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Post by countzackula on Apr 2, 2011 13:31:44 GMT -6
So many cool, old vinyl, plastic and rubber figures out there. The vintage stuff is always the coolest. Modern animal figures seem to have little or no imagination, do they? Case in point...what I have come to refer to as the "rat lizard". What is this thing?! I assumed Imperial, but no official manufacturer's mark. He's over a foot long...maybe approximately 13-15 inches from nose to tail tip. Has the classic hollow mouth all the way through. Tail is sort of notched on the underside for ease of movement. I've sen a toy like this ONCE in my life somewhere out there on the internet some time ago. I was struck by its oddness. I had to have one. Took years to find! I was so surprised at how big it was since I assumed it was fairly small way back when. Anyone know how or when it was released or seen anything like it? Did it have a tag, was it in a PDQ displayer? Were there other color schemes or similar beasties to go with it? Of course, unlike today, toy companies didn't seem to care about scientific accuracy decades ago. Seems to look like a basilisk or "Jesus Lizard" that can skip across water, only it has the ears of a mammal. Weird, and most importantly beautiful. They don't make 'em like this no more.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 2, 2011 14:09:59 GMT -6
zack you lucky bastard!!! you just found one of my ultimate holy grails!! you GOTTA let me know where you found it!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 2, 2011 14:37:31 GMT -6
Heh, heh, heh...as far as I know, my parents had me whilst in wedlock! I did not know this was a "grail" toy. It's kinda hard to even find info on this type of stuff, so who knew. At any rate, I guess it's one of those classic early-bird-gets-the-worm tales...of passion.
Woke up early (well, earlier than usual) and in a rare move decided to check if I had won an eBay auction I had fallen asleep for prior to showering. While there, decided to check for some crazy crap and saw this guy smack dab in the middle of a lot of other monsters, dinos, and such for a "Buy It Now" of $25. Naturally, I freaked and bought it (giggling all the way). Just got him this morning too.
There ya have it.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 2, 2011 14:43:54 GMT -6
amazing find! as for it being a "grail" toy, i mean that he's a a grail for me, and probably nobody else in the whole world! not many people seem to appreciate these weirdo rubber lizards the way we do! if you haven't already seen this site, check it out. the rabbit-basilisk is on there. be prepared to add some nameless creatures to your want list! paleofreak.com/plasticosauria/
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Post by countzackula on Apr 2, 2011 15:05:16 GMT -6
Believe it or not...just found that site the other day...or was it last night? I remember nodding off and almost smacking my skull into the computer screen! Was trying to find info on ol' rat-lizard...guess they call him a rabbit lizard, though. I actually got some of those, but oh so many I don't! Aw-haw-some!!!
I totally want, no NEED one of those weird horned toad things. Been searching for one of those too. Maybe the earred lizard and the horny toad are "brothers" from the same maker.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 2, 2011 16:16:32 GMT -6
yeah i definitely found a few things on that site that blew my mind. i'd love to find those plesiosaurus style ones!
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Post by Ebessan on Apr 3, 2011 15:42:36 GMT -6
Seconded, this is an amazing find. I didn't think much of it at first, then I read "over a foot long". Wow.
That website is great too.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 4, 2011 18:14:55 GMT -6
here are two of my favorite rubber lizards. frilled lizards are one of my favorite animals, and these cheesy 80s "open jaw" versions are perfect. the one in running stance is the best one. i'd love to find the frilled lizard from the warrior beasts line.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 4, 2011 18:17:15 GMT -6
normally i wouldn't get too worked up over a plastic penguin, but this strangely colored monster of a penguin holds a special place in my collection, especially since i've had him since probably the year it came out (1987). plus, it's made by imperial!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 15:35:20 GMT -6
A blue penguin? Preposterous, I say! I didn't think they could get frostbite.
