and Runabout models with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission. Standard with Rallye Pack, ESS Option and Cruising Package. Not availiable on Pony models. Sedan and Runabout models - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission.... $118.00 All other models.... $103.00

Okay guys, this all my 1980 Ford salesman book (April 2, 1980) has to say on the Pinto Cruising Package. Nothing on colors, I'm afraid. Cruising Package Includes side panels (station wagon only), round tinted bubbled port hole windows near rear of side panels (station wagon only), multi-color bodyside quarter panel and rear decklid paint/tape treatment (lower body on Runabout), charcoal grille/headlamp doors, black liftgate louvers (station wagon only), blackout treatment on door frames - "B" pillar - windshield surround and backlite moldings (station wagon only) - rocker panel moldings (station wagon only) - forward portion of upper quarter panel (station wagon only), black dual sport mirrors, four white styled steel wheels with trim rings, Sports Package, carpeted hardboard inner panels (station wagon only), all glass third door with black hinges (Runabout only), and load floor carpeting. Narrow vinyl insert bodyside moldings deleted. Available only on Runabout model, and station wagon model without Squire Option. Not available with wire wheel covers, exterior decor group, accent tape stripe, tu-tone paint/tape treatment, ESS Option, Rallye Pack, styled steel wheels with trim rings, and premium vinyl bodyside moldings. Runabout model - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission and interior decor group.... $370.0 Runabout model - use with automatic transmission and interior decor group.... $355.00 Station wagon model - use with interior decor group.... $579.00 Runabout model - use with 2.3 liter engine and manual transmission without interior decor group.... $398.00 Runabout model - use with automatic transmission without interior decor group.... $383.00 Station wagon model - use without interior decor package.... $606.00 Cruising Package Tape Delete.... (credit) ($70.00) Deletes bodyside paint/tape treatment on Cruising Package. Available only on station wagon model with Cruising Package.

I'll pull my 1980 Ford factory salesman book in the next day or two, and get you guys an answer if it's in there.

Maybe his neighbor is a "star" of some sort? If that's the case, just be careful and don't get caught.

Wow.

Looks great.

Very nice.

Looks good. I've always like those GM colonnade bodied vehicles.

Looks good.

I like it. One of those kits I wish Revell would get around to reissuing.

Cool. (Or is that Hot?)

Very nice.

Nice.

I'd love to see the contents of this box. Even better, one of these kits built. Really could care less that it's the Six Million Dollar Man. I never cared for the show. But, I'm courious about how good or bad was this kit?

I think I get it now!? I'm not sure it's funny. Thanks for trying to explain it to me guys. But, I think there is little hope for me on this one.

Okay Tim, I have had little to no interest in this kit. But, I always enjoy your reviews. Now, seeing what you've shown us, this kit is moving to my must have list. I'm impressed. Like you, I was not interested in another kit with another small block Chevy engine. Until, again I saw your review. I really like looks of SBC in this kit for some reason. Like I say, this like Revell's A roadster is now a must have kit for me. Thanks for the great review Tim. And thanks to Revell for offering us another interesting kit.