ERTL Toy Line Discussion

[Prime Evil]

They don't sell vintage toys though, do they?

Like I said, I [probably] saw it back when the toys first came out ("one of my past lives").

Yes...I'm stretching back now. It's hazy, but I recall seeing at least one of those things on the shelf. I think I wanted one but never got it. Back then, the line was, "Oh, you have enough toys as it is." Ha-ha, but if Mom knew just how rare they were (I think even at the tender age of 5 I had some idea that this was not easy to come by) she'd kick herself till her leg broke.

[billbot85]

Well at least you can say you most likely saw the legendary police car on the shelf in a store. The only thing I got to go on was seeing one commercial for the toys that featured the police car. I still think there are more of them out there though.

[Prime Evil]

Well at least you can say you most likely saw the legendary police car on the shelf in a store. The only thing I got to go on was seeing one commercial for the toys that featured the police car. I still think there are more of them out there though.

Ah, but...the DEVO GUN. That, I'm sure, would fetch a pretty penny.

[billbot85]

Ah, but...the DEVO GUN. That, I'm sure, would fetch a pretty penny.

Ahh yess this toy is wicked rare!! To think the devo gun was modified from Nintendo Superscopes haha. My buddy actually has one, but the thing won't work anymore. I think those run pretty expensive on ebay too.

[billbot85]

so....I know I'm late on saying this, but I just wanted to say I was successful in finding all 6 movie action figures MOC, and scoring the Devo Chamber w/box off ebay for only $30!!! I also have 2 Marios MOC, but took Iggy and Spike out of package to be a part of the Devo Chamber display. hopefully I can post pictures at some point.

The only thing left now is to try and find the Police Car (probably will take a miracle).

[billbot85]

Finally managed to get one! Hoping to post better pics soon that aren't via cell phone

[Zack]

Forgot to post in this, awesome! Glad to see you got one! I don't even remember them in stores from back in the day.

[billbot85]

thanks man! Won it on invaluable.com with a ton of other figs and the Devo Chamber. I just ordered the Microchips to Moviestars book, too. I was hoping to post a couple pics of my entire collection...unless everyone has seen enough lol.

[Trust The Fungus]

hey guys, do any of you have an old Super Mario Bros movie mario action figure i could buy?i dont care if its incomplete or loose or if it has some little paint scuffs, depending on the condition, i will pay up to 40 dollars

[billbot85]

hey guys, do any of you have an old Super Mario Bros movie mario action figure i could buy?i dont care if its incomplete or loose or if it has some little paint scuffs, depending on the condition, i will pay up to 40 dollars

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993-Ertl-Super-Mario-Bros-Mario-/200474795174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

This guy is selling 3 of them moc for $30 each, or you can make an offer.

[billbot85]

Looks like the police car had appeared on ebay recently, but too bad it was incomplete

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vintage-super-mario-bros-movie-toy-lot-/170499549947?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_ToysGames_ActionFigures_ActionFigures_JN&hash=item27b290aafb

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Here's something I think would've been cool:

Does anyone remember those cool Power Rangers toys (from the original series) where they would have the costume on, except for the head, and there would be a button on the back where you could press and their head would instantly switch into the helmet?

Well, the SMB figures could have head alternate heads like that, activated by the Devo Chamber. Toad could've changed into a Goomba. Mario/Luigi could've changed into monkeys or something. And the coolest thing--Koopa could transform into the reptilian form seen briefly at the end of the film.

I'd think the Marios would do better with a different action, something more suited to them.

Say... jumping?

[Phlibbit]

Here's something I think would've been cool:

Does anyone remember those cool Power Rangers toys (from the original series) where they would have the costume on, except for the head, and there would be a button on the back where you could press and their head would instantly switch into the helmet?

Well, the SMB figures could have head alternate heads like that, activated by the Devo Chamber. Toad could've changed into a Goomba. Mario/Luigi could've changed into monkeys or something. And the coolest thing--Koopa could transform into the reptilian form seen briefly at the end of the film.

I'd think the Marios would do better with a different action, something more suited to them.

Say... jumping?

Yeah, that's even better. I could imagine some sort of switch on the Thwomp Stompers that would've made them spring up into the air or something.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Yeah, that was my idea. Maybe spring-loaded or something... just so long as having the Stompers extended isn't the "default," as it were. A little switch or lock to keep them in would be good, even though that would probably wear down the springs.

[oldskoolplayer86]

I collect Inspector Gadget toys and one of the figures was Gadget in a blue trenchcoat, his legs extended when you pushed a button on each side of his legs. It would be cool if something like that was on the Mario and Luigi figures. You could push a button and the bottoms of the Thwomp Stompers would extend I guess.

I also had the Power Rangers figures. The button was on their belt, you would push it down and the head would flip.

[Prime Evil]

Personally, I would've just had a little switch inside the back of the legs to "extend" the Stompers'...um, stompers. That, and a fly-away rig consisting of a hook, line, and reel, similar to Toy Biz's Batman figure with the retractable utility belt. I went through about three of 'em.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Dang, looks like SMB Collector took his videos offline. Or at least, set them all to private.

Either way, it doesn't appear they can be viewed any more.

[billbot85]

Dang, looks like SMB Collector took his videos offline. Or at least, set them all to private.