Got one of the frilled lizards myself...the standing one...the colors on yours are so much more vibrant!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 15:38:19 GMT -6
Here's a fave... Yukon Ho! Made in the late 70s. I know they made these to tie in to a motion picture called, quite simply, "Grizzly". Never saw it or know what it's about...I assume a bear. The toy is just so freakin' awesome! Solid rubber...looks like it was carved out of an old truck tire...about eight or so inches in height and freaky-looking. I'm pretty sure they released this as a standard bear too, as well as a polar bear version.
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 15:42:49 GMT -6
Here's a classic...the old Imperial bat-bird pterodactyl. Gotta love scientific inaccuracy! About a foot wingspan and made of rubber...squeaks, too! I'm pretty sure they had strings or something so you could jiggle them into "flight". These babies rock. Great for menacing your small-scale Godzilla vinyls. GLAAAAAHHHH!!!!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 16:03:00 GMT -6
Here are some other Imperial classics form 1979: I'm pretty sure they made a set of four (there's an allosaurus-type dino too). About nine inches tall with the standard hollow gullets! Gotta love the weird stegosuarus rex...almost seems like it should be a Godzilla prototype. Here's a six inch tall knock off of ol' Stegosaurus Rex!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 16:10:33 GMT -6
I believe these were called "Prehistoric Monsters" when they were released. Made of a softer, more rubbery vinyl and hollow. Man, I love these li'l uggos! I know they made a stegosaur and a generic bipedal carnivore type dinosaur...can't remember if there are more. I know these molds have been reused to death. So ugly, and so awesome...why can't they do stuff like this any more? C'mon Imperial...knock off the realistic stuff for a few years, eh!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 16:13:26 GMT -6
This guy is made by Ben Cooper...a vintage classic! Made of solid rubber and about 4-5 inches tall. Not sure of the original manufacturer, but I've seen various versions and sizes of these. I believe there are six in this collection. I usually see 'em in earth tones, but my two are colored. I used to have a whole set of the larger versions. I know there was also a dimetrodon, stegosaurus, ankylosaurus, and iguanadon. Some larger buddies...love the weiro monster look to these guys. Roughly a foot long/tall in proportion...and hollow! I know "they" made other dinos in this style. Here are some other various dinosaurs whose mold types have been reused and reformatted endlessly...all vinyl, all hollow. All are around 3-4 inches tall or long. Gotta love the ones that have those evil toothy maws!
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 5, 2011 16:36:31 GMT -6
here are smaller versions of the monster dino and the imperial fin headed ones: one of my favorites! based on an actual prehistoric lizard called a Diplocaulus. this is a newer (early 90s) version, but i've seen a more monster like one in brown and red from the 70s. i'd love to get that one. 2 imperial prehistoric mammals, the smilodon and the mastodon. both came in a few color variations. there are not enough vintage big rubber prehistoric mammals! anyone know of any others out there?
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Post by countzackula on Apr 5, 2011 18:55:01 GMT -6
I've seen pics of that white and green bugger a few times...how tall is he?
The diplocaulus is awesome...I assume he's soft rubber, right?
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 5, 2011 20:00:16 GMT -6
the white and green one is about the same size as your green and black "stegosaurus rex" (i've got that one too)
the diplocaulus is hollow plastic
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Post by Ebessan on Apr 7, 2011 6:33:03 GMT -6
Love the 6" Stego knock-off. That's a great piece!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 7, 2011 16:02:22 GMT -6
Yeah, glad to know the white and green finned-head dino goes with him...I wonder if they did knock off versions of the other two 70s Imperial dinos in that set.
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Post by countzackula on Apr 12, 2011 19:03:11 GMT -6
Here's a few oceanic pals....... I know the sharks came in blue, the dolphin may have come in grey, too...not sure... I had a blue large shark as a kid. I loved that thing. A classic water toy. GI Joes and other small action figures fit easily into the shark's gullet! I never had the dolphin as a kid, but love it even more than the shark now! See why? It's an abomination in the eyes of the Lord! B-b-but dolphins are supposed to be real friendly-like......this.....this is a monster!!! It's gaping maw is stained with the blood of the innocents. Unlike the shark, the dolphin toy is supposed to squeak...mine don't. Of course, a spare Dragons, Knights & Daggers saddle does wonders...BEHOLD!!!
