CIPSA Art. 4952 Estación Espacial

4952 Estación Espacial Box Detail

CIPSA's take on the Space Station is fairly consistent with the way they addressed other Mattel items - simplifying when they can and changing things to reduce costs. Some of the hues used in the plastic colors are different which is also typical. The centerpiece of a Capitán Meteoro collection, no Defender of the Universe would feel complete without a base of operations. The CIPSA version of the Space Station box is about the same size as the US Space Station, but turned on its side 90 degrees (so it's taller than it is wide).

Spanish translations by John Eaton (with the help of some cheesy translation software!): 

4952 Estación Espacial Box Front

Estratégica base nuclear del año 2000 para defender al Universo de los terribles ataques de Scorpio. - Strategic nuclear base in the year 2000 to defend the Universe from the terrible attacks of Scorpio.

Impresionante tablero para observación y control del Universo. - Impressive panel for the observation and control of the Universe.

Páneles removibles para protección magnética. - Removable panels for magnetic protection.

Centro de comunicación y dirección de viajes espaciales. - Center of communication and direction of space trips.

Estación de mantenimiento para toda el equipo espacial del Capitán Meteoro. - maintenance station for all of Captain Meteoro's space equipment. 

Detail views of the box images may be expanded here (top image) and here (right image) and here (bottom image).   

4952 Estación Espacial Box Ends - tbu

Estratégica base nuclear del año 2000 para defender al Universo de los terribles ataques de Scorpio. - Strategic nuclear base in the year 2000 to defend the Universe from the terrible attacks of Scorpio.

Impresionante tablero para observación y control del Universo. - Impressive panel for the observation and control of the Universe.

Páneles removibles para protección magnética. - Removable panels for magnetic protection.

Centro de comunicación y dirección de viajes espaciales. - Center of communication and direction of space trips.

Estación de mantenimiento para toda el equipo espacial del Capitán Meteoro. - maintenance station for all of Captain Meteoro's space equipment. 

4952 Estación Espacial Box Back

Estratégica base nuclear del año 2000 para defender al Universo de los terribles ataques de Scorpio. - Strategic nuclear base in the year 2000 to defend the Universe from the terrible attacks of Scorpio.

Impresionante tablero para observación y control del Universo. - Impressive panel for the observation and control of the Universe.

Páneles removibles para protección magnetica. - Removable panels for magnetic protection.

Centro de comunicación y dirección de viajes espaciales. - Center of communication and direction of space trips.

Estación de mantenimiento para toda el equipo espacial del Capitán Meteoro. - Maintenance station for all of Captain Meteoro's space equipment.    

4952 Estación Espacial Box Insert

The interior of the box is very different from the US version. Rather than having a tray-like insert with the platforms on one side and everything else on the other (like the US version), the insert is a single piece of cardboard that forms three compartments. 

Sticker Sheet:

Instructions:

CIPSA #4952 Estación Espacial (Space Station)

The instructions are similar to the US version, being a 4-panel booklet. Differences are: No mention of the Crawler (to be expected as the Crawler was unavailable), no mention of a battery for the Beacon. 

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4

Variations:

There are 7 obvious differences between the Mattel and CIPSA versions of the Station:

1. The Girder panels are made of darker, maroon plastic (same color as the Cámera Antigravidad - CIPSA Unitred).
2. The Radiation Shields are made up of brighter blue plastic. This is pretty subjective as I've seen similar shade differences in Mattel-produced shields.
3. Chrome accessories such as the locking pins and faucet are molded in black, unadorned plastic. CIPSA did not chrome-plate any accessories from what I have seen.
4. Space Station cellophane is replaced by a paper insert, with different graphics.
5. Perhaps the most telling difference is the beacon itself. Rather than the 3-finned beacon with chrome reflector, the CIPSA version has a 6-finned beacon with a white plastic reflector. Also, the dome is a light blue color and there is no beacon-battery cover, as the beacon was not meant to be lit! This also explains the paper insert, as it was not intended to be translucent and glow.
6. Station chair is unpainted. I've also seen some Mattel-produced chairs that missed the painting sequence during production and packaging.
7. Different sticker set. I've noted this before... the image of Scorpio in the viewscreen decal for the command console leads me to believe that the rumors of an Alien Space Station may have been supported from the CIPSA sticker sheet. Copies of the sticker sheet have been floating around for years. 

Estación Espacial Differences

Estación Espacial Girder on Left

Estación Espacial Control Console thin cardboard

Estación Espacial chair on left

Mattel Beacon (left) vs Estación Espacial Beacon (right)

John's Notes:

I kinda wish that CIPSA molded the girders in gray/silver like they did the Firebolt - would have really made this thing unique. I've seen a few boxed examples of the Estación Espacial so while the line in general is scarce, I don't think the station is particularly rare. I currently have two that are complete - I'll update images when I have time to take some better photographs.

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