LJN LION FORCE 'SPINOUT IN SPACE'

 

 

Also from this period is a set a number of you have mentioned, the Spinout In Space from LJN. I look forward to fleshing out some history of LJN later in the Blog but clearly this is an interesting set.

 

This is perhaps the only application of Race n Chase outside of the Matchbox sets.

 



 

 

The set uses the track layout achieved with a PT-2000 Monza set with 12v terminal and Powertrack crash barriers & aprons. Tooling rights did not extend to the Controllers and Transformer - these being sourced from elsewhere (anybody?). Clearly the apron ends went AWOL too.

 

 

Okay, you may have noticed I am not a big fan of tie-ins and I am even less of a fan of far eastern cartoons! Ignoring my stance on this, these two 'cars' run on 12v HVT chassis complete with magnet and wide pick up shoes. 

These 'Lions' are part of five robots that make a Voltron (I'm guessing). The Yellow Lion is a Leg (apparently) and the Red Lion an Arm (I'm not making this up!) and the Red one should be smaller than the Yellow one. The joys of toy design - you can throw away the script! lol

LJN GOBOTS 'SPACE CHASE'

 

I am becoming educated on what happened to the Matchbox tools and stock post the collapse of the early 1980's. This is proving quite interesting and its helping me me fathom out what has been going on these last 30 years!

 

Contributor Jonas has sent details of this set which heralds from 1984. It features quite clearly the existing Powertrack track section. I suspect its a 12V system owing to the terminal track being from Powertrack-Plus?

 

 

Note lap counter - a new part designed to fit around a standard Powertrack straight section. A simple trigger in slot device that ratcheted a crankwheel to click to the next lap. 

 

 

These two GoBot cars look in great shape and for the enthusiast this would be a great find.

 

 

Note the application of Gobot decals and Powertrack Plus style 12V stickers. Also in evidence is the 90 degree cross section, which was never used in a Matchbox set... though correct me if I am wrong?

 

 

Branded toys are the result of keen licencing and 'Movie Tie-ins'. While being opportunist they rely on heavy marketing - particularly on TV. Timing and opportunity are the key to success and it is doubtful GoBots achieved the success its makers anticipated.

 

 

Box displays the lap counter and cross over clearly. The cars will be featured in a separate feature.

 

 

This set was described as mint and sold for £185 back in June 2012.



TURBOSPRINT PT-200

 

 

 

Non UK ebay sites bring up all sorts of treasures - not least this PT-2000 Monza for the Italian Market. 

 

 

I'm suggesting both the green Porsche and the white Corvette were the supplied cars but it's highly likely these were substituted with stock fluctuations.

 

 

The box art is a long way from the excellent UK packaging, using photos from contemporary Group 5 Racing.

GOLD ESCORT BREAKS RECORD!...Or can you beat it?

 

 

Thanks to a number of enthusiasts who tipped me off about this gold Escort (PP-143) that sold for a substantial £490 on ebay back in February this year (2012).

The seller, Darren was chuffed with the sale. I have yet to acquire a Gold Escort in my collection but it looks like this sale puts it even further from my grasp!

SKY FIGHTERS 'CARRIER COMBAT'

 

 

 

Well this Blog hadn't been up and running 24 hours before I got some interesting tip offs from some of you. My thanks to Jonas Norlindh for putting me in touch with this set currently for sale on ebay in Germany. 

 

I have a bit of studying to do but clearly it heralds from 1992 and there looks to be very little - if anything - carried over from 1980's Matchbox stock.

 

The track is clearly different in colour but while the size of the track sections seem familiar the connection tongue and spring conductor rail are markedly different to that found on Powertrack.

 

 

As seems the norm in post Powertrack times, the packaging lacks vac moulded trays for a 'slung in the box' approach.

 

The paperwork details track cleaning guidelines so familiar to us Powertrack afficionados but I do cringe at the standard of presentation. Of immediate interest is the fact this heralds from the UK and Matchbox offices at Rugby. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Of course, the raison d'etre of the Sky Fighter set is the rather funky F14 Eagle. Pitting Navy against Marine is not something I think the US would approve of but I think it would bring out the "Maverick" or "Iceman" in you!

 

The chassis seem to utilise a development of the MR1 chassis used in the Canyon of Doom Jeeps below.  A neat touch is to used the headlamp bulb to power the glowing afterburner.

CANYON OF DOOM

 

Another slot car find was this Matchbox branded slot racing set. Curiously it has none of the associated parts from Powertrack or Speedtrack and yet Matchbox at one time branded this as a 'Precision Engineered' product...

 

 

Does anyone recognise this track?

 

Cars are interesting - a rare type for slotcars.

 

Distinctly un-Matchbox - does anyone recognise these chassis?

 

Branded 'MR-1' as in Matchbox Racing... we need a year of manufacture!

 

This looks like a catalogue special - but from when and where?

LANE SHIFTERS...

Following the demise of Powertrack, and ultimately Matchbox, the tools and sundry products were brought up by several companies. Amongst my files here is a set sold on ebay a few years back by Slotpartz clearly marked as Lane Shifters...

Any news on this intriguing offshoot greatly appreciated!

A reboxed LC-1000 in 'Low budget' packaging.

 

Rebranded for which Country I wonder?

 

The fabulous Porsche 935 & Chevy Monza never looked so vulgar...

 

'Road Champs' logo mean anything to anybody?

 

 

Boxed like a LC-2000

 

Instructions like a LC-2000

 

The cars look positively Stock Car like!

 

 

NEW CONTACT DETAILS!

Hi, Steve here. It's been four years since I posted anything on the Blog so please forgive me, I lost my contact details for the site and have had other things to contend with! However, normal service resumes(ish) so anything you fancy discussing about all things Powertrack please contact me on my new email address: xysdad@yahoo.co.uk.

Best regards,

Steve