# Cool toys you had when you were a kid **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662 "2013-04-25T14:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/101 "2013-04-26T16:27:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Did you try chea…arranging the odds to be in your favor? A drop glue on a wheel. That’d be like throwing paint on the Mona Lisa. And besides, I hoped to inherit it when he lost interest in Matchbox cars. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/102 "2013-04-26T16:57:14Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > A moment of jealousy: my brother had a [Blue Shark](http://matchbox.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Shark). I never won a single race against it. That was one fast Matchbox. My fastest car was the Hairy Hustler (the red one). Won most of the races with it, and it’s one of the few cars I still have left. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/103 "2013-04-26T17:12:36Z")
[Lawn darts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_darts) were pretty fun back when they had the weighted steel tips. A few deaths and a few thousand injuries, and suddenly you can’t buy a deadly projectile kids’ toy anymore. Damned nanny state. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/104 "2013-04-26T17:15:10Z")
I also had a water powered rocket. I was so excited when I got it Chirstmas morning that I put it together, filled it up, threw on my boots and went outside. When it launched I got sprayed with the water exhaust. Not a smart thing to do when it was below zero in Chicago. I loved my Merlin! I felt so hi-tech with this portable game. I had another hand-held game but I can’t remember what it was called. Maybe about 8 inches long, 3 inches wide. Had a liquid crystal display and you could swap out cartridges to play different games. My parents were very anti-violence/anti-gun so I wasn’t allowed to have GI Joe. Instead I got Big Jim. He had this “metal” band that you put around his arm. When you bent his arm the bicep would bulge and “break” the band. I had the old school Legos with the big people, not the little ones you see in every kit today. I even had the motor with the control box connected by a wire. When I was 10 I broke my knee and was in traction in the hospital. I made a little motorized platform so I could swap Mad magazines with the kid in the next bed. I had lots of Estes model rockets. Sometimes I would be so eager to launch them that I wouldn’t even bother painting them. After a few launches there was always the inevitable parachute failure. Then I would send the rocket on its suicide launch. I’d put a baggy of nail polish remover inside and glue match sticks inside and out with model glue. The rocket would take off and when the ejection charge would go off instead of a nice parachute being released you’d have a huge fireball. I would also glue the rocket engines to model cars and planes. One time I made a rocket car that looked like the [Blue Flame](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Flame_%28car%29). It shot down the street, hit a rock and took off, barely missing an oncoming car. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/105 "2013-04-26T17:18:18Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > [Lawn darts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_darts) were pretty fun back when they had the weighted steel tips. A few deaths and a few thousand injuries, and suddenly you can’t buy a deadly projectile kids’ toy anymore. Damned nanny state. We always played chicken with them, tossing them as close to the other kids feet as possible. Had to stop after my friend Ralph developed a case of Jart-induced stigmata. Darn spoil-sport parents. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/106 "2013-04-26T17:31:40Z")
I actually have a set of lawn darts in ‘like new’ condition, and in the original box. Don’t have anyone to play with, though. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/107 "2013-04-26T17:34:40Z")
I won a set of Jarts around 7th grade when I was a paperboy right before they reached their mythical outlaw status. I never did impale anyone, which is nice. Years later, I was at a 4th of July picnic and some people were playing beer Jarts – hit the can in the ring and you have to chug it. I don’t think anyone actually had to chug. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/108 "2013-04-26T17:49:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I actually have a set of lawn darts in ‘like new’ condition, and in the original box. Don’t have anyone to play with, though. Many of my friends (40-60 age range) have sets that they cherish. And though we are all adults, we’ve had plenty of close calls.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/109 "2013-04-26T17:52:47Z")
> [@Slypork](#): > > I had lots of Estes model rockets. Sometimes I would be so eager to launch them that I wouldn’t even bother painting them. After a few launches there was always the inevitable parachute failure. Then I would send the rocket on its suicide launch. I’d put a baggy of nail polish remover inside and glue match sticks inside and out with model glue. The rocket would take off and when the ejection charge would go off instead of a nice parachute being released you’d have a huge fireball. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/110 "2013-04-26T18:07:26Z")
Space 1999 Eagle: [this one](http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/2012/07/collectible-of-week-space1999-eagle-1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/111 "2013-04-26T18:41:31Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Space 1999 Eagle: [this one](http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/2012/07/collectible-of-week-space1999-eagle-1.html) Oh, now that is 🆒 I have the model (AMT?) in my Big Box-O-Models. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/112 "2013-04-26T18:55:05Z")
