Tri-ang Earth Launch Pad Set #1176-20 - Pt 4 (Final) Set-up

This was an enjoyable set-up to do. As you can see by the photo of the launch pads at Cape Canaveral, Tri-ang did a nice job of capturing the essence of a launch facility in a limited space. I would say the only thing that really doesn't belong is the Rocket Ship 'Hawk'. This portion of the installation is strictly for launching missiles and rockets - there is no active runway for aircraft. The helicopters are sort of okay, but they too would have been located near the runway on a different area of the installation. All that is minor though, as the one thing to keep in mind is: it's a toy! 

First, I set this all up with the pieces that originally came with the set. As you can see there's a lot of open space on that big playmat. The playmat itself is rather fragile because it's paper not plastic, making it more prone to rips and tears. That said, plastic isn't perfect either and I have plastic playmats that are wrinkly & crinkly and next to impossible to set figures down adequately. Next, I placed all the Rocket Base U.S.A. clones on the mat and they made a really nice addition to the overall look and feel.

Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

Launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Courtesy Wikipedia

Without Rocket Base U.S.A. clones

With Rocket Base U.S.A. Clones

Unique Industries, Inc. Cake Toppers: #8859 Starship Set & #8889 Space Cake Set

In keeping with the whole LP / Imperial Toy theme of the past few weeks, here we have a couple of carded sets from Unique Industries, Inc. from Philadelphia, PA which utilizes re-pops from LP and MPC. The assortment of space ships is really and you get three different types in assorted colors. The Mobile Launch Pad in Set #8889 does not have wheels making it just a launch pad! From what I've seen, it appears as if the same three MPC astronauts were used in all the carded sets. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

This shot shows the company info a bit better

Multiple Toymakers Golden Astronaut - Stage I Launch Site Space Set No. 1523 with Mobile Launch Pad

When Multiple rebranded thes toys, the MLP went from the SpaceX Mobile Launching Pad to the GA Mobile Launch Pad. Not much of a change. According to the SpaceX Central site, the Mobile Launch Pad was not available for separate sale. I was fortunate enough to get an almost complete set, however as you can see the box is rough. My set had a bunch of extra pieces - including an airport tractor and generator that are most certainly not a part of the line but which fit quite well size-wise - but was missing the two figures which would have come with it. It's origins are here and the dimensions are:

a) MLP = 11 1/8" (28.25cm) high overall
b) Mobile platform = 4 7/8" (12.38cm) D x 3 3/8" (8.57cm) W  x 1 7/8" (4.76cm) H
c) Gantry = 9 1/2" (24.13cm) H w/crane
d) Rocket = 7" (17.78cm)  H x 1 1/2"
e) Silver Dyna Soar Roket = 1 1/8" (2.85cm) L x 1 1/4" (3.17cm) wingspan (3.81cm) dia

There are so many cool features to this set - it's great: rolling launch pad, removable rocket, hammer head operating crane, removable Dyna Soar craft, the Lift Loader, the Terrain Tiger. Lots of play potential for a young 'un. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

You'll notice the black walkway in the lower right corner. There should've been two in this shot but I mistakenly omitted it. Sorry!

The micro Dyna Soar

Plastic overlays meant to represent the ginat treads on the real NASA MLP

I was trying for a dramatic shot here. Did I succeed?

When I took this photo I didn't realize there was a second walkway which extends from the gantry to the rocket. I found it along with some spare parts and perused the SpaceX Central website to look at pics of a complete set-up

The string is long enough to allow the Dyna Soar craft to be lowered almost to the ground. It would be sufficient to reach the bed of a transport vehicle hauling it.

That tractor and generator are NOT a part of the series but they actually came with my set - along with a bunch of extra parts and turned out to be compatibly sized

Triang SpaceX / Golden Astronaut Mobile Launch Pad (M.L.P.)

I hate to start a series off on a bad foot but the reality is, of all my SpaceX and Golden Astronaut series of toys, I'm missing three of the four original SpaceX toys in their packaging. Why? Because they either have been scarce or out of my price range when they did become available. Sooo, here's what I'll do: I'll post a photo or two of the Golden Astronaut version and provide links to photos of the SpaceX versions. What's the difference? Well, when Triang struck up its deal with Multiple Toymakers to distribute SpaceX toys here Statside, Multiple changed the colors and names of the vehicles to more better suit the American market.

The first series consists of the following:

EARTH BASE
16 Mobile Launching Pad
1 Tractor T5
2 Fork Lift 7
3 Helicopter P3

According to Paul Vreede's excellent website (which we've sort of been calling innformally 'SpaceX Central') the colors shown here for the gantry and mobile platform would be correct for the later SpaceX version however, the white rocket was only for the American Golden Astronaut line. The original SpaceX version of the Mobile Launch Pad would have had a blue platform, yellow-ish gantry, dark orange hammerhead crane, and green rocket. Both rockets have the peel-&-stick applique 'INTERPLANETARY 1'  in vertical letters on the side. The Golden Astronaut version also has a 'USA' applique.  You can also view more M.L.P. pics on Moonbase Central's blog.  Here's the breakdown is size:

MLP = 11 1/8" (28.25cm) high overall. 
Mobile platform = 4 7/8" (12.38cm) D x 3 3/8" (8.57cm) W  x 1 7/8" (4.76cm) H
Gantry = 9 1/2" (24.13cm) H w/crane
Rocket = 7" (17.78cm)  H x 1 1/2" (3.81cm) dia
Silver Dyna Soar Roket = 1 1/8" (2.85cm) L x 1 1/4" (3.17cm) wingspan

Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's an interesting pic of the MLP on the reverse of the MEV2 card

This shows a red gantry, yellow crane, and white rocket