KO Micro Machines

MMM-related Micro-Machines

What I'm calling "Micro-Machines" are actually 1:72 (approximately) toys produced in the 70's under various names (often "NASA Astronauts"), usually as components to space-related play sets. I have several examples but most use the same molds (or direct copies of the same molds), probably by LP in Hong Kong. LP also supplied toys for the Imperial brand, starting around 1970 (more info on Paul Vreede's excellent Triang/Golden Astronauts pages). The MMM-related micro machines are obvious knock-offs, but there are frequently other toys that are copied, mostly from Multiple Toymakers' Golden Astronauts in the US (originally from the UK as SpaceX toys by Triang) distributed as individually carded vehicles or in larger boxed play sets.

Happy Mates Space Set (carded)

I've owned a loose set of these for a while - at one point Keith Meyer claimed that they were issued in the 60's and provided models for Mattel to copy - but seeing this carded example doesn't appear to support that theory. These sets were made by LP in Hong Kong during the late 60s-70's and marketed under their
own brand as well as rebranded for others like the card shown.

Carded "Space Set"

Space Set MMM Playset knock-offs

The set includes 5 MMM items - astronauts on: Space Sled, Lunar Trac, Reconojet, Satellite Launcher and Rocket Launcher. These are early versions of these toys; for later sets they would soon be fitted with wheels so they can be rolled (see below).

Miniature Apollo Exploration Set

Miniature Apollo Exploration Set Box

The deluxe play set I possess is detailed below - titled: "Miniature Apollo Exploration Set." This cheap play set included astronauts in various poses along with alien robots. Most of the poses seemed to be ripped-off to some degree from existing toy lines (like MPC and Marx) but Paul Vreede points out the LP astronauts actually have their own unique poses – [ for more info ]. The vehicles were ripped off from Triang/Golden Astronauts, MMM and others. The 6 that I have pictured above were the obvious Major Matt Mason copies with the Firebolt and Astro Trac as rough copies (images below). These vehicles were said to be available separately marketed as Apollo Moon Exploring or in this large play set. I believe that the play set is actually a ripoff of miniatures that ripped off existing toys! (Who's ripping off whom? Who knows!)

Box Contents

The box has a plain bottom and a photo cover with "Made in Hong Kong" and 48-24392 as a stock number. On the front and sides: "Featuring: *Astronauts...*Monsters of Outer Space...*Rocket with Friction Drive...*Space Tank with Friction Drive...*Space Vehicles with Rolling Wheels...*Craters...*Accessories."

Inside there's a 20" x 28" paper play mat with the moon, earth and space between in blues, greys and yellows.

A 13" long, orange Saturn V (modified with extra wings and friction driven wheels) with "Apollo" embossed on it and an American flag sticker is the dominant toy. It has "Hippo Toys" and "Made in Hong Kong" embossed on the bottom. Here's a rundown of the vehicles and figures present other than the 8 MMM "homages:"

The Micro-Machines Space Crawler is molded in black with red spokes and a chromed driver. The Firebolt Space Cannon and Astro Trac also have chromed drivers as opposed to the red for the other MMM related Micro-Machines.

Micro-Machine Lunar Trac

Micro-Machine Space Sled

Micro-Machine Rocket Launcher

Micro-Machine Reconojet

Micro-Machine Satellite Launcher

Micro-Machine Astro-Trac

Micro-Machine Firebolt Space Cannon

Micro-Machine Space Crawler

Additional Box Contents

• White spaceship w/orange rockets, silver wheels and antennae
• Red spaceship w/blue dome and clear engines
• Purple space copter w/blue dome and chromed props (GA ripoff)
• Red & white descent rocket
• Red Gemini capsule w/red engines
• Yellow friction tank w/blue dome and antennae
• Pink, 6 chrome-wheeled truck of some type
• An orange and green moon prospector (GA/Triang ripoff)
  
• Green and red saucer
• Chrome satellite viewer
• Chrome LEM w/huge dish
• Chrome and orange Apollo command capsule w/blue stand
• Red radio looking satellite dished center
• 2 packs of multi-colored craters/terrain
• 1 pack of chrome astronauts
• 1 pack silver astronauts w/painted features (as above)
• 2 chrome astronauts (slightly different size)
  
• 1 pack chrome alien robots
• 1 pack silver alien robots w/painted features

Everything fits into a 12x8x2" box and came separately bagged (grouped as above).

Imperial "Apollo Moon Exploring" Carded Vehicles

These are individually carded "Vehicles" that usually have an HO scale astronaut, usually in silver chrome to a light gold chrome (as opposed to Triang/Golden Astronaut gold chrome). Included in 8 of the 12 packages are MMM-related Micro-Machines (see images above). More information from Paul Vreede.

Group of 12 Imperial "Exploring" Cards

From Image above, left-to-right

• 304F Green Card (bottom) - contains Micro-Machines Rocket Launcher
• 304A Orange Card (top) - contains Micro-Machines Space Crawler
• 304L Yellow Card (top) - contains Micro-Machines Firebolt Space Cannon and Lunar Trac
• 304K Yellow Card (bottom) - contains Micro-Machines Satellite Launcher
• 304D Blue Card (top) - contains Micro-Machines Rocket Launcher
• 304C Blue Card (bottom) contains  Micro-Machines Space Crawler and Astro Trac
• 304J Pink Card (top) contains Micro-Machines Reconojet
• 304I Pink or Red Card (bottom) contains Micro-Machines Space Sled
  

LP "Space Exploring" Boxed Sets

LP released, I believe 3 of these sets (I only have this example) No.704C Space Exploring - it's a small window box on header card that contains a few painted HO scale astronauts, a capsule and a space crawler, this time molded in gray with red spokes. There appear to be variations of the set with slightly different colored plastic used (no surprise).

Space Exploring No. 704C - red spokes

Space Exploring No. 704C - gray spokes

Multiple Toymakers Men on the Moon set

This set caught my eye, not so much for the blue crawler, but from the Thunderbird 5 in purple and yellow as "Space Station 6"

MPC Men on the Moon set

Seems MT may have had LP manufacture parts for this set? - this time in blue with white spokes but I've also seen it in yellow. Strangely there are some sets where the driver is mounted backwards.

John's Notes:

These small toys are rather addictive from a toy-hunter's perspective. They're inexpensive and can be really elusive. Also there seems to be a near infinite number of packaging variations.

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