The ones that really stand out: [Sonic Fazer](http://img2.etsystatic.com/000/0/5316689/il_fullxfull.108587470.jpg). Had lots of space adventures with that one. It even had mass inversion! [Big Trak](http://www.robotroom.com/BigTrak/BigTrak.jpg). It was a programmable tank that you programmed with instructions like forward 3, turn 3, fire, fire, backwards 2, etc. Legos, a few genuine but a lot of off-brand too. The off-brand were somewhat flexible plastic and would better survive our game of building cars and crashing them into each other, if your car wouldn’t sit on it’s wheels without part of the car touching the floor you lost. And just plain branches, rocks, and other outdoor stuff. We used to play a pretty good game of “bomb the leaves” from a high bank above the creek. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/113 "2013-04-26T19:01:54Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > The ones that really stand out: > > [Sonic Fazer](http://img2.etsystatic.com/000/0/5316689/il_fullxfull.108587470.jpg). Had lots of space adventures with that one. It even had mass inversion! I acquired one of those recently. I repaired the slider that selected the sound and soldered a new battery tab, where and adult had obviously smashed the sucker over an article of furniture, or perhaps a child’s head. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/114 "2013-04-26T19:06:39Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I remember playing with this at some distant cousins house in the 70’s and not being quite able to get it to work right. Makes me wonder how many takes they shot for that commercial. We had that one. It actually wasn’t that hard to set up to work correctly. I remember using it as a “burglar alarm” for my room by setting it up with a trigger so if the door was opened the balls were released. The final bucket they went into was metal and made a ringing sound when they hit it. One of my favorite cool toys was the [Micronauts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5db9bEOnLY) Also the GI Joe [Space Capsule](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://borgdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/gijoespacecapsule.jpg&imgrefurl=http://borg.com/tag/gi-joe/&h=1707&w=1800&sz=506&tbnid=E6Lhj1puKQSARM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=95&zoom=1&usg=__CB81yf-XAxBHgASzyhwGpQuBjTQ=&docid=IJTijKeN5ISAEM&sa=X&ei=l9B6Uc3bCJO08QSShoGQAQ&ved=0CEYQ9QEwAA&dur=372) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/115 "2013-04-26T19:10:14Z")
I had a whirly-bird. It was a four-seat sort-of-a-merry-go-round. Each seat has a hand and foot pump so the kids can power the spin. It was the best thing EVAH! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/116 "2013-04-26T19:45:27Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > Also the GI Joe [Space Capsule](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://borgdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/gijoespacecapsule.jpg&imgrefurl=http://borg.com/tag/gi-joe/&h=1707&w=1800&sz=506&tbnid=E6Lhj1puKQSARM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=95&zoom=1&usg=__CB81yf-XAxBHgASzyhwGpQuBjTQ=&docid=IJTijKeN5ISAEM&sa=X&ei=l9B6Uc3bCJO08QSShoGQAQ&ved=0CEYQ9QEwAA&dur=372) What was on the record? ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/117 "2013-04-26T20:51:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I had one of those! I think that’s what started my life-long interest in the AR-15 series. When my Marauder broke, I was disappointed that I could never find another toy gun that I liked as much. > > Loved those! I don’t know how many I lost in one or another of the bamboo stands. > > I remember those, and had some. I also got a battery-powered Beatles Yellow Submarine for a couple of box tops and a dollar. (Four to six weeks for delivery.) I wish I still had it. I haven’t even _seen_ one since then! > > Of course! Sizzlers were great. I had the gas-pump charger with the D-cells in it. My Super Charger set (California-something? Daytona-something?) had two Super Chargers. Probably the same set. I have the track and everything on the landing outside my apartment. Nobody would know it’s there or steal it, but I haven’t seen good prices for that stuff recently. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/118 "2013-04-26T20:56:53Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > \ > > Also the GI Joe [Space Capsule](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://borgdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/gijoespacecapsule.jpg&imgrefurl=http://borg.com/tag/gi-joe/&h=1707&w=1800&sz=506&tbnid=E6Lhj1puKQSARM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=95&zoom=1&usg=__CB81yf-XAxBHgASzyhwGpQuBjTQ=&docid=IJTijKeN5ISAEM&sa=X&ei=l9B6Uc3bCJO08QSShoGQAQ&ved=0CEYQ9QEwAA&dur=372) My neighbors had that. So jealous! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/119 "2013-04-26T21:07:15Z")
> [@11811](#): > > My neighbors had that. So jealous! What was on the @#$% record?!?!?!? This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 1 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662/120 "2013-04-26T21:19:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Oh, now that is 🆒 > > I have the model (AMT?) in my Big Box-O-Models. I used to have a box-o-models. They got tossed by my parents after I left for boot camp. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-toys-you-had-when-you-were-a-kid/656662.md?page=7)