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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 3, 2012 19:52:45 GMT -8
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Post by FMW on Aug 4, 2012 11:35:39 GMT -8
I believe they were originally issued in the mid-to-late '60s by MPC. This latest issue were all offered individually, so I suspect your set will be four boxes shrink-wrapped together. I've got a couple of built ones tucked away somewhere, and the scale appeared to be 1/25. There was at least one more in the series with a really streamlined body - shows up on eBay from time to time at astronomical prices, and that's for a built-up.
FMW
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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 4, 2012 14:45:19 GMT -8
Thank you for the info.  I'll probably be sorry in the long run, but as a completist I have to ask...what was the fifth bike called? Do you have a pic? |
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Post by FMW on Aug 4, 2012 20:22:26 GMT -8
Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.  I don't recall the Taco bike being in the first issue, so the Black Max part of the molds may have been trashed sometime between then and the second issue when General Mills temporarily owned the MPC brand. The Black Max was gone then and their 4th bike was "The Wedge". FMW |
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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 4, 2012 21:14:13 GMT -8
NICE! No wonder this Black Max is so popular. It looks (IMO) to be the nicest one of the bunch! It might be possible (with ALOT of massaging of the bodies) To make something close using elements from the Taco and Tiki trikes...HHmmmm... ;D
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Post by FMW on Aug 4, 2012 21:56:22 GMT -8
The frame and engine from either the Taco Trike or the Milk Trike would work. You'd probably be more successful with the body using curved shapes like plastic balls, eggs, sthingys, etc. from Michael's and/or Party City. You can do a lot with plastic tableware and flatware. Check my page public.fotki.com/FMW/fmws-space-ships-1/for an example. FMW |
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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 4, 2012 22:24:24 GMT -8
Some interesting stuff there. We have Crafts2000 here which is the equivalent of Micheals or Pat Catan's. I found a Black Max on evilbay with a buy-it-now of $55. Since I paid less than that for the whole 4 bike set, I think i'll pass  , but at least it provided a couple good shots of the original. I'm thinking I can do something similar. You know, give it a look that's like the BM ( ;D) but maybe give it a little twist. An update of sorts. I'm not into the whole iron cross, neo nazi thing so even if I had an original, i'd paint it different and not use the decals. Now I can't wait to get the set! One thing I find interesting...is the similarity to the Milk Trike and the Milk Truck. I havta wonder if one may have influenced the other...and of course i'm now on the hunt for the truck.   I'm thinkin i'll modify the Taco Trike. Style wise it's my least favorite of the four, and there's no automotive counterpart for it that I can think of. Thr Tikitrike would go well with the Surfite with Tiki hut, we've covered the Milk trike/ truck and isn't there a mailbox custom car...maybe a Tom Daniel design? at any rate I can't think of a car counterpart for the Taco Trike. What about you guys? |
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Post by FMW on Aug 5, 2012 8:14:44 GMT -8
Yes, the Milk Trike is an obvious take-off on the Milk Truck. The Milk Truck was issued as a kit by a company called Eldon in the mid 60's, along with some other custom cars (Invader, Sand Dragon, and Outhouse, as I recall). The molds were purchased by a Japanese company called Union. The kits and build-ups show up periodically on eBay, usually in the $50 price range.
More plastic trivia, brought to you by:
FMW
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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 5, 2012 11:30:04 GMT -8
Don't forget the Pink Panther Mobile and Sand Draggin. I know they were re-issued in the '80's by Doyusha too.
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Post by magnum4342 on Aug 12, 2012 14:32:27 GMT -8
These bad boys finally arrived yesterday and am I jazzed! All four arrived in the pictured packaging from above, each one sealed in shrink and all four packed in a generic style white box. The top of the box has "MPC Retrohobby Flashback vintage model kit reissue program" and then under that is "1/25th Trick Trike series" All the lettering is in black on a plain white box but that's not why I bought it!  These babies are gettin built! From the history i've dug up and FMW has given me here's what I know and what i'm going to do. The original series...  ... had two more bikes. The Black Max and the Cobra Chopper. Both of them way cool! I am currently on the hunt for both of them. The first one up is the Mail Box chopper. An Ed Roth designed chopper that has apparently changed only in paint job from the original. As a long time Roth fan, I can only attempt to do this kit justice. Fortunately I have a little resin Rat Fink to go with it. ;D Next up is the "Wedge" chopper, which is now known as the "Taco Trike". Being my least favorite design in the bunch I keep thinking the body box on this one looks more like a shark's fin, albeit reversed. So because of this one, i've decided each bike will be done with a companion custom car build and the theme's will carry over from one to the other. This trike will be a companion to the Tom Daniel "Sand Shark" (I have no idea what car yet to match with the Mail box, but i'm open to suggestions ;D) The "Digger" trike, now the "TIKI TRIKE". Next to the Black Max, this is my fave of the bunch. I'm not too sure which way to go with this one either, but a companion to it could be the "Surfite" with Tiki hut. The "T" Trike, became the "Milk" trike. The obvious companion piece here is the Milk Truck. I don't have a Milk Truck kit.  I've wanted for some time now, to do a root beer colored build. I don't know why I just do. So the Milk trike might get done as the "Pop Machine" and then later, after i've acquired a Milk Truck I can do my double build. All four bodies have been assembled and sanded and are just waiting primer. Due to the age of the molds and thier condition, the chrome trees are unnacceptable. They'll take ALOT of cleanup, which of course means stripping the chrome and spraying alot of Alclad. I'm up for it! ;D To get my feet wet i'm doing the Mail Box Trike first. Then i'll get into the twofers. Thanks agin to FMW for all the info. |
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Post by FMW on Aug 14, 2012 15:38:19 GMT -8
I saw these on eBay today & thought you' like to see them:   Bidding on the Uncertain T Trike was up to $152, so I'm NOT suggesting you should snap it up. (Someone really wants it, though.) If you want a challenge, mod your Taco Trike into something to match the Pie Wagon. FMW |
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I'll probably be sorry in the long run, but as a completist I have to ask...what was the fifth bike called? Do you have a pic?
, but at least it provided a couple good shots of the original. I'm thinking I can do something similar. You know, give it a look that's like the BM ( ;D) but maybe give it a little twist. An update of sorts. I'm not into the whole iron cross, neo nazi thing so even if I had an original, i'd paint it different and not use the decals. Now I can't wait to get the set!
These babies are gettin built!
I've wanted for some time now, to do a root beer colored build. I don't know why I just do. So the Milk trike might get done as the "Pop Machine" and then later, after i've acquired a Milk Truck I can do my double build.