Toy-Ventures: ERTL Star Trek 3

[@Scotty-Z70]

I HAD these! I loved their uniforms...the only thing i know i still have is the dog for the Klingon.

[@jhunt5440]

I had always wanted a Star Trek 2 line of figures. The local Child World store had tons of TMP figures on clearance that year so I bought a bunch and painted them up to be in their TWOK uniforms. My painting skills as an 8 year-old left much to be desired, but it was the only way at the time to have those designs for me.

[@BrickMantooth]

You did exactly what ERTL did at Toy fair that year.

[@BronzeAgeBryon]

Exactly, the mall Hobby Shop is where I found mine. But I don't think it ever occurred to me that Spock is wearing a uniform that he never appears wearing in that movie. Weird. And yes, of course TWOK is line most of us would like to have seen a figure line from.

[@bozotheclown169]

I had these back in 84. Found them in a ToyMaster shop in UK. fell to pieces over the years only Kirk survived and still have him standing proud on bookcase with oversized phaser in hand lol (although he didn't come with a phaser but an oversized communicator). had some TMP megos too (Decker, bones, Spock). Also still have the 3 die cast ships (Enterprise, Bird of Prey, Excelsior) from the same Ertl III range (the Ent/BoP were repackaged a few years later for Trek V where the BoP was painted proper green instead of pale blue from the III line). Spock kind of was in the red uniform in III (i.e. the Wrath of Khan flashback at the start and the 'flight recorder visual' scene Kirk watches with Sarek. But maybe they should have included a white robe with Spock?) Kruge aside they were more like figures for II really considering Spock wasn't in the uniform aside the II flashback and Kirk & Scotty spent most of the movie in other clothes, almost like Ertl regretting not doing the figures for II so did them for III. And I guess they chose Scotty over Bones as 'beam me up Scotty'

[@paulwalsh2344]

Ahhhh... well done ! I had the exact same response about Spock in his Starfleet uniform too and posted that before reading your comment !

[@andrewtaylor940]

Oh and Wrath of Khan in the classic 8” Mego style would have been my desire.

[@johnbockelie3899]

The original title of Star Trek 2 was " The Vengeance of Khan" , but due to the title of the next Star Wars movie, " The Wrath of Khan" became the official movie title.

[@JFvE]

I got these in a no-card 3 pack (didn't include the Klingon) from a catalog company.. Intergalactic Trading Co (?) I can't remember exactly, in 1985 I believe. Super cheap. I was thrilled to finally play Wrath of Khan on the Mego TMP bridge.

[@Forest_Giant]

Wow. Intergalactic Trading Company from Orlando (If my memory serves me correctly). I haven't heard that name in decades. Back in the 90s I bought a bunch of carded Empire Strikes Back figures through their mail-in catalog at an amazing price. Some I still have are worth a hell of a lot more now than what I paid for them.

[@namelessjedi2242]

Adding the Klingon dog was a nice touch. Every kid noticed that in the film, guaranteed.

[@BrickMantooth]

most definitely.

[@enterprisingcaptian875]

I love these figures! I always thought I was the only person who wanted them, glad to see I wasn't alone.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah, I have a really soft spot for these little dudes, glad to hear some one else does too.

[@williamk3702]

I really wanted these figures when I was a kid. They were extremely rare in the UK. I think I first saw them in an American comic or magazine advert. I was a very big advocate of the GI Joe style poseable figure and of the Star Trek II and III vibe. (I like Motion Picture the best in my dotage, always had a sneaking admiration for it, though this was a controversial stance to take, but I digress). Anyway, they were nowhere to be seen Until ... Toys R Us stores started popping up around 1989-90. In retrospect, this was the best time, since the aisles were stuffed with all kinds of weird and wonderful toys that were a few years old ... I assume it was lots of stock that hadn't sold in the states, in the years previously? This was all very fascinating to myself and my siblings and pals. Almost like stumbling on a hoard of treasure in an ancient tomb. I was still on pocket money then, so every purchase had to be wheedled and cajoled out of a parent. For some reason, the STIII figures vanished before I ever managed to snag one! Oh no! Oh well. Perhaps they had been ... beamed up? Toys R Us then also had many Star Trek II (though it said Motion Pic on the packaging, there was a pic of Kirk in STII costume) AMT model kits for about six pounds each, as well - but they only had the Klingon Cruiser or the Vulcan Shuttle, never the Enterprise.

[@paulwalsh2344]

Hate to be "THAT GUY"... but I am so totally "THAT GUY" so... Spock was in his Starfleet uniform in Star Trek:III TSFS in the very opening scene reprising his death in Star Trek II AND in the engineering flight recorder scene with Sarek...(insert Robot Chicken Nerd derisive laugh).

[@BrickMantooth]

you forgot to add "Actually" but thanks for the intell, it's been a long time. ;)

[@stevedwyer4078]

Great video. I really enjoyed it! Thanks : )

[@BrickMantooth]

thank you, glad you dug it.