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 16, 2011 12:53:14 GMT -6
i have a large blue version of the shark, as well as the smaller gray one you posted. there is also a large blue sperm whale made in this style
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 16, 2011 16:55:44 GMT -6
well now i'm inspired to post some sea creatures. first off is this awesome shark: a very toothy humpback whale: a grinning orca from 91: i love deep sea fish, so i had to hang on to this viper fish made in 1998: one of my favorite childhood toys: i got these 2 and the squid in a giant box of sea creatures for christmas when i was pretty young. one of the best presents ever! moving away from sea creatures for a bit, i always loved the colors and facial expression on this rhino. he's pretty small, only a few inches long. i'd love to see a version of this guy big enough for motu knockoffs to ride! i had to post this walrus even though he's considerably smaller than the others in this thread. he's from a pretty gigantic zoo playset from the early 90s. those colors are too funny! hanging out with a bunch of other scientific misfits:
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Post by countzackula on Apr 16, 2011 18:23:34 GMT -6
Heavens ta Betsy!!! Those stingrays are murderously magnificent!!! That rhino is just plain great too...awwww...he's just worried he'll miss the bus!
Indeed, no child should be deprived of a toy squid...NO CHILD!!! *sigh*...I was...squids are awesome...I had to settle for a slightly less awesome rubber octopus. I wore the damn thing out!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 22, 2011 16:41:31 GMT -6
Heh! A vampire rhino!
Those lizards are great...are they rubbery? They almost look like they're made of hard, cheap plastic! I've seen similar ones like those before...never got a chance to wrangle any, though. Once had a sweet monstery-looking chameleon in my youth...but he's gone...and broken...!
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 22, 2011 17:30:30 GMT -6
they're soft plastic, i have the one on the far left in another color in my sales thread right now if you're interested!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 30, 2011 19:59:48 GMT -6
Straight from 1977 comes this guy...a weird uggo horned toad? Dragon? Mutant dinosaur? Maybe all three!!! About eight inches long with the classic hollow gullet. Made by Imperial of course. I'm pretty sure they made this guy in other colors. Did this mold ever get resized? Also, did it have any similar companion pieces? HALP!!!
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Post by countzackula on Apr 30, 2011 20:04:46 GMT -6
All right...it's time to start monkeying around! This guy's from the glorious 80s...an Imperial brand gorilla. He's hollow inside, but no openings. Has rotating shoulders but the rest of his body is stationary. He's about eight inches tall. An excellent foil for smaller scale Godzilla vinyls or dinosaurs. Was this meant to be a King Kong toy, or just a generic gorilla? Okay, another ape...or maybe it's Bigfoot?! Kinda looks more sasquatchesque to me. This guy's solid, but has an open cavity going up his *sigh*...rectum...yeah, it's true. I felt compelled to probe the topic and noticed remnants of a string near the inside of the head. Was he a jiggler? Pretty hard for a jiggler...what's the term for a jiggler that doesn't jiggle? A klonker? Anyway, no manufacturer, and it's about eight inches tall.
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Post by muckmonster87 on Apr 30, 2011 21:57:50 GMT -6
ha, i thought that might've been you who just scored that horned dino thing on ebay! i have a blue one that quite possibly was one of the first toys i ever owned. i think it's more like 6 inches or so though.
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Post by drbo on May 2, 2011 12:51:55 GMT -6
Always assumed it was indeed mean't to be a King Kong figure to go along their Godzilla and Universal Monster sets. I sure have mine stored alongside them! I guess we can only guess as long as we don't see one carded...
Superb photos of truy great monsters and dinos figure BTW!
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