LP #704 Lunar Exploration Set

Well, I sure did hit a grand slam with this one: three playsets in one! The set has nine astronaut figures, three vehicles, and a tiny spaceship in a three-compartment window box. No additional terrain pieces or accessories are included. There is no printing on the box back or bottom. The figures are all 1"/30mm H. Of course, LP recycled their toys and the same pieces can be found repackaged in other sets, but it's fun trying to track all these down. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Top Set

The Moon Rover measures: 3.125" (7.93cm) L x 1.5" (3.81cm) W x 1.375" (3.49cm) H (to top of searchlight)

Middle Set

The Bubble Rover measures: 1.5" (3.81cm) diameter x 1.25" (3.17cm) H

Bottom Set

The Moon Bus measures 3" (7.62cm) L x 1.25" (3.17cm) W x 1.5" (3.81cm) H

Montgomery Wards Miniature Apollo Exploration set - Pt 9 FINAL Astronaut Group

Yay! Finally, we're on the last installment for this set LOL The Astronauts, like the Aliens, came in painted gray soft plastic and plated hard plastic.  I had eight each of both and the hard plastic set had three duplicates. In addition, one of them was gold while the others were all silver. At the end of the post is the torso of a figure which came with my set but was probably a piece of space debris thrown in by the seller as he doesn't seem to fit anywhere else in the set. BTW, all the figures in this set, Aliens and Astronauts, have the 'LP' logo underneath the base with the exception of Mr. Torso below.

Our posts in the days to come will mostly take a break from space toys while we celebrate the the upcoming Halloween season! Enjoy! Opa Fritz

A comparison shot of LP

Montgomery Wards Miniature Apollo Exploration set - Pt 1

Next up in our look at the small side of space toys is this magnificent Miniature Apollo Exploration boxed set available from Montgomery Wards catalog in 1970-71. Monkey Wards packed a lot of play value in such a small box and managed to cram in 70 pieces according to the catalog write-up (the set is best described here on SpaceX Central). My set only has 61 pieces - 69 if you count all the radar screens, antennas, stands, or detachable pieces as separate (which is what Monkey Wards probably did to make the 'piece count' more impressive). Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's the piece breakout in my set:

-Paper playmat measuring 20" x 29"

-Hippo Toys Apollo Rocket with friction motor in yellow HP  

Apollo Moon Landing Group

-Mercury capsule

-Command Module on blue stand

-LEM

-2 Apollo Astronauts

-American flag

Major Matt Mason Copies Group

- Astro Trac

-5 different sled variants

-Crawler

-Firebolt Cannon

Lunar Vehicles Group

-Tracked Explorer Car w/friction motor

-Moon Transport

-Downsized Moon Prospector

Lunar Equipment Group

-Command Center

-Large Dome

-Small Dome

-Portable Comm Centr

-Portable Monitor/TV

Terrain Group

-5 pieces of scatter terrain (two are the same casting in my set)

Miscellaneous Flying Machine Group

-Saucer on wheels

-Downsized P3 type Helicopter

-Shuttle

-Small Rocket Ship

Figures

-Painted gray SP aliens 5EA

-Plated HP aliens 6EA

-Painted gray SP astronauts 8EA

-Plated HP astronauts

-Half astronaut body (driver? - extra piece?) 1EA

LP #704B Space Exploring Set

I have two different #704B sets, each with different figures in them. Randomly placed figures of course was a standard practice and it's interesting to see what came in each set. Yesterday, set # 704A was posted, today #704B and SpaceX central shows a #704C set but to what further extent these sets ranged is unknown at the moment as the two sets shown yesterday and today are all I have in the collection. Enjoy! Opa Fritz