[@Defynt13]

I really liked the MEGO figures, more of the females who were part of Kirk's history would be awesome. As for SFS, my brother and I spotted them at a convention and immediately integrated them with our GI Joes...they were actually very sturdy and constructed well. For some reason we passed on Kruge and Scotty.

[@harbinger1861]

Excellent video. I love an Ertl info.

[@BrickMantooth]

thank you.

[@johnwild8336]

Just found a set for dirt cheap. Unfortunately the die cast used for the T Bar in the waist is a very fragile metal and was broken on my set. But using G.I. Joe pieces I was able to repair them. I would have loved to get these as a kid, because like you, I had the MEGO 3 3/4 line, including the Bridge playset. These would have been nice upgrades to those 5 point figures. Unfortunately I never saw them, or like you stated, was too tied up in other toy lines. Great video and thanks for sharing.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Did Ertl do many action figures? The only ones I remember from them was some of their big metal trucks came with a 3 1/2” driver or appropriate figure. Ie a Firefighter, Construction worker etc.

[@bozotheclown169]

also Michael Knight and Colt Seavers that came with KITT and the Fall Guy Truck

[@bobby1218]

At the time I never saw, or knew, these figures. I would have begged mom to buy them. Only figures I had at the time where of course were the 8'" MEGO from TOS, and had 3.75 Kirk and Spock from Motion Picture line. All ways wished they had come out with a 3.75 collection of the TOS crew along with a full Bridge play set from either the movies or TOS.

[@RandomDudeFromSomewhere]

These could be found at Allied Hobbies in my neck of the woods. The o-rings deteriorate on these. My Klingon is in pieces. Oh, and I LOVE that Mego TMP bridge playset. I knew some kids who had it, always thought that was neat, if kinda flimsy.

[@BrickMantooth]

I forgot to mention that i often found Kruge figures in pieces at retail when i was a teenager.

[@RandomDudeFromSomewhere]

@@BrickMantooth I remember you and Jason mentioning that in one of your Pod Stallions episodes, that you;'d often find these things broken on card. The plastic is rather cheap, as well as the aforementioned o-rings. Still, I like this line. I wish they'd done another like this.

[@Chris.Mc83]

I remember the Klingon Leader being a peg warmer at A&P of all places!

[@dngillikin]

I never saw these in the stores. The only time I encountered them was on a dealer's table at a mini-con in Dallas in October 1984.

[@Chapwiththewings5roundsrapid]

Also incorrectly has Captain and not Admiral Kirk as he was in the film.

[@johnbockelie3899]

"The vengeance of Khan " was a rejected title because Star Wars title was originally " Revenge of the Jedi" later switched to "Return of the Jedi" " The wrath of Khan" was then decided title.

[@TheNightBadger]

Got the die cast Warbird, Scotty and Spock from these either for Christmas / Birthday. I was not a Star Trek fan but I picked them from a toyshop myself. They were cheap compared to Joes - like the A-Team figs, and their thumbs broke when using the weapons - like the A-Team figs.

[@BrickMantooth]

That seems to be a common hazard with O-Ring characters.

[@davermller255]

wonder why no doctor mccoy ?

[@bozotheclown169]

Maybe due to 'beam me up Scotty'?

[@divergentthinkingproductions]

I never, ever saw these in the wild, only ever at conventions and I'm talking about the 1980s. You could get twenty Manglords at the Kay-Bee though.

[@BrickMantooth]

Mine were mostly found in the cereal aisle of a small town grocery store. I was on vacation with my parents and they were a welcome discovery.

[@robertonline6543]

Love these back in the day... just with they had swivel arms

[@johnbockelie3899]

What an odd combination: Kirk, Spock, and Scotty , and Kruge . No McCoy.

[@elrodimusflash9331]

I remember getting these I had 5 dollars.. And that got me all 4 and a bay toys processed plastic spaceship. So I guess that shows how under the radar these were.

[@stevearts85]

Got these a few years ago- never saw them back in the day- would have loved to of had them. I only saw TMP Mego Spock.

[@Scotty-Z70]

oh, and i got mine at WINN DIXIE grocery store, on one of those dangling plastic clips in the Breakfast aisle.

[@MrDrokkul]

I wonder if MEGO could have turned around the motion picture line by also offering original TV series action figures in the same scale as well. Maybe by that time they didn't have the TV license anymore and had overspent on the film license already.

[@disteenguishedmonstoor]

As a kid I saw these and the 3 die cast ships in a Dominion grocery store down a random aisle; I passed on the figures and got the ships instead.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah I saw them in Miracle Mart and IGA.

[@cuda70gt7]

I liked the 8" mego star trek best. Figuers looked like the actor and had a playset.

[@hiddenhistoryny129]

Never see me is back in the day. but your point of them being available in like farm stores and hardware stores Ertrl was very well-known for the diecast cars, farm tractors, trucks and such. Those would have definitely been Ertels distribution

[@BrickMantooth]

I found them mainly in grocery stores.