Either way, it doesn't appear they can be viewed any more.

huh. looks like he did. He set them all to private. I hope it wasn't because of me :-/

[Redstar]

huh. looks like he did. He set them all to private. I hope it wasn't because of me :-/

Why might it have been you?

It's a shame these are down. I'll have to ask him about it.

[billbot85]

Why might it have been you?

I might've annoyed him since he blocked me from commenting on his youtube vids about a year ago. Yesterday I posted on his site on videogamemm.com saying how I managed to get 2 police car sets. Although that probably wouldn't be a real reason to set all videos to private.

Maybe too many people were pestering him about buying stuff off of him?

[oldskoolplayer86]

I hate replying to topics that haven't been posted in for a while but its still on the front page.

Anyway.. how rare would you guys concider the talking Mario Bros. figures? I just won talking Mario on ebay for $20.50.

[Prime Evil]

Anyway.. how rare would you guys concider the talking Mario Bros. figures? I just won talking Mario on ebay for $20.50.

In the box? If so, then you have the best luck. I've never seen one of those in person before.

[oldskoolplayer86]

Yup still in the box. Here's some pics (from ebay)

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Are the belts molded onto the talking figures, or are they removable, like on the smaller ones?

[oldskoolplayer86]

The belts are molded, unlike the action figure counterparts.

I also just recently won the Koopa, Iggy and Spike figures, still in the package for $20, as well as the walkie talkies, also for $20 (boxed as well).

[Wesr]

I don't remember ever seeing these when the movie came out but then again I was more interested in the rumors of Transformers coming back into production lol. I might have to grab a few for my game display when I get going. I should buy a Mario so i can use the boots as a reference for my project.

[billbot85]

Hey, so I came across this interesting article on blogspot where this guy discusses his interview with a "sculpt for hire toy studio," run by a man named Rudy Vap. Apparently this studio actually sculpted the action figures for Super Mario Bros.!!! He says he even was given a few prototype sculpts of Dennis Hopper's head, one of them he describes as a "dinosaur head"!! This guy also worked at a movie theater the summer of '93 when the movie premiered and even got some of the toys to put on for display. It's a really interesting article.

We gotta get this guy or Rudy Vap for an interview!! Maybe we could even see some of these sculpts of the Koopa figure.


http://ides2ides.blogspot.com/2011/06/r ... -pt-1.html

[Redstar]

Amazing find, billbot! I've already contacted Mr. Christy in regards to his work on the line, so hopefully we hear back from him soon and have something special to share.

[billbot85]

Amazing find, billbot! I've already contacted Mr. Christy in regards to his work on the line, so hopefully we hear back from him soon and have something special to share.

Thanks! Is that his name? The author of the article I found? I hope we can get an interview with him, I'd love to see those sculpts and get some backstory on the production of these toys!

[Redstar]

That is indeed his name. Mr. Christy has agreed to both wrote an editorial for the site on his relation to the toyline as well as provide many photos of each sculpt, particularly the unused alternate Koopa face. I have already seen it and, I must say, it's pretty cool.

[billbot85]

Awesome!! I am definitely looking forward to all of that!! He emailed me a picture of the sculpts too and I got to see the Koopa mask. Looks pretty similar to the artwork used on the back of the action figure card. That would've been such a cool accessory.

[Redstar]

Yeah, it's definitely the 'Joker grin' stage. The artwork from the back of the packaging actually depicts Stage II, though, while the mask appears to be a slightly more de-evolved version of Stage I.

[billbot85]

Yeah, it's definitely the 'Joker grin' stage. The artwork from the back of the packaging actually depicts Stage II, though, while the mask appears to be a slightly more de-evolved version of Stage I.

Yeah, it also kind of looks like the ape-head goomba figure, but with a bigger grin. I'm looking forward to the good stuff Mr. Christy is going to share with the site.

Also, from the picture he emailed me, it looks like one of the heads was a prototype for Scapelli. I can post the photo of the heads he emailed me if you wanna see.

[Zack]

awesome! Yeah post everything! Can't wait to see these!!!

[billbot85]

I hope its not too soon to post these, but here they are: The prototype heads for the Super Mario Bros ERTL toyline! Take a moment to notice the de-evolved "Koopa Mask" that was supposed to come with the Koopa figure

[ultimateemail5000]

That is really cool I wish the Koopa figure came with the mask. Nice find. Are you going to paint them?

[billbot85]

That is really cool I wish the Koopa figure came with the mask. Nice find. Are you going to paint them?

Unfortunately they are not mine. They belong to Mr. Christie, who actually interviewed the people who were working on the heads for the figures. He plans to send more pictures to me or the site at some point.

And I agree, I wish the Koopa figure came with that mask, too.

[Serum]

I definitely like the 12 inch talking figures of the Marios, but... why is Luigi African American? I mean, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it, but, I think John Leguizamo is Hispanic... I think that might be the work of a practical joker.

[billbot85]

I definitely like the 12 inch talking figures of the Marios, but... why is Luigi African American? I mean, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it, but, I think John Leguizamo is Hispanic... I think that might be the work of a practical joker.

Yeah I always wondered that too...I have the talking Mario and Luigi and when I show them to friends they always ask "Why is Luigi Black?" haha.

[AndrewTheBeatnik]

This is so cool! I would have loved to play with these guys and fight crime with them when I was younger.....or right now...Haha