[@RogueTwo]

I wouldn't say that the 90's Playmates line was marketed for adult collectors, though they certainly were considered as good as it for many years. And while the line was originally Next Generation only, it would eventually branch out to encompass every Star Trek series and movie until that point, including The Original Series. But as for the ERTL Search for Spock line, I was.completely unaware of it until several years ago when I saw a lone Scotty hanging on a peg in a comic book shop. I was very intrigued by him, but didn't have enough money on me and had to pass. When I went back a week later, he was long gone. Anyway, I adore Wrath of Khan, but if had to choose another classic Trek movie to have an action figure line, I'm going to have to say, The Undiscovered Country. There are just so many more characters and aliens that would make awesome toys IMHO on display in that movie. So much potential.

[@BrickMantooth]

I really felt that Playmates line, while likely intended for children at the onset got embraced by adults and by the time the TOS crew were introduced it was pretty much a "collector's toy line". Undiscovered Country is a fantastic film BTW.

[@Desslar]

Don't remember ever seeing these in stores. I'm a little - confused by your story - you said you bought these in a supermarket in 1984, and you paid $25 each?! Canadian supermarkets must have some serious markups.

[@BrickMantooth]

Ha, no. I had them as a teenager but then sold them and recently bought myself a set again.

[@Desslar]

@@BrickMantooth I figured that might be the case. Hope you came out ahead on those transactions.

[@Scotty-Z70]

The best TOS movie to me was The Voyage Home. My dad bought the VHS tape at PACE (K-Mart's Sam's Club) back when VHS tapes were still $100, he got it for just $40, which seemed like a STEAL back then! wow. But we watched that VHS tape over and over and over. It was so much fun, and should have spawned Toys...did anyone ever make a figure of the woman that worked at the aquarium that ended up going to the future? She was so pretty. You know what, that would be a great movie to watch tonight. ttyl, i have a Laserdisc to spin.

[@alexnejako777]

i think it's the only time we got Scotty at that scale in the 80s

[@OpenMawProductions]

It is very strange that they did Spock and Scotty, and not Spock and McCoy. You'd think they would do the big three first and then other characters in the line... If they intended to do more, that is. I've never even heard it indicated that they planned to do more. Which just seems odd to me. Same for the Star Trek V figures by Galoob. That film has some very odd ambition backing it. There was an unreleased NES game, and the figures, and quite a bit of general merch for Trek V. I think Shatner was trying to push the marketing on that film bigger than Trek had gotten for a decade. It is neat that Star Trek III got figures, as it is my favorite of the first three films in a lot of ways. It was the second Star Trek film I ever saw, after The Motion Picture.

[@reepacheirpfirewalker8629]

This was another one of the toys that really got me fuming they didn't have it at any of the stores like the Indiana Jones toys that didn't sell because they weren't everywhere and even some of the Star Wars figures from Empire Strikes Back and such they weren't everywhere and a lot of the vehicles were the same some available at catalogs but not in sale at the stores.

[@STEPHANTODD]

With the exception of the Klingon these are basically Star Trek II action figures.

[@loganjorgensen]

That's the movie legacy, just picked up a Blu-ray set not long ago, and it included ST 2, 3, & 4 trilogy. I know 5 get's a lot of flack but I like the one Shatner directed. ETRL...yeah can't say I've heard of them. ;) They look like solid actions figures, ah I thought the items looked big heh. Can't disagree with that window of opportunity closing with selling OG-ST toys to kids. It's too bad since ST:2 really ramped up the energy again and had a good foundation for toys.

[@davermller255]

I have them

[@justanotherghost62]

These ST3 figures were really nice.Too bad they got overlooked.The Galoob nightmare almost killed ST. The diecast Next gen enterprises and phasers and Riker with no beard flooded the world for years.

[@justanotherghost62]

@Roy Scheider in a hamster suit quite true and the frengi ship and I think they made a shuttlecraft was extra coolness.

[@cuda70gt7]

mego missing the wrath of khan is as big a miss as when mego passed on star wars. who knew?

[@BrickMantooth]

Everyone passed on wrath of Khan, not just Mego. After the motion picture, no toy company wanted Trek.

[@scockery]

History repeated, after JJ's Star Trek toys bombed, no one wanted to make toys for Into Darkness or Beyond or Discovery

[@ChapMeifan]

I sometimes think the reason Star Trek figures weren't as popular for kids is that the main action of the series came from the starship battles. The captains usually just sat in a lazy-boy recliner and directed helmsmen to push buttons. When a figure line didn't have a ship (or ships as you need an enemy one to fight) then it takes away 90% of the fun. Imagine if you had bridges from a Klingon D-7 Battle Cruiser and the Enterprise with full crew ready to duke it out. Battle damage and exploding panels. Klaxons wailing. Heck I'd be all over that as both a kid and an adult. But Kirk or Mr. Scott on their own are sadly kind of boring. Mr. Scott can fix something and Kirk can go seduce green women.

[@anthonysaccoccia1727]

Star trek IV action figures would have